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Tyler Klein, Wayzata sink Red Knights

By Michael Murakami, Hockey Hub staff, 02/27/11, 2:00AM CST

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Dominant second period, Klein's hat trick boost Trojans past Benilde-St. Margaret's


Wayzata celebrates one of its six goals during the Section 6AA semifinal game against Benilde-St. Margaret's on Saturday, Feb. 26. Photo by Adam Crane

Fans were ariving at the Bloomington Ice Garden six hours before tickets went on sale.

On a cold February night, the nearest parking spots could be found at Normandale Community College -- two blocks from the arena.

Fans staked out their seats hours before the puck dropped in the first period.

Nobody seemed to doubt the Section 6AA semifinal game between Benilde-St. Margaret’s and Wayzata would provide excitement.

Those people got what they wanted and more.

Though the two teams had not played each other during the regular season, neither program was oblivious to the other’s successful year.

“Even though we hadn’t played them, we know them very well,” Wayzata coach Carl Davis said. “We’re out there watching games and we knew exactly what they had. So we were very familiar with their personnel, what their strengths were, who their top guys were and so I thought we were very prepared.”


Wayzata junior forward Mario Lucia (No. 22) taps home a loose puck in the first period of the Section 6AA semifinal game against Benilde-St. Margaret's on Saturday, Feb 26. Photo by Adam Crane

The Trojans won 6-3 thanks to massive production from Wayzata’s top line.

Senior forward Tyler Klein recorded his second hat trick of the season and Tony Cameranesi and Mario Lucia each added a goal and two assists.

“We came into this game trying to be pretty physical,” Davis said. “We thought they could skate with us, which they showed. Overall, I think our team speed and our depth helped a little bit. Obviously, Tony, Mario and Tyler played a great game again tonight for us.”

With Cameranesi being one of 10 Mr. Hockey Award finalists and Lucia listed high in the NHL midterm rankings, Klein’s offensive explosion seemed to come from nowhere.

Not the case, according to Davis.

“He’s been a finisher his whole career at every level, and he showed it again tonight,” Davis said. “It was pretty amazing that Tony had two breakaways and three two-on-one’s -- all three of those were with Tyler and they converted on two of them. For him to be able to make those plays at that time in the game that was a huge boost for us.

“It made the difference.”

Klein said the performance felt good.

“This is probably one of those best games of the year,” Klein said. “In the section semifinal, playoff hockey, it’s always great to get a hat trick no matter what game you play in. To go a long with that, I got a lot of help from Tony and Mario both this game.”

Just like any top line at any level, Wayzata’s starting three has had its on and off nights. Occasionally, they won’t click as well. Other nights, their production is similar to the Saturday, Feb. 26, game against Benilde-St. Margaret’s.


Wayzata senior forward Tyler Klein (No. 3) nets one of his three goals during the Section 6AA semifinal game against Benilde-St. Margaret's on Saturday, Feb. 26. Photo by Adam Crane

“We came out flat in the first seven, eight minutes of the game but then we started bouncing back,” Klein said. “We kept it simple. We’ve playing with each other long enough for the last two years and we just know each other is going to be there. When we can do that we’re able to move that puck and put it in the back of the net.”

Klein, Cameranesi and Lucia combined for 10 points (five goals, five assists).

Their efforts played a major role sending Wayzata to the Section 6AA championship game where the Trojans will take on Lake Conference rival Eden Prairie.

“We think we can play with them – there’s no question about it,” Davis said. “We tied with them 3-3 early in the year and then they beat us 4-3, but both games were very close as well as up and down. They love to skate, we love to skate.

“It’s going to be a pretty exciting game, especially at Mariucci on the big sheet.”

The rest of the Trojans seem to agree.

“We’ve always struggled with Eden Prairie down the stretch,” Klein said. “But I think this one if we just keep it simple and keep playing how we’re playing, we’ll be able to pull it out.”

Tough end for the Red Knights

Although smiles were a-plenty on the Wayzata side of the arena and in the Trojans’ locker room, the harsh reality for the Benilde-St. Margaret’s fans and team was tough to endure.

After several minutes alone with his team following the game, Benilde-St. Margaret’s coach Ken Pauly emerged from the Red Knights’ locker room.

“Well, it’s never the speech you want to give,” Pauly said about his postgame comments to the team. “The fact is you’re going to say a goodbye speech no matter what in the next couple weeks, most teams are saying them in settings just like this and unfortunately it was us tonight. We had a hell of a team.

