Nate’s Puck Notes Section 5AA Edition: Blaine vs. Coon Rapids
CHAMPLIN– It is here hockey folks, Minnesota’s best winter event has arrived! We were at Champlin Ice Forum last night for the big opening to watch two games to start the section. Our first game was a battle between 1…
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Continue ReadingCHAMPLIN– It is here hockey folks, Minnesota’s best winter event has arrived! We were at Champlin Ice Forum last night for the big opening to watch two games to start the section. Our first game was a battle between 1 seed Blaine and 8 seed Coon Rapids. Knowing the early season history from this game, I knew it probably wouldn’t be pretty and you could get the vibe from the Bengals early in this one that they would probably like more “competition” than the Cardinals to start the big section playoffs. Here were the keys to victory for the Bengals, who got one of my three stars and more!
KEYS TO VICTORY
- In any sport, it’s all comes down to the momentum you build throughout the game to get the victory. Blaine developed that momentum in the first period, getting their first goal within 20 seconds of the puck dropping with a goal by Mason Streeter (2020). Blaine would go on to score four more goals in that period alone putting the game darn near out of reach at the end of the first period.
- The shot count was 68 for Blaine and only 12 for Coon Rapids. Bengals goalie Ryan Wallin (2022) could have taken a nap in goal most of the game and still could have gotten a quality outing. Also, you need to look at the quality of shots, as most of what Coon Rapids shot at Wallin was easy to tell that the experience level of the Cardinals was extremely low compared to perennial state favorite, Blaine
- When you look at Coon Rapids you need to determine, who is to blame in this blowout? Although he allowed in 7 goals (5 in the first, 2 in the second) Connor Wise (2020) did have 61 saves which are a high number. Goalies get a parade when they get a bunch of saves, but would you consider that “a good outing” for a goaltender? I look at in two ways. 1) the Cardinals did not allow as many goals as their last game against Blaine in the regular season. 2) The defensemen lead by hockey captain and football stud Jake Van Hulzen (2020, Winona State commit for football), did get better as the periods went on allowing 2 and 0 goals in the last period against Blaine’s backup lines that may be better than the Cardinals starting line.
THREE STARS
Zach Buzick, Forward, Blaine (2020)
-Buzick tallied 3 points last night with two assists and the first goal in the second period. I was impressed with his passing across the ice and in the corners. Buzick had some more opportunities for goals that could have put him as a game MVP, but the shots were just stopped by Wise by the skin of his chin. You may remember Buzick from this clip shattering Centennial’s Jordan Newpower and breaking the glass with his hitting ability
Ben Wallraff, Forward, Blaine (2021)
-Wallraff was another 3 pointer for Blaine last night carrying similar stats as Buzick. Wallraff came off a backup line for the Bengals, which is impressive for a junior to get two assists and a goal in a section playoff game, even if it is against Coon Rapids. Getting those backup lines to perform, shows why Blaine is a state contender when it’s all said and done.
Game MVP: Jack Reimann, Forward, Blaine (2021)
You have to have one of your captains get the job done for you right? Jack Reimann was rocket fire at Connor Wise all night long at the net. He scored two goals and on a large number of shots on goal and also tallied one assist. Reimann showed last night why he’s one of the captains on this Blaine Bengals team.
Blaine (17-8) will get 4 seed Totino-Grace (8-15) on Saturday at Champlin Ice Forum at 3:00 PM. They are coming off an upset record-wise anyway, by beating Champlin Park (16-9) on Wednesday night in Coon Rapids, 3-1 although the Eagles were ranked higher in the QRF in the section.
Coon Rapids (2-23) only graduates just four seniors, so look for some improvement on their record in the Northwest Suburban Conference next season.