Roseville vs Tonka

[Nostalgic Nerd]

Does anyone have any details on Roseville's loss to Tonka over the holidays? After two days of viewing it seems to me the Raiders are well above anyone else in the tournament and am a bit suprised they hadn't come into the tournament undefeated. They seem to have the easiest time of any team getting the puck out of their own end. I thought maybe certain key players may have been gone from the lineup, or Tonka's speed gave them problems?

[hockeywild7]

Roseville was missing players over the holiday tournament. I believe Flug and Stecklein were gone for the Minnetonka game. Either way I think the difference in the game is going to be goaltending and I personally give the edge to Roseville because of that.

[MNHockeyFan]

Roseville has the advantage of going into the game a little more rested, having played earlier and not having had to go into overtime.

However I would not count Minnetonka out - they are playing very well right now, and if weren't for some great goaltending plus some bad luck last night Tonka wouldn't have needed the extra session to win that game.

Should be a classic AA championship game and I'm really looking forward to seeing it.

[blueblood]

Minnetonka Skippers go B2B and defeat Roseville 3-0.

Tonka, Tonka (clap, clap, clap, clap, clap)...

[hockeya1a]

Minnetonka Skippers go B2B and defeat Roseville 3-0.

Tonka, Tonka (clap, clap, clap, clap, clap)...

Congrats to Tonka and Breck on their win! SSP and Roseville you made this a great tournament to watch! Congrats to all of the girls.

[Sparlimb]

Minnetonka Skippers go B2B and defeat Roseville 3-0.

Tonka, Tonka (clap, clap, clap, clap, clap)...

Congrats to Tonka. Took their lumps during the year but came together at the right time. They beat the top teams on teh way to the title, so they are very deserving. Roseville finally had a game where they were just as good but the bounces didn't go their way.

[GopherFanARM]

However I would not count Minnetonka out - they are playing very well right now, and if weren't for some great goaltending plus some bad luck last night Tonka wouldn't have needed the extra session to win that game.

Minnetonka also got some good luck on Friday. The clear the length of the ice by the Lakeville North player didn't miss the empty net by much, and it is doubtful that the Skippers would have had time to come back if they'd been down by two. Baseball isn't the only game of inches. With a few notable exceptions of very dominant teams, most champions need a break or two along the way to capture a title.

Well done by the Skippers; they've come through two very solid fields to win AA.

[sinbin]

One could also argue that Tonka had some bad luck on Thurs and Fri as they hit at least 4 pipes Thurs and at least 3 more on Fri. Plus, they missed numerous open nets. If any of this changes, the games are blowouts. But, yes, that huge whoosh of air you heard was the Tonka fans exhaling as that clearing pass/shot wobbled down the ice and missed the net by only a few inches. Over time, things tend to even out, but you have to feel for LN who were inches close (on that shot) and seconds close (tying goal with 20.9 seconds remaining) to advancing to the finals. In the finals, Tonka finally put together 3 solid periods with goaltending and role players making the difference.

[Homer]

Definately, congrats to both champs.

I have enjoyed watching that group of tonka girls play as they grew up. Regular season and summer season, go luck next year ladies

[Nostalgic Nerd]

Sounds like they have a real chance of threepeating with only four seniors leaving. Should be fun to see!

[sinbin]

It will still be tough, since we may see Benilde and Tonka ranked 1-2 (or likely at least both top 5), both battling to make it out of Section 6AA again.

[Silent But Deadly]

It will still be tough, since we may see Benilde and Tonka ranked 1-2 (or likely at least both top 5), both battling to make it out of Section 6AA again.

And don't forget Wayzata, Buffalo, Armstrong/Cooper & Hopkins....they likely won't fall over and play dead!

[sinbin]

Nope, Silent, on any given night . . . . Wayzata beat Tonka during the regular season this year, so anything can happen. That game may have served as a wake-up call to Tonka as they played stronger the rest of the way.