“One loss doesn’t negate what happened all year.”

Pauly was noticeably disappointed and sad about the game’s result but proud of the way his team played.

“They could have cashed it in when it was 5-1 and they continued to battle, I think that says a lot for them,” Pauly said regarding his team’s effort. “They played that way all year. I think they distinguished themselves by not quitting.

"We’re just disappointed – we don’t think we put our best forward tonight but that’s what happened. We’re a good team but we ran into another good team and we lost.”

Rosters for Wayzata and Benilde-St. Margaret’s featured former teammates and several friends.

“It’s always great playing your buddies but at the end of the day you hate to see them lose,” Wayzata senior forward Tyler Klein said. “During the game you’re not friends with anyone but it’s sad to see their season be over right now.”

“The problem is you’re not going to win these games if you’re not scoring on the power play,” Pauly said. “Our power play failed us tonight, there’s just no other way to put it. You can’t win these games if you lose the special teams battle. We had a five-on-three opportunity and we didn’t generate much. In this atmosphere, sometimes kids start doing things they haven’t done all year and I really got the sense that we were doing that. That’s too bad.

“More than anything else, that’s the part that’s disappointing that our power play that had been so good all year was not sharp tonight. I think that was the difference and Wayzata is a strong team. That’s probably where we’re susceptible. We’re a little more smaller and we’re still a young team, a lot of sophomores. I think it showed tonight as we had a difficult time getting to the net.”

The Red Knights also featured a talented group of seniors led by co-captains Patrick Daly and Patrick Steinhauser.

“It’s difficult every year,” Pauly said. “Any coach will tell you the seniors who are with you have usually been with you are usually with you for three, four years. It’s especially difficult when you have people of character like Patrick Daly and Patrick Steinhauser. Daly has been with us for four years and I’ve seen him grow up. Steinhauser has been with us for three.

“Sometimes it is more difficult than others and this year is certainly one of those.”


Benilde-St. Margaret's junior forward Christian Horn (left) draws the attention of Wayzata defensemen Marc Richards (No. 25) and D.J. Jones (No. 24) as well as Trojans' goaltender Aaron Dingmann during the Section 6AA semifinal game on Saturday, Feb. 26.

Statistics, Summary

Photo Gallery

Game Recap

Tyler Klein notched his second hat trick of the season and Aaron Dingmann made 30 saves as Wayzata defeated Benilde-St. Margaret's 6-3 during the Section 6AA semifinals on Saturday, Feb. 26, at Bloomington Ice Garden.

Mario Lucia and Tony Cameranesi each contributed a goal and two assists for the Trojans (20-5-2).

Benilde-St. Margaret's sophomore forward T.J. Moore registered two goals and junior forward Christian Horn scored once for the Red Knights.

Justin Quale made 22 saves for Benilde-St. Margaret's as the Red Knights finish the season 22-5-0.

Up next for Wayzata is the Section 6AA championship game against Lake Conference rival Eden Priarie on Wednesday, March 2, at Mariucci Arena at 8 p.m. following the Section 2AA championship between Edina and Burnsville.


Wayzata sophomore goaltender Aaron Dingmann. Photo by Adam Crane

Three Stars

1. Tyler Klein, Wayzata
People may have come out to Bloomington Ice Garden to see the Tony Cameranesi and Mario Lucia show but don't forget about Tyler Klein. The senior forward picked a great time to register his second hat trick of the season and also assisted on Lucia's first period goal. Klein had several two-on-one chances with Camereanesi or Lucia and capitalized.

2. Aaron Dingmann, Wayzata
The Trojans can definitely score but goaltending was a question throughout the season and looking at the Section 6AA playoffs. Dingmann may be the answer Wayzata was looking for. The sophomore goaltender was stellar in-between the pipes making 30 saves in the semifinal battle.

3. T.J. Moore, Benilde-St. Margaret's
The Red Knights needed to capitalize on every chance they could get and Moore seemed to be up to that challenge. The sophomore forward buried two goals for Benilde-St. Margaret's, both of them with plenty of room to get a shot off with a great look at the Wayzata goal. On a night when Red Knights' scoring threats Pat Steinhauser and Grant Besse were kept out of the goal scoring column, Moore stepped things up.


Benilde-St. Margaret's sophomore forward T.J. Moore. Photo by Adam Crane

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