Thoughts from Thursday's Boys Hockey Night
Last night I ventured out to catch some boys’ hockey action for the first time this season and, as usual, their was plenty of action and the parking spots were as rare as a 50-degree day in December.
I began in Anoka, where the Tornadoes carried a vast majority of the action in the Irondale third of the rink. Both teams were physical, Anoka was very patient in setting up its scoring chances from the point and walking the puck down into the corner. The Tornadoes awarded the packed rink with a 4-2 win.
The second game of the evening was a landslide, 10-0, victory for No. 20 ranked Andover at North Metro, which plays at the Brooklyn Park Community Center. The Huskies used the game as a tune-up ahead of Saturday’s home opener against No. 13 Elk River. Andover’s veterans came out strong, led by stand out forward, Cal Decowski who scored four goals with two assists. Andover’s power play converted five times and the penalty kill also scored. He scored 17 seconds into the game, adding a second goal in the opening period 10:32 later for his second goal of the period. Senior Taylor Portner added a goal and three assits and Ryan Bennett collected three points, scoring one goal and two assists. Ten Huskies picked up a point in the win.
It was tough to gage how better the Huskies will be after losing to Forest Lake in the section quarters last February, but having 16 seniors in the line up can’t hurt when it comes to poise in pressure situations.
I’ll be at Saturday’s Elks/Huskies tilt from the Andover Community Center. Not having seen Elk River play so far, I’m predicting a close game with the home-ice advantage giving Andover a 3-1 win.
