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Tonka Beats Buffalo. Drops Season Finale Against Edina  The Four Families on Senior Night vs Buffalo
The Skippers completed their regular season last week by beating Buffalo 11-3, Thursday night at the Pagel Center and then losing a thrilling game against Edina 6-5 in OT, Saturday night at a packed Braemer Arena. Tonka finished the regular season with an 18-7 record and tied Edina for the Classic Lake Conference Championship.
Tonka started the scoring early and often against the Buffalo Bison on Thursday night, putting up 5 goals in the first period. The Skippers added 2 more goals in the second, and another 4 goals in the third period. The Skippers out shot Buffalo by a 38-11 margin. Scoring for the Skippers were: Conner Ryan, Pete Carbonneau, Troy Hesketh, Tommy Lundquist, Nick Helmer, Sam Coatta (2), Jake Thornberg (2), and Andrew Prochno (2). The goals were assisted by: Justin Holl, Erik Baskin, Troy Hesketh, Tommy Lundquist, Max Gardiner, Nick Helmer, Derek Frawley, Conner Ryan, Jake Rossman (2), Sam Coatta (2), Andrew Prochno (2), and Pete Carbonneau (3). Nick Job finished the season with a perfect 8-0 record and a GAA of 1.63!!!
The best $6 entertainment ticket in town happened to be at Braemer Arena on Saturday night. And, for much of the evening, it looked as though the Skippers were going to spoil the Hornets Senior Night. Tonka came out aggressive, just as they had in their meeting at the Pagel Center a few weeks earlier. Assisted by Conner Ryan, Jake Thornberg got Tonka on the board at 11:23 of the first period. Tommy Lundquist added a second goal 3 minutes later, with an assist from Sam Coatta and the Skippers went into the locker room up 2-0. Tonka out shot the Hornets by a margin of 14-7.
Tonka continued to dominate play in the second period adding 2 more goals. The Hornets scored early in the period, but Thomas Schutt answered with a power play goal assisted by Max Gardiner and Sam Coatta. Tommy Lundquist put the Skippers ahead 4-1, with assists going to Coatta and Andrew Prochno.
If hockey games were only 2 periods, the bus ride back to Minnetonka would have been a joyful one. Troy Hesketh gave the Skippers a short lived 5-3 edge early in the last period, on an unassisted goal which came from the top of the circle. However, Edina stormed back scoring 2 goals to tie and eventually won the game with less than 2 minutes left in the OT period. It was a thrilling hockey game from a fan's perspective, and still gave the Skippers a share of the Classic Lake Conference Championship.
The young Skippers can look forward to meeting Robinsdale Cooper, in their first Sectional game, as they begin their quest to reach the State Tournament at the Excel Center. If they get past the Hawks on Thursday night, Tonka will play Saturday at BIG in Bloomington. Tonka can come away knowing they have the ability to play with any team in the state, having beaten the best in Edina, Hill Murray, Holy Angels, Moorhead, Hopkins, etc. They have worked hard all season and are playing their best hockey at the right time of the year. Click On the Ads... Support Our Sponsors
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