×

Column: Big gap remains for girls’ hockey in Section 2A and 3A

It is not a big secret that there is a huge gap in the caliber of teams that qualify for the girls’ state hockey tournament from Section 2A and 3A and the rest of the state tournament field.

“In playing our two games in the state tournament the difference is the physicality of the teams up here and the depth of the line-up of those teams,” New Ulm Eagles head coach Kristin Faber said. The Eagles, the Section 2A champions, lost 5-0 to top-ranked Warroad before losing in the consolation game 5-2 to St.Paul United. “Those were the biggest things that we noticed that was very evident to us.”

Marshall, which won Section 3A and is in the Big South Conference with New Ulm, finished second to the Eagles in the conference. Marshall also lost both of its games by scores of 9-2 to Breck and 7-0 to Red Wing.

When asked if she thought that the gap between the two sections and the rest of the state field (a difference that has existed for years) can be closed, Faber said that it can be worked on.

“I do not know if we will ever have the depth of the teams that are up here competing have,” she said. “It is a different level of hockey. The thing about a lot of the teams playing in the state tournament is that they play at that high level night in and night out. That is what they are used to and accustomed to. Our girls played at a high level but it was not the level that we play at every day. That is where it catches us.”

It also a great accomplishment for New Ulm, which was making its eighth trip to the state girls’ hockey tournament. It was the first time New Ulm was the Section 2A champion.

“It is huge for our program,” Faber said. “This proves that we can come out of a different section and win (New Ulm had won Section 3A seven times). And in talking with other coaches up at the state, they see the progress that we are making and continue to make.”

An example of that progress is that New Ulm lost to Warroad, the top-scoring team in the state, 5-0. Warroad then beat Alexandria 7-1.

New Ulm will not be a Warroad or Breck. But what it is establishing around the state is a very successful hockey program — a program that is progressing — in no matter what section it is in. And it is a program that many other schools would love to have.

HUTCHINSON ENDS EAGLES’ SEASON: For the second straight year, Hutchinson ended the New Ulm Eagles boys’ playoff hockey season.

Last year, the Tigers handed New Ulm a 2-1 home loss in the first round of the Section 3A tournament. Then on Thursday, Hutchinson topped New Ulm 3-2 in overtime in Hutchinson.

“They capitalized on two odd-man rushes for goals,” New Ulm head coach Ryan Neuman said. “Jack Raymond [New Ulm goalie] played one of his best games. Their game-winning goal was deflected in front of him and he had no chance of making the save.”

Neuman said that this was a team that played to the level of the team they were facing that night.

New Ulm tied a 19-5-2 Northfield team — a team that is playing for the Section 4A title, 5-5. But then New Ulm came back the next game and struggled.

“Sometimes we were not prepared and did not have that killer instinct,” Neuman said about his team that ended 13-12-1.

The Eagles do lose 12 seniors this year but can look toward help from a successful JV team along with players from a Bantam team that is currently playing in regionals.

“We have JV players and 13 to 15 players coming from the Bantam team,” Neuman said. “And we bring back Jack in goal and also have another good goaltender in (current freshman) Kyle Esser. We will reload again — we have six of our top nine forwards coming back.”

BASEBALL PLAYERS HONORED

Three former players and one non-player have been selected to the New Ulm Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame.

Former players Kurt Moelter, Ryan Ellwein and Landon Rathmann along with non-player Ken “Lefty” Lindmeyer have been chosen.

Formal induction will be held on Sunday, June 17 at the Kaiserhoff.

Complete biographies of new selections along with more information will appear at a later date.

BELTZ WINS AWARD: New Ulm girls’ hockey player Ali Beltz was named the 2018 Herb Brooks Award winner on Saturday for Class A.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper?
   

COMMENTS

[vivafbcomment]

Starting at $4.38/week.

Subscribe Today