Minnetonka Outlasts Rosemount in Minnesota High School Boys Hockey State Tournament Class 2A Semifinal

ST. PAUL, Minn — If it were up to Minnetonka coach Sean Goldsworthy, the boys hockey state tournament would have 20 minute periods. They played 17 minute periods on Friday, but when the Class 2A semifinal against Rosemount went to overtime, Goldsworthy got his wish, in a way.

“I think we got stronger, and they got more tired,” Minnetonka head coach Sean Goldsworthy said. “I think that’s been our trademark all year.”

The No. 1 Minnetonka Skippers (26-2-2) defeated the No. 4 Rosemount Irish (24-5-1) 4-3 in overtime to reach the MSHSL boys hockey state tournament championship. The Irish had the ingredients for the upset, but Minnetonka’s depth, size and intensity outlasted them.

“They’re all huge,” Rosemount’s Peter DeGroot said. “It’s tough to match their size.”

The Irish led 3-1 early in the second period, and they were doing what they needed to pull the upset: They had an unusual goal against Frank Brimsek award nominee and Minnetonka goalie Chase Jerdee. They converted on a power play. They went to sudden-death overtime where one breakaway or one odd bounce of the puck is all it takes to win.

They did not play like a team who had no players with state tournament experience. It was the first time the Irish had made the state tournament since 1992.

“You love your guys,” DeGroot said. “It felt like you had the whole state behind us.”

The Skippers dominated the Irish and their tired legs in the 3:49 of overtime. They put six shots toward Rosemount goalie Drew Sherman, and the final one touched the back of the net when Cash Hardie found a puck in front of the net and flicked it in.

“He has a low heart rate when things get intense, and he can lock in on finishing plays,” Goldsworthy said. “That’s what makes him special.”

The Skippers depth put Rosemount on the defensive for much of the second half of the game. Rosemount felt as though it is a deep team, but Minnetonka continues to rotate multiple lines throughout a game, and they all slowly titled the ice in their favor. They outshot the Irish 33-11 in the final two periods and overtime.

“This team plays its best hockey in the back half of each period because a lot of people get tired,” Goldsworthy said.

The Skippers have lots of talent, but Goldsworthy does not want to shorten his lines, even in March.

“We didn’t, and we don’t, and we won’t,” Goldsworthy said. […] Our guys expect it. If our guys make a long shift, they know they’re missing the next one.”

The Skippers played a difficult schedule, but they didn’t trail often. Goldsworthy tried to prepare them for this moment during practice.

“Emotionally and mentally, you have to stretch your athletes for moments like this so they don’t get rattled,” he said. “I think I’ve tried to individually rattle these knuckleheads at different times of the year, and kids look at me funny, but the reality is you have to simulate that, the emotions, the intensity.”

The Skippers will play the winner of No. 2 Moorhead vs. No. 3 Edina in the Class 2A title game on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Grand Casino Arena.

Minnetonka vs. Rosemount: Live Score Recap of Minnesota High School Boys Hockey State Tournament Class 2A Semifinal

FIRST PERIOD UPDATES

Rosemount wins the opening faceoff, and the game is underway.

GOAL ROSEMOUNT! Peter DeGroot scores for the Irish. He cleaned up a loose puck after a Rosemount shot during a 2-on-1 chance hit the post, bounced off Irish forward Sam Schmucker, then off Minnetonka goalie Chase Jerdee and fell back to the crease. Quinton VeDopo with the assist as well — Rosemount 1, Minnetonka 0 — 14:42 remaining in the period

Ten minutes remain in the period, and Rosemount has a 7-6 shots on goal advantage.

Five minutes remain in the period, and Minnetonka is slowly gaining more control of the puck. They now lead SOGs 11-7.

Power play for Rosemount! Minnetonka's Ethan Sturgis goes to the penalty box for hooking — 4:48

Minnetonka kills the penalty.

END OF FIRST PERIOD: Rosemount 1, Minnetonka 0

SOG
Minnnetonka: 12
Rosemount: 12

SECOND PERIOD UPDATES

The second period is underway.

GOAL ROSEMOUNT! Connor Schubert was among a handful of players at the top of the left faceoff circle in the Minnetonka zone. He flung the puck at net, but Frank Brimsek nominee and Minnetonka goalie Chase Jerdee either didn't see it, and it went into the top right corner — Rosemount 2, Minnetonka 0 — 12:58

GOAL MINNETONKA! Ethan Sturgis scores for Minnetonka while crashing the net. Assist is to Brayden Haffer — Rosemount 2, Minnetonka 1 — 11:58

Power play for Rosemount! Minnetonka's Tate Hardcare goes to the penalty box for roughing — 11:19

GOAL ROSEMOUNT! The Irish score 19 seconds into the power play. Cade Sherman threw the puck toward the net from the right side, and deflected off a Skipper and went in. Gavin McNeil and Connor Schubert with the assists — Rosemount 3, Minnetonka 1 — 11:00

GOAL MINNETONKA! Mason Schemenauer skated around the Rosemount zone and flipped a backhand shot over the shoulder of Irish goalie Drew Sherman — Rosemount 3, Minnetonka 2 — 9:11

Power play for Minnetonka! DeGroot gets two minutes for cross checking — 4:40

Rosemount killes the power play.

END OF SECOND PERIOD: Rosemount 3, Minnetonka 2

SOG
Minnetonka: 29
Rosemount: 18

The Skippers outshot the Irish 17-6 in that period. The Irish capitalized on their power play and Jerdee's lapse, but Minnetonka controlled much of that period.

THIRD PERIOD UPDATES

The third period is underway.

GOAL MINNETONKA! Sturgis gets his second of the game. He planted himself in front of the net and deflected a shot from Cameron Merrick. Cooper Rannow with the secondary assist — Rosemount 3, Minnetonka 3 — 14:15

Ten minutes remain in the period, and both defenses have kept the puck from reaching their goalies over the prior four minutes.

Five minutes remain in the period, and Minnetonka has possession of the puck most of the time, but the Skippers haven't generated a great chance recently.

Two minutes, 26 seconds remain, and the Skippers are throwing pucks at Sherman, but he continues to catch them and limit rebound opportunities.

END OF THIRD PERIOD: Rosemount 3, Minnetonka 3

The first overtime will be an 8-minute, sudden death period. If the teams are still tied, there will be a full intermission.

SOG
Minnetonka: 39
Rosemount: 23

OVERTIME UPDATES

The first overtime is underway.

Minnetonka with all the pressure in the opening minutes of this overtime.

GOAL MINNETONKA! The Skippers advance to the state championship game. After Sherman saved multiple shots, Cash Hardie found the puck in the middle of the zone and put it into the top right corner. Max Aronson with the assist.

FINAL: Minnetonka 4, Rosemount 3

SOG
Minnetonka: 45
Rosemount: 23

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