Quantcast
skip navigation

Eden Prairie rides vintage Ford

By Loren Nelson, Editor, 02/26/11, 8:00PM CST

Share

No. 2-ranked Eagles get shutout from senior in 6AA semifinal win over Minnetonka


Minnetonka's Erik Baskin (22) looks for an opening past behind Eden Prairie defenseman Nick Seeler and behind Eagles goaltender Andrew Ford. Photo by Helen Nelson


Eden Prairie senior Andrew Ford registered his third shutout of the season in Saturday's Section 6AA semifinal victory over Minnetonka. Photo by Helen Nelson

Travel deep into the Section 6AA playoffs, and the magnitude of the games multiply tenfold with each giant step forward.

Reach the semifinals and, really, there’s no need for coaches to give impassioned speeches or manufacture bulletin-board material.

“Anyone in this big of a game is going to be motivated,” Minnetonka coach Brian Urick said about the Skippers’ section semifinal showdown with Eden Prairie.

Yet, over in the Eagles’ locker room, scrawled on a white board, were two numbers.

7 – 2.

“They had embarrassed us last year,” Eden Prairie senior goaltender Andrew Ford said about Minnetonka’s runaway victory over the Eagles in last year’s Section 6AA championship game. “It was redemption.”

Ford, who allowed six goals a year ago in the season-ending loss to the Skippers, was flawless this time as the Eagles skated to a 4-0 triumph on Saturday, Feb. 26, in front of an announced crowd of 1,675 at Braemar Arena in Edina.

“Ford had a huge game for us,” Eagles defenseman Nick Seeler said. “It was definitely one of the best games he’s played this season.”

With Eden Prairie playing the state’s toughest regular season schedule, top 10 team after top 10 team night after night, Ford was, at times, fighting the puck. His save percentage (.886) was lower and goals-against average (2.71) higher than in previous seasons.

“’With our schedule, it’s tough,” Ford said. “I’ve had a lot of off games, but I think the game is coming together right now and it is working well.”


Eden Prairie's Kyle Rau beat Minnetonka's Alex Glockner for a second-period goal. Photo by Helen Nelson

Ford flashed his vintage form against Minnetonka, the same make-it-look-easy style that took the state by storm two seasons ago when, as a sophomore, he backstopped the Eagles to the state Class 2A championship.

He finished with 27 saves, including nine in the first period when Minnetonka created some of its best scoring chances.

“I thought Ford played well tonight,” Urick said. “He made some tough saves early, the kind that build the confidence.”

Ford made just four saves in the second period, but one of them was exceedingly clutch. With the Eagles holding a 2-0 lead, Minnetonka’s Phil Katopodis roared down the middle of the slot with the puck and with plenty of time to pick his corner. Katopodis unleashed a shot headed for the inside of the right post, but Ford snagged the puck with his catching glove.

Eden Prairie scored just seconds later, as Seeler grabbed a turnover at the Minnetonka blue line and, after some nifty maneuvering, fed Kyle Rau for a goal that put the Eagles ahead 3-0.

“Let’s face it, they remembered last year,” Smith said. “Minnetonka made a statement on us, and I think we came back this year and did the same.”

Turns out, it wasn’t Smith who posted those numbers on the white board. Ford said it was senior defenseman Dan Molenaar who provided the not-so-subtle reminder.

Motivation? Maybe.

Redemption? For sure.

Statistics, Summary

Video Highlights

Photo Gallery

Game Recap


Andrew Ford

Senior Andrew Ford made 27 saves to lead Eden Prairie past Minnetonka 4-0 in a Section 6AA semifinal on Saturday, Feb. 26, at Braemar Arena in Edina.

Eden Prairie advances to the section final at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, March 3, at Mariucci Arena in Minneapolis.

Ford, who burst on the state scene two seasons ago when he helped the Eagles win the state Class 2A championship, made 14 saves in the final period as No. 1-seeded Eden Prairie (20-5-2) withstood a final surge by No. 4 Minnetonka (17-8-2).

