Minnetonka wakes up, wins easily

Minnetonka coach Brian Urick was at a loss to explain his team's lethargic play in the first period against Centennial in the Schwan Cup boys' hockey tournament quarterfinal on Wednesday night.

Were the Skippers awestruck about playing in the Gold Division? Were they nervous about skating inside Xcel Energy Center? Or was it the three-day Christmas break from hockey? Regardless, he had a simple, all-purpose remedy.

"I told our guys, especially our defensemen, to stop standing around and to start moving their feet," he said.

Anthony Raiola heeded the advice, then took it to the Cougars. After tying the score 2-2 with a goal in the first period, the senior defenseman scored two more times in the second period as the Skippers pulled away for a 5-2 victory.

Minnetonka went 4-for-6 on power plays, with either Raiola or fellow defenseman Jake Gardiner, contributing to each one. Gardiner leads the team with 16 points

"Anthony and Jake really start our offense," Urick said. "They are such fast skaters and skilled puck handlers. They can make things tough on other teams."

Minnetonka (8-1), playing in the Gold Division for the first time, will face the winner of today's second quarterfinal game (Moorhead or Roseville) at 8:30 p.m. Friday.

Centennial, which lost its third consecutive game, had a decided edge in experience entering Wednesday's game. The Cougars (5-3) were hoping to become the first team to win 10 career Gold Division games. Conversely, Minnetonka was making its debut in the top division after winning the Bronze Division title last season.

Erik Aus, in his 22nd season at Centennial, never coached against Minnetonka until the teams scrimmaged last month in Moorhead. Though busy trying to evaluate his own players, Aus took note of Raiola and Gardiner.

"We knew they were talented on defense," Aus said. "We couldn't get a body on them."

The Pioneers' offensive surge proved too much for Duluth East. They outshot the Greyhounds 39-17, leading to a pair of first-period goals and three more in the final period. Junior Isaac Kohls netted two goals, and junior Nick Widing had three assists.

Hill-Murray advances to play rival White Bear Lake in the semifinals at 6 p.m. tonight.

Ryan Wolter's power-play goal late in the third period completed the Bears' comeback victory. Holy Angels led 2-0 in the second period, but White Bear Lake answered with a pair of power-play goals in the period. The game remained tied until Wolter's unassisted tally at 15:51 of the third period.