By Wes Bolin
Head Boys Varsity Coach, Woodbury HS
Winter is in the air and so is the most exciting part of hockey. For the next four months, the State of Hockey will focus ... not on college hockey, which is still trying to create its new identity ... not on junior hockey, which is but a distant image to Minnesota fans ... and not on the Wild, for the true excitement of the NHL will be generated six months from now. Minnesota hockey fans will now focus its attention on the part of the game that defines our state – the high school hockey season!
For the eighth straight time, Woodbury defeated park in the annual hockey fundraiser between the two schools which raises money for the Coaches Helping Eliminate Cancer in Kids (CHECK) program. As a result, park coach Jay Moser, left, had to wear a Woodbury jersey handed to him by Royals coach Wes Bolin during the first period of Woodbury's 4-2 win over Park Jan 22. The two schools combined to raise $3,260 for the CHECK program. (Woodbury Bulletin article)
Roayls Logo in the Locker Room
Head Coach
Phone: 651-768-5466
Varsity Assistant Coach
Varsity Assistant Coach
JV Head Coach
JV Assistant Coach
Goalie Coach
Woodbury junior Marshall Tschida skated up to his defensive partner Alex Stuckert and gave him some instruction just before a late second period faceoff.
“If the puck comes to you, just give it to me,” Tschida said.
Stuckert obliged. Jared Markeson won the faceoff in the Park zone, sending the puck back to Stuckert. Stuckert slid the puck over to Tschida and Tschida let it fly.
Woodbury went through a rough patch midway through December, and while that losing streak messed with the flow of the season, the team appears to have found its stride again.
In that span the Royals played White Bear Lake, Cretin-Derham Hall and archrival East Ridge. Those three games — all against high-caliber teams — resulted in three straight losses as the team searched for answers.
It’s found those answers as of late with a 3-1 win over Apple Valley and a 1-1 to in a matchup with Mounds View last week.
The Woodbury boys hockey team hadn’t defeated Roseville since 2010. And for much of the Dec. 4 contest between the two teams, it appeared that would remain true.
The Raiders scored two first period goals and took a 2-1 lead into the third period. But something clicked for the Royals in the third period.
Woodbury struggled last year as one of the younger teams in the Suburban East Conference.
Don’t expect much scoring when East Ridge and Woodbury meet up on the ice.
Not this season, anyway.After East Ridge won the initial matchup 1-0 between the two teams earlier this season, the Raptors and Royals duked it out to a 1-1 tie Jan. 30 at Bielenberg in front of a packed house.
“Two evenly matched teams,” Raptors head coach Wes Walz said. “Obviously the intensity level gets ramped up. There was probably 1,500 people watching. It’s a great atmosphere for the kids and I’m proud of the kids. They worked their tails off and you can’t ask for anything more.”
Following Woodbury’s 3-1 loss to Roseville Jan. 15 at Bielenberg Ice Arena Royals head coach Wes Bolin was asked if it was just one of those nights where the puck couldn’t find the back of the net for Woodbury.
“I suppose there’s games like that,” Bolin said.
But the loss against Roseville wasn’t one of those games.
For a period-plus in the middle of its matchup with Stillwater, Woodbury looked to be the uber-talented team coming off of a state tournament berth last March.
The Royals out skated and outscored Stillwater 4-1 during a 23:48 span at the end of the first period to the start of the third.
Woodbury’s Josh Condon said the Royals spend a lot of time working on their penalty kill in practice.
They got to spend quite a bit of extra time perfecting it against Park Dec. 11.
Woodbury battled back from a 3-0 second-period deficit, only to fall 5-4 in overtime to visiting Chanhassen Nov. 28.
Coach Wes Bolin and the team played games with the skaters, raced around the rink and hung out with the kids. Below are some fun photos of all the skaters. We hope to see you all next year!
Seniors
Players from the Woodbury boys hockey team volunteered at the Special Olympics Poly Hockey Event in Farmington on Jan 11. The area sports coordinator for Special Olympics was pleased with the enthusiasm, knowledge and respectful attitudes exhibited by the players as they officiated. Some of the players who volunteered include, pictured in front, Spencer Krueger (from left) and Jack Dahedl. In back are Matt Triemert, Tanner Theis, Graham Atwood, Grant Benedict, Dylan Kulesa, Josh Condon, Jared Markeson, Ben Gustafson and Blake Wigen. (Woodbury Bulletin article)