Eden Prairie led 1-0 after the first period and took command in the second, when seniors Jack McCartan and Kyle Rau scored to put the Eagles ahead 3-0.

One of Ford’s best saves came moments before Rau’s goal. Minnetonka’s Phil Katopodis cruised down the slot and fired a wrist shot Ford snared with his glove.

When the play went the other direction, senior defenseman Nick Seeler used a series of head fakes and some deft stickhandling to set up Rau, who was camped to the right of Minnetonka goaltender Alex Glockner.

Senior Des Shavlik added an insurange goal in the third for Eden Prairie, which lost 7-2 to Minnetonka in last year’s Section 6AA final.

Senior defenseman Curt Rau, Kyle's twin brother, scored the only goal of the first period on a screened shot from the point.

Glockner made 27 saves for the Skippers.

Three Stars

1. Andrew Ford, Eden Prairie
The senior goaltender has a history of playing big in the biggest of games, and he added a page to that book with his flawless 27-save performance against Minnetonka. Ford has had his ups and downs this season while playing most of the state’s elite programs, but he looked cool and comfortable with every stop against the Skippers.

2. Nick Seeler, Eden Prairie
The senior defenseman didn’t score, but the Nebraska-Omaha recruit did deliver the prettiest play of the night when he stole the puck at the Minnetonka blue line, walked around two Skippers and fed Kyle Rau at the side of the net for an easy goal that put the Eagles ahead 3-0 in the second period.

3. Alex Glockner, Minnetonka
The senior faced quality shot after quality shot, wraparound attempt after wraparound attempt and was in position to thwart most every high quality Eden Prairie scoring chance. Glockner finished with 27 saves and couldn’t be faulted on any of the Eagles’ goals.

Regular Season Results

How They've Fared

Scoring Leaders

Spotlight Game Coverage

Recent Stories

  • Five reasons Edina became a state champion

  • By DAVID LA VAQUE, Star Tribune 03/11/2024, 9:30am CDT
  • The 14th state championship for Edina/Edina East featured, of course, a hot goalie, but it also came with a list of intangible reasons for success.
  • Read More

Q and A Archive

  • Mean streak

  • By Loren Nelson, MN Hockey Hub editor 12/11/2012, 8:45am CST
  • Hermantown's Neal Pionk plays a throwback style complete with high degree of 'nasty'
  • Read More 1 Comment
  • Quick Q&A: Jake Hill survived the seniors' greeting

  • By Star Tribune 12/06/2012, 12:22am CST
  • South St. Paul hockey defenseman Jake Hill enjoys the holiday season. The senior, who also plays football and baseball, likes it even more once there is snow on the ground. Here is a closer look at Hill:
  • Read More
  • A man for all seasons

  • By Tim Kolehmainen, Breakdown Sports USA 11/14/2012, 2:00pm CST
  • Guidebook sneak peek: Q and A with multisport Hill-Murray standout Zach LaValle
  • Read More
  • Crusader on the climb

  • By Walker Orenstein, MN Hockey Hub staff 08/27/2012, 12:38pm CDT
  • Q and A with St. Cloud Cathedral, Team Great Plains forward Austin Poganski
  • Read More
  • The Big Labosky

  • By Loren Nelson, MN Hockey Hub editor 07/04/2012, 6:49pm CDT
  • Q & A with fast, feisty Benilde-St. Margaret's forward Dan Labosky
  • Read More

Trek to the X

'Overtime' Archives

  • Cats claw to victory

  • By Pete Waggoner, OTSN contributor 12/16/2011, 11:59am CST
  • Eagan impresses in 10-1 over Lakeville North; Edina Holiday Classic report
  • Read More
  • 'Overtime' heroics

  • By Pete Waggoner, OTSN contributor 12/14/2011, 11:59am CST
  • Tim Mueller's goal in extra period lifts Prior Lake over Wayzata
  • Read More
  • Tale of two teams

  • By Pete Waggoner, OTSN contributor 12/12/2011, 11:59am CST
  • Pair of Duluth-area teams are unbeaten and highly ranked but with differing emotions
  • Read More