Rather than focus exclusively on the Minnesota Wild’s top prospects, we’re taking a look at the best players from across the State of Hockey every week.
From college to the pros, check out our recap of all the week’s events in Minnesota hockey, as we check in with college players, Wild prospects and State of Hockey alums. This week, we take a closer look at the boys high school hockey tournament.
Check out our three stars of the week in the latest edition of the State of Hockey Tracker.
FIRST STAR
Peter Colby, F, Edina
Edina has won 13 state titles over the last 50 years, but Saturday's final was one the Hornets won't soon forget. A senior forward, Colby led the way against Eden Prairie despite scoring just seven goals during the regular season. Colby scored twice to power Edina to a 3-2 win over Eden Prairie, his first two points of the state tournament and first goals of the postseason. Colby put the Hornets up 2-1 in the third period, then ended it with a laser from the slot in overtime, following his championship-winning goal up with a celly for the ages.
GAME WINNER?@edinahornets #TheTourney19 pic.twitter.com/v2hnln5HSY
— The Tourney '19 (@tourney__19) March 10, 2019
SECOND STAR
Henry Welsch, G, Lakeville South
By the end of the first period, Eden Prairie appeared to have a trip to the 2A semifinals locked up. The Eagles led 2-0, and had outshot the Cougars 12-2. Lakeville South stormed back, tying things up with a goal in the final minute of the third period, while Eden Prairie wouldn't score again until the 7:03 mark of the third overtime thanks to the Cougars' senior goaltender. Welsch made 63 saves against Eden Prairie, coming just two saves short of former Apple Valley star Karl Goehring's state tournament record. Goehring set the record during a semifinal win over Duluth East in 1996, making 65 saves during a game that took five overtimes. Welsch, who allowed just two goals on 88 shots during the section tournament, made 27 saves during the three overtime periods, before a screen and Gophers commit Jack Jensen ended it.
THIRD STAR
Donte Lawson, F, Greenway
The tiny Iron Range program, which last made the state tournament in 2001, punched above its weight class this year, topping Delano and Mahtomedi before falling to St. Cloud Cathedral in the 1A title game. Greenway's captain led the way. Lawson, who had 27 goals and 51 points in 25 games during the regular season, led 1A with four goals and five assists, taking home the Herb Brooks Award for his efforts.
AROUND THE RINK
-- Gophers commit Bryce Brodzinski -- the younger brother of Jonny, Michael and Easton -- was named this year's Mr. Hockey after leading Blaine to a third-place finish at state.
-- Minnetonka's Charlie Glockner won the Frank Brimsek Award, given to the state's top goaltender.
-- For the last 10 years, White Bear Lake resident John King has put together the “All-Hockey Hair team,” celebrating the best flow on display at the state tournament. Unfortunately, King announced the 2019 edition will be his last hurrah, a video he dubbed the “Grand Flownale.”
https://youtu.be/teUO0Aw-qVw
-- Congratulations to Duluth East sophomore forward Jacob Jeannette, who King gave the crown for having the best hockey hair in the tournament.
-- The Gophers are headed to the Big Ten semifinals after ending Michigan's season with a sweep. Junior forward Rem Pitlick led the way, finishing the series with four points. Pitlick had two assists in a 3-2 overtime win Friday, then scored twice in a 4-1 win Saturday.
-- St. Cloud State clinched the top seed in the NCHC tournament and will host Miami (Ohio) in a best-of-three first-round matchup this weekend.
-- Sophomore forward Reggie Lutz, who scored four goals in the regular season, tallied two in Minnesota State’s 4-1 series-clinching win over Alabama Huntsville. The Mavericks will host Lake Superior State in the best-of-three WCHA semifinal series this weekend.
