2A Woodbury and 1A Blake making return trips to state

Last update: February 28, 2008 - 10:59 PM

Before California native David Eddy moved to Minnesota three years ago, Woodbury had never participated in the state hockey tournament.

Thumping Rosemount 8-2 in Thursday's Class 2A, Section 3 title game means a second consecutive trip to the tournament for the Royals, who are on a nine-game winning streak.

Down 2-1 after the first period, Woodbury reeled off seven consecutive goals -- including three in the second period. Eddy, a senior forward, assisted on Woodbury's first two goals and scored what held up as the game-winning goal. He finished with two goals and two assists.

"With the game on the line in the second period, he was the best player on the ice," Royals coach Wes Bolin said of Eddy. "He's been that player for us the past two years."

The Royals jumped ahead 1-0 at 18:11 of the first period. Adam Kopp scored a power-play goal after Rosemount star forward J.T. Brown went off for tripping.

Brown redeemed himself by scoring twice before the period was over. He scored twice and added two assists in the teams' meeting in November, a 6-5 Rosemount victory.

But Eddy stole the spotlight from Brown. His unassisted goal midway through the second period featured him gliding around a defender and lifting a shot over goaltender Mike Morgan's glove.

Less than three minutes later, Mike Nelson made it 4-2 Woodbury, and Rosemount never recovered.

"I think we scored that first goal and thought it would be easy," Bolin said. "We had a heart-to-heart in the locker room about playing your best in situations where you have a great opportunity."

DAVID LA VAQUE

Blake 5, Breck 2

Not much separated Breck and Blake during the regular season. The Tri-Metro Conference rivals tied for first with 8-2 records, and the teams split their two meetings, each winning on the other's home ice.

But Thursday night at Parade Ice Gardens, Blake had too much for the Mustangs to handle.

Blake never trailed, beating Breck in the Class 1A, Section 2 final 5-2 to advance to the state tournament.

The Bears held a 4-2 lead late in the game before adding an empty-net goal to seal the outcome.

"It feels great to be going back to state,'' Blake captain Jack Burnes said. "But we've got to get past that first game now. We've been there twice and lost twice to Marshall the first game. We're on a mission.''

Following a scoreless first period, Blake struck twice in a span of 45 seconds early in the second period. Kasey Boyd scored at 2:36 when a bouncing puck got past Breck goaltender John Russell. Donald Chute then took a feed off the edge of the crease and banged in a goal at 3:21.

The Mustangs cut Blake's lead in half with a power-play goal at 16:33. Mike Moran scored from the slot off a nice feed from Tyson Fulton.

Blake took a 3-1 lead early in the third period on a goal by Sean McMahon. Morin's second goal of the night cut the Bears' lead to 3-2, but Jordan Seivold answered just over a minute later.

"It was pretty cool because we never lost our composure,'' Barnes said. "A couple times the momentum started to change, but we held strong.''

DEAN SPIROS