Minnesota Blizzard weekly summary
April 11, 2005 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Alexandria Blizzard News Release
(Alexandria, MN) The 2004-05 season has officially drawn to a close, for the Minnesota Blizzard Junior "A" Hockey team. The team made its first foray into the post-season, by facing Fargo-Moorhead, the NAHL West Division Regular Season Champ, in a best-of-five series. This series was part of the Borne Cup playoffs, which included the top four teams in the West Division regular season standings.
The first two games were contested in Fargo, with the Jets coming out on top, by 3-0 and 2-1 scores. Game three was played Wednesday, April 6th in Alexandria. This was the night where the Runestone Community Center hosted its first Junior "A" Hockey post-season contest. The supportive fans in attendance were treated to an outstanding playoff game, which included some great scoring chances and momentum swings toward both the Blizzard and the Jets. Minnesota would break on top, 1-0 midway through the opening period, as the team converted on a power play. Bobby Kuehl (St. Paul, MN) found the back of the net, for his first playoff goal, with assists going to Dan Swanson (Menomonie, WI) and Andrew Olson (Alexandria, MN). The Jets netted the tying goal late in the opening stanza, then went ahead early in the second period. The Blizzard later worked its way into a 2-2 deadlock. After winning a face-off in the F-M end, defenseman Karl Larsen (Princeton, MN) launched a blast from out near the point that eluded Jets' goalie Andy Stricker, to knot the game at 9:10 of the middle period. Brian Baker (Brooklyn Park, MN) earned the assist, on the Larsen goal. That would be all the scoring for the Blizzard, though. The Jets reclaimed a one-goal lead, on Dain Prewitt's score at 7:35 of the third period. That would stand up as the game-winner (and ultimately, the series-winner for Fargo-Moorhead), as the Jets prevailed, 3-2, to capture the Borne Cup Semifinal series, in three straight games. In what turned out to be his final game in a Blizzard uniform, Marcus Paulson (Eden Prairie, MN) was again outstanding between the pipes, making 37 saves in the game, and finishing the series with 117 stops, for a save percentage of .936.
With the three game sweep of the Blizzard, Fargo-Moorhead moves on, to play Billings, in a best-of-seven format. The winner of that series will be able to hoist the Borne Cup. Bismarck captured the Borne Cup in the 2003-04 season, and also won the Borne Cup in 2002-03, during the final year of the old America West Hockey League.
This is the final Minnesota Blizzard weekly summary, of 2004-05. I would like to salute the Coaches, Dave Boitz and Jeff Crouse, and also all of the players that put on a Minnesota Blizzard uniform during the past six months, on a job well done! It was a privilege to have the chance to cover you, and report on your successes. Thanks for the memories! Best wishes to all the team members, whether your plans have you playing on the collegiate level, or being involved in Junior Hockey in some way, shape, or form.
For those that have followed Blizzard hockey, either by attending the games or tracking their progress right here, thanks for your interest! It is much appreciated. Have a great spring and summer!
North American Hockey League Stories from April 11, 2005
- Minnesota Blizzard weekly summary - Alexandria Blizzard
- Malark Becomes Third Jet to Commit - Fargo-Moorhead Jets
- Borne Cup Finals Start This Week - Fargo-Moorhead Jets
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