Tonka boys win 3 straight
Minnetonka High’s boys hockey team is off to a good start with a 3-0-0 record in non-conference games.
Minnetonka High senior defenseman Joe Lindberg (2) rides Hibbing forward Adam Johnson off the puck during a 6-1 Skipper victory Nov. 30 at Pagel Activity Center. The win gave Minnetonka a 3-0-0 record. (Photo by John Sherman – Sun Newspapers)
The Skippers opened with a 7-1 win at Apple Valley Nov. 27. They rolled to a 5-1 victory over Osseo Nov. 29. On Nov. 30, they routed Hibbing 6-1.
“We had a lot of new guys on the ice against Apple Valley, and the first period was kind of sloppy,” said Tonka head coach Brian Urick. “We’re not a fancy team, but we have a lot of hard workers. Hopefully, the hard work will pay off.”
The score in the Tonka-Valley game was 0-0 at the end of the first period.
Tonka’s offense came alive with three goals in the second period, one each by Connor Thie, A.J. Klein and Tommy Vannelli.
In the third period the Skippers added four goals, one each from Charlie Huminski, Max Coatta, Justin Bader and Jimmy Schuldt.
Coatta starred as a playmaker with three assists.
Paul Ciaccio was the winning goaltender, stopping 13 shots.
Huminski led Minnetonka’s victory over Osseo with two goals while Coatta, Klein and Tommy Brandabur each added a goal. Assists went to Max Coatta (2), Thie, Bader, Jack Kuehn and Joe Lindberg.
Ciaccio was solid in the net with nine saves.
The Skippers outshot Hibbing 46-10 in front of a capacity crowd at Pagel Activity Center Friday night.
Thie and Jared Ridge each netted two goals while Coatta continued his playmaking role with a goal and three assists. John Schuldt added a goal. Jacob Berger was the winner in the Tonka net.
Minnetonka will be one of the contenders for the Lake Conference title this season, but not the favorite.
“Edina is the team to beat,” said Urick. “They have almost their whole team returning.
“The key to our team is that the guys are all on the same page. They like each other and they’re out here for the right reasons.”
Goaltending will be one of the keys to the Skippers’ success. Ciaccio is a returning starter, and Berger will also see playing time.
St. Thomas Academy will be Minnetonka’s next opponent. That game will be played at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 6, at Minnetonka’s Pagel Activity Center.
