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Sin Bin Sinks USM

By Tom Geilfuss, USM assistant , 12/28/19, 4:45PM CST

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  The Breck School Mustangs scored four goals in the third period to defeat University School team 5-3, in a Gold Division consolation game of the Herb Brooks Classic Boys’ Hockey Tournament on Friday, December 27th at the National Sports Center in Blaine, MN.

As in the tournament’s opening game for USM, penalties determined the Wildcats’ demise; the Mustangs scored three of their four goals in the final period on power plays, including two during 5 on 3 advantages.

Penalties also gave the Mustangs time to shoot.  USM outshot Breck 9-8 in the first period, but Breck outshot the Wildcats 14-5 in the second period and 13-9 in the third.  Breck’s goalie, Jack Thomson stopped 20 of USM’s 23 shots on goal, while USM’s goaltender, Patrick Kelly turned aside 30 of the 35 shots the Mustangs fired his way.

Jason Woods, USM’s head coach, commented on the result, “It’s kind of the same reoccurring theme again today. Get a solid lead, look strong doing it, and then in the third, too many penalties and a lost lead.  We are close to being an excellent team, we really are. We just need to keep working and have everyone working for the same goals. I believe this team has what it takes to get back on track.”

The Wildcats also scored all three of their goals on power plays.  The first of these opened the game’s scoring at 12:54 of the first period when Ethan Thombs scored off of passes by Reid Woods and Blake Carey.

USM went ahead 2-0 midway through the second period when Garrett Cox scored.  Assists on the play at 8:50 went to Charlie Keough and TJ Fenton.

The Mustangs drew closer with an even-strength goal at 10:03 of the second period.  Nick Mikan scored the first of his three goals in the game after receiving a pass from Beau Courneya.

USM had the lead heading into the fateful third period, but the Mustangs charged hard to overtake them from behind.  Just 2:14 into the period, Jake Hanson scored an even strength goal off a pass by Ty Hogan to tie the game.

The Mustangs then quickly took advantage of two USM penalties.  Mikan gave the Mustangs the lead by scoring another power play goal at 4:41. Mikan had assists on the goal from Courneya and Caden Morgan.

The Wildcats were not able to rein in the Mustangs’ charge.  Breck scored again just over a minute later.  Mikan completed his hat trick on a power play at 5:58. Morgan and John Blake assisted on Mikan’s third goal, a goal that proved to be the game winner.

USM made use of a power play to pull within one goal.  Tyler Herzberg scored the goal at 8:10, with Thombs providing an assist on the goal.

Breck finalized the scoring late in the game to puncture any attempt the Wildcats might have had to tie the game.  At 14:49 the Mustangs scored another power play goal.  Courneya scored it on a breakaway.

After the game, one of USM’s captains, TJ Fenton explained the loss, “Another game where we found ourselves play a good first half. They got an edge on us with a couple goals to tie the game up, and they ended up taking the lead after a couple tough penalties. We’re still trying to find our groove as a team and we have to build off of two tough losses.”

USM is now 5-2-1. The Wildcats play Minneapolis High School in the game to decide 7th place in the Gold Division of the Herb Brooks Holiday Classic Tournament at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, December 28 at the National Sports Center in Blaine, MN.

WiPH Game Summaries