AA QF - #8 Gentry Academy vs. #1 Minnetonka

[karl(east)]

#8 GENTRY ACADEMY vs. #1 MINNETONKA
11:00 Thursday
-A Tourney surprise takes on one of the clear favorites as we switch to a new format in which the 8-seed vs. 1-seed game starts the day. These teams have never met before.

Gentry Academy (17-9-2, #25, 5-seed in 4AA)
State appearances: First in AA; one in Class A (2021)
Championships: 1, in Class A (2021)
Key section wins: 6-3 over #22 East Ridge, 4-2 over #10 Hill-Murray, 3-0 over #18 White Bear Lake

It’s a new era in 4AA, as Gentry Academy, a charter school in its eighth season of operation, rolled through a parity-filled section to claim its first AA berth. This team forechecks hard and has strong special teams, and it improved as the season went along, losing a bunch of narrow games against respectable teams early before going on an undefeated run in their past nine. They’re also very young, which bodes well for the future. Sophomore Jaxon Cook (19) is the offensive star, and defenseman Nate Wilke (27) is their second-leading scorer and was the star of the section final. Collin Hennes (22) put together a productive season, and two more young guns round out the leading scorer list, freshman Everett Nelson (20) and sophomore Braden Bois (21). Two goaltenders split time with fairly comparable stats this year, but Gavin Grose (33) has been the playoff starter and shut out White Bear in the section final. Minnetonka is a much taller order than anyone in 4AA, but this team comes in with little to lose and has proven it can trouble some bluebloods.

Minnetonka (24-2-2, #2, 1-seed in 2AA)
State appearances: 8 (last in 2023)
Championships: 2 (2018, 2023)
Key section win: 4-1 over #13 Eden Prairie

The Skippers were the top team in the state for much of the season. Early on they were posting historically low goals against totals, and while that slipped somewhat as they continued on through Lake Conference play and a very tough schedule, that defensive discipline has been their bread and butter, allowing just 1.36 goals per game. They don’t rely on any one player or line for offense, with nine skaters logging between 22 and 31 points. The roll call of quality forwards includes Cash Hardie (14), Max Aronson (23), Dartmouth-bound Ethan Sturgis (12), Liam Schultz (11), and Caden Lindsay (8); I could go on, since they’re all so interchangeable. Two defensemen make real contributions on offense: Danny Browning (13) and Tate Hardacre (21), but the D corps is very deep, with Ferris State commit Cam Merrick (4) also on the roster. Chase Jerdee (31) put up great numbers in net and is the sole Frank Brimsek Award finalist to make the Tourney. This team has the depth and the gameplan to march through to the championship game; they did a good job of locking down Moorhead back in December, though Edina gave them trouble across two conference games. One possible source of concern for coach Sean Goldsworthy as he looks to join a select club with his third championship: the special teams, while fine, have not been elite.

[Sparlimb]

Karl is right. Gentry loses 2 skaters off this team going into next year. I assume they'll be the favorite in 4AA once again. Curious to see how they show up today against the Skippers.

[Doc Holliday]

0-0 shots 7-1/2 minutes in.....even though I specifically remember at least 4 Minnetonka shots on goal.

[Nostalgic Nerd]

Starting to tilt so looks like I have to toss the fairy dust in.the air.

[Nostalgic Nerd]

What's impressive about Tonka is the amount of talent they have since their first title. It's just will the coaching be on par with the talent. I felt that way about Moorhead last year and hurry up and finally get your title.

[headsupsticksdown]

Tonka is definitely stacked as far as the pipeline goes. Sure, you have a move in here and there and it can be debated that a lot are not homegrown talent (ie. Pulling from outside of Minnetonka borders), but a lot of those kids have been in the association for a while. On the flip side you're also going to lose 3-4 kids every year after Bantams for one reason or another. But they will keep rolling along, similar to Edina because they just have so many kids to pull from.

[Doc Holliday]

Tonka flexing their muscle....

[east hockey]

Jesus. Once the Skippers get rolling....

Lee

[Nostalgic Nerd]

Tonka is definitely stacked as far as the pipeline goes. Sure, you have a move in here and there and it can be debated that a lot are not homegrown talent (ie. Pulling from outside of Minnetonka borders), but a lot of those kids have been in the association for a while. On the flip side you're also going to lose 3-4 kids every year after Bantams for one reason or another. But they will keep rolling along, similar to Edina because they just have so many kids to pull from.

Tonka has even more talent imo, but Giles is the better coach.

[headsupsticksdown]

Wake me up when this is over.