Blake Boys' hockey seeks its 21st conference crown
By Matt Thomas Sports Reporter
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In the cozy confines of the Blake Ice Arena there hangs a banner that tells a story of a rich tradition. The banner has 20 years listed on it to mark the 20 conference championships the school's boys' hockey team has won since 1975.
This year's team members would love to add the year 2007 to that banner and they are well on their way to doing so.
The Bears improved to 4-0 in Tri Metro Conference play on Jan. 27 when they defeated their arch-rival Breck 4-3 in overtime.
After surrendering two shorthanded goals to the Mustangs earlier in the game, the Bears tied the game late in regulation and then won it in overtime.
Junior defenseman Sean McMahon scored his first goal of the season with under two minutes remaining in the third period to tie the game at three.
Two minutes and 39 seconds into overtime, junior forward Jack Barnes notched the game-winner. The win gives the Bears a one-game cushion over the Mustangs in the conference standings with four games to play.
"It was a very intense game. They're an excellent team who we have tremendous respect for," Bears head coach John Hamre said. "I'm proud of how our guys showed heart and determination, but we k now that we're in for a battle and dogfight again in a couple of weeks".
The dogfight that Hamre speaks of is the rematch between the Bears and Mustangs, which will take place on Feb 17 - the final day of the regular season.
While a conference championship could be decided that afternoon, the game will also go a long way in deciding seeding in Section 5A.
The section looks to be very competitive this year with Blake, Breck, Totino-Grace and Mahtomedi fighting for the top four seeds.
"Our section is as competitive of a section as there is in the state," Hamre said. "I would characterize it as a wide open section this year."
Another team in the Bears' section who normally garners on the top seeds Is St. Louis Park.
The Orioles are an extremely young team this year and the Bears were able to exploit that inexperience when the two teams met on Thursday, Feb 1.
The Bears scored four times in the first period and cruised to an 8-0 victory. Midway through the second period the Bears had eight goals on the scoreboard, while the Orioles had just seven shots on goad.
Senior forward Eric Olson led the way offensively with two goals and three assists in the victory. Junior goaltender Peter Johnson made 16 saves to earn this third shutout of the season.
"We have tremendous respect for the St. Louis Park team and program," Hamre said. "We know they're a good team and I don't think the score is necessarily indicative of their caliber of play. We got some pretty lucky and fortunate breaks tonight, and that's how the game played out."
The lopsided win for the Bears felt good considering that they have been on the other end of the stick in losses to Minnetonka (7-0) and Shattuck-St. Mary's (9-0).
"You have to try to learn form every game and those were great experiences for out team," Hamre said. "Playing the Shattucks and the Minnetonkas and the Cretins - those are tough, tough teams and you can't help but learn from seeing how they play."
The Bears do not have several players who will jump out at you statistically. Senior forward Mike Louwerse, who missed the first four games of the season due to injury, leads the team in scoring with nine goals and six assists.
Senior Stephen Steinhauser has eight goals and seven assists, while Barnes has six goals and eight assists.
"It is what it is," Hamre said. "I've never focused on individual statistics. I've always focused on team statistics and team play. Sharing the puck, team defense and team offense in reflected in that you see in balanced statistics."
The Bears hope that balance can help to keep them undefeated until the big rematch with Breck.
Reprinted with permission LakeShore News
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