David La Vaque has covered all but one state hockey tournament game since 2009 and has worked as a Star Tribune high school sports reporter since 2004. His favorite tournament experiences include cheering for alma mater St. Paul Johnson in 1991 and staying for most of the Apple Valley/Duluth East marathon semifinal game in 1996. Loren Nelson has covered every state tournament since 2009 as the national media editor for Sport Ngin. He attended many, many other Tourney games as a high schooler from the far northern reaches of Minnesota making the annual pilgrimage south to the old St. Paul Civic Center in the 1980s.
The summer high school hockey scrimmage season is upon us, and teams will be criss-crossing the state in coming weeks in search of top competition.
Long drives are unnecessary, however, in the west metro, home to many of the state’s perennial powerhouses.
Wayzata is hosting its 2015 Trojan High School Hockey Summer Festival at the Plymouth Ice Garden on July 24-25. The host Trojans will be joined by Eden Prairie, Elk River, Minnetonka, Maple Grove and Hopkins. There’s no charge to watch the scrimmages.
The game format: two 25-minute running-time halves, with 1-minute power plays on infractions. Ties will be broken by a three-person shootout. Wins are worth three points, shootout losses are work one point.
Worth noting: Assuming Mr. Hockey candidate Michael Graham and Minnesota-committ Casey Mittelstadt return, Eden Prairie is a lock to start the season ranked in the Top 5 - and possibly as high as No. 1. Wayzata, Elk River and Minnetonka also have the talent and tradition to be ranked in the top 10.
Gold Pool
Wayzata
Elk River
Hopkins
Navy Pool
Minnetonka
Eden Prairie
Maple Grove
Schedule
Friday July 24th
Rink A | ||
9:00 - 10:00 | Minnetonka Varsity | Eden Prairie Varsity |
10:15 - 11:15 | Wayzata Varsity | Elk River Varsity |
11:30 - 12:30 | Eden Prairie Varsity | Maple Grove Varsity |
12:45 - 1:45 | Hopkins Varsity | Elk River Varsity |
2:00 - 3:00 | Minnetonka Varsity | Maple Grove Varsity |
3:15 - 4:15 | Wayzata Varsity | Hopkins Varsity |
Rink C | ||
8:00 - 9:00 | Minnetonka JV | Eden Prairie JV |
9:15 - 10:15 | Wayzata JV | Elk River JV |
10:30 - 11:30 | Eden Prairie JV | Maple Grove JV |
11:45 - 12:45 | Hopkins JV | Elk River JV |
1:00 - 2:00 | Minnetonka JV | Maple Grove JV |
2:15 - 3:15 | Wayzata JV | Hopkins JV |
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Saturday, July 25 | ||
Rink A | ||
9:30 - 10:30 | #3 Seed Gold Pool | #3 Seed Navy Pool |
10:45 - 11:45 | #1 Seed Gold Pool (Semi's) | #2 Seed Navy Pool (Semi's) |
12:00 - 1:00 | #2 Seed Gold Pool (Semi's) | #1 Seed Navy Pool (Semi's) |
1:15 - 2:15 | Semi-Final Winner |
Semi-Final Winner |
Rink C | ||
8:30 - 9:30 | #3 Seed Gold Pool | #3 Seed Navy Pool |
9:45 - 10:45 | #1 Seed Gold Pool (Semi's) | #2 Seed Navy Pool (Semi's) |
11:00 - 12:00 | #2 Seed Gold Pool (Semi's) | #1 Seed Navy Pool (Semi's) |
12:15 - 1:15 | Semi-Final Winner | Semi-Final Winner |