The MN State Hockey Tourney

My brother and his team had officially made it to the MN State High School Hockey tournament. We were so so excited to make the trip back home to watch the games even though we had just been there for the weekend. We left on Thursday and drove straight to my Aunt Mary's in Woodbury to drop Everett off. My Uncle Steve offered to drive us to the Excel Energy Center because the word was it was unbelievably packed and parking was not even close. We got there to see the previous game end and say hello to all the family members. My mom had a special sweatshirt made for Josh that said Pioneers on the front and my brother number and name on the sleeve. He was SO excited!

It was the second time I had been to the state tournament, the first time was when I was in H.S. And I don't remember it being so packed. Literally, the Excel Energy center was sold out. Throughout the tournament they posted the daily attendance and one of the facts they put up on the scoreboard was that the second most attended event a the Excel was a MN State High School Hockey game. The first was a Shania Twain concert. Yep, MN hockey is big. Another fun fact, the entire sections on either side of the rink are for season ticket holders. Leaving the four sections on either end of the ice open for fans of the teams that are playing.

Game one was against Duluth East. It was a good game, although too close for comfort... I want a big lead... 2 goals were fired right away by Duluth... YUCK... my stomach was in knots the entired game. Thankfully before the first period was over my brothers team had scored 2 goals... within 10 seconds of eachother. But Duluth scored a third time, just as the clock ran out for the first period. 3-2... high scoring game. Josh was a riot during the game, watching every second of it, including the little kids during periods and the zamboni. He loved being passed around from family member to family member. In the second period my brothers team came out roaring and scored two games. It was finally looking like they were going to pull it off. My brother scored an awesome goal in the second period to give the Pioneers the final goal of the game. It was AWESOME!

The next day we had to play Minnetonka, the number one team in the State. Everyone knew Hill would have to come out strong right away. Minnetonka had 3 confirmed D1 recruits already. My stomach hurt all day just thinking about it! It was an unbelievable game. Everyone seemed to be on the edge of their seat after the first period. Hill Murray had control over the game right from the start. But they just couldn't sink the puck. Minnetonka got a goal in the first period on one of the first defensive mistakes, but Hill was able to tie it up. The rest of the game was a nailbiter with Hill out shooting Minnetonka 24 shots to 9! It was ridiculous... but puck just wouldn't go in. The game continued for four overtimes... Almost ending once after a goal went in for Minnetonka... but it was called off because it was kicked in. Phew... but the fun was quickly over in the fourth overtime when Minnetonka scored. The place was still packed even though it was 12:30am! They had been playing hockey for 3.5 hours... it was crazy! And yes, Josh was still up and with us but didn't understand how we lost. It was the second longest game in H.S. state tourney history!

The next day we played Apple Valley for third. Hill came out strong with the graduating seniors playing the first line. Within 20 seconds, my brother scored the first goal... setting them up for another strong game, even if they had just played 8 hours earlier! They won 6-3 to take the Third Place title. Not bad. Even though we all knew the play-off game was the game against Minnetonka...

Minnetonka got second by the way... they lost to Eden Prairie and looked like crap... our fans yelled "You are Welcome" to the Eden Prairie fans... basically because Hill had run them down so they were easier to beat.

We went to celebrate after the game at Champps... my brother came down there with his girlfriend and we watch the state final game on TV... My brother got a call as we were sitting there that he had made the All Tournament team. So he drove back to the Excel with my parents... the rest of us watched on TV as he and my parents walked out at the end of the game. My brother also won the Hobey Baker H.S. Character award. As you can tell, I am pretty proud of him!

Everett didn't get to watch any of the games in person, he was able to hang out with our family though. My grandparents watched him for the final game against Apple Valley... with everyone knew watching him I thought it might be good to print out an "All about me" page with some quick notes about Everett. I am pretty sure they all thought I was nuts... but each of them did read it and did appreciate some part of it. My uncle was happy to have our phone number so he could get a hold of us when we needed to be picked up. My grandparents were happy to read that he doesn't necessarily need to be burped. ha ha! So even though they made fun of me... it was helpful. And I didn't give them a 10 minute schpeel before we left.