2nd and 3rd Game at State

Game 2 of the State High School Hockey Tournament for our team was held at Mariucci Arena at the University of Minnesota on Friday.

This game was a must win- or we would be going home.

And we won...with only 8 shots!! We won 2-1!!

The parents met the boys in the hallway outside the locker room and clapped and cheered for each boy as they walked through! So exciting that there would be a game 3!

My favorite line from the day came from a staff worker at Mariucci.

He said; "I love seeing a game where a team doesn't waste any shots!"

Ha! That totally summed up this game!

The boys headed back to their hotel in St. Paul for another night of fun, watching games at the Excel and preparing for their next game.

---------------------------

Game 3 was Saturday, and again was played at Mariucci.

Tyler and some of his friends were able to make it to this game.

This nail-biter game went into triple overtime.

And we won!

And the boys became Consolation Champs!

5th in State!!

Congrats on an awesome season!

2011 Minnesota High School Hockey Tournament - All Hockey Hair Team

Love this!! And according to the announcer our team will need to 'step up' next year and make the team! :)

First Game at State

What an exciting weekend it was!

Lots of hockey and festivities!

We took 700 pictures over the course of the weekend and needless to say, it has been really hard to narrow it down- but I have tried. :)

Jake had to be at our home rink for a morning pre-skate.

The team then loaded all their gear and boarded a bus to St. Paul and checked into their hotel where they would be staying for a few days and then headed over to the Excel to watch some of the afternoon games.

Making some last minute plans.

We went to the Excel to see the afternoon games as well.

Then headed over to McGovern's for a little pre-game celebration with all of the families from our team (minus the players).

Jake's team played their first game at 6pm on Thursday against the number one seeded Eden Prairie.

The boys came out to the bench before the game to get a look around.

Warm ups.

This first game is pretty special because it is televised and each member of the team is introduced.

(Jake said this was his favorite part of the tournament.)

Unfortunately, we lost this game.

But the boys would play again Friday at the Mariucci Arena  at the University of Minnesota.

State Hockey Banquet

After the big Section Finals win a week ago, this week has been filled with day after day of anticipation and excitement for Jake's team. Wednesday evening there was a ''send off' at the high school where families and some youth hockey players gathered to wish the team good luck for the big weekend ahead.

The boys loaded a bus to head to the State Hockey Banquet -and even had a police escort out of town.

The banquet was held at the Roy Wilkins Auditorium in St. Paul.

All 8 teams were introduced and honored.

It was a special evening and was such a nice way to kick off the weekend.

A Little Hockey Players Dream

Every little hockey players dream

is to someday play hockey for their high school team.

And to someday play in the State Hockey Tournament.

And now my boy (who is not so little anymore)

gets to live that dream!

(And look at this amazing pad save, from way back when, :)

Good luck, Jake! We love you!!