Roseau coach feeling his age

Bruce Bisping, Star Tribune

Duluth-Marshall’s Brian Erola, left, and Mankato West’s Matt Campbell crashed into one of the refs while going for the puck. Duluth Marshall won 2-1.

FROM STAFF REPORTS

Last update: March 6, 2008 - 12:29 AM

Fifth-year Roseau coach Scott Oliver, whose team will open Class 2A play today against Blaine, knows about coaching state champions in two sports. The Rams won the 2A title last season, and Oliver coached Glyndon-Felton to the Class C football state championship in 1985. That was his first year as a teacher and coach.

"I thought every year was going to be like that," said Oliver, who is an assistant football coach at Roseau. "I still have a real love for the game of football, and coaching it."

Oliver also played in the Canadian Football League with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Toronto Argonauts.

After two years at Glyndon-Felton, Oliver coached hockey at Minnesota-Crookston for 16 years. One of his players there was Ken Essay, now the coach at Class 1A state entrant Mankato West.

"I guess I'm getting older, with former players now coaching," said Oliver, 48.

• Roseau has been the focus of a season-long series of stories in The Hockey News. Every week, the Toronto-based publication has published a story about the Rams. The stories are also online. A link can be found at www.roseauramshockey.com.

Family ties

Warroad sophomore forward Brock Nelson is the grandson of Bill Christian, the 1960 Olympian who founded Christian Brothers, the hockey stick company, with his brother Roger.

Nelson (6-4) had a goal and an assist in Wednesday's 4-0 victory over Litchfield/Dassel-Cokato. He has 14 goals and nine assists in 29 games this season.

The color purple

St. Thomas Academy co-coach Tom Vannelli was sporting a shiner under his right eye behind the bench on Wednesday, a souvenir from last week's Section 4 final. Vannelli was in the stands during pregame warmups when he was struck by a stray puck.

Something in common

St. Thomas Academy's Marc Haverkamp and Little Falls' Beau Hanowski do not know each other personally, but the seniors are aware of each others' status as their teams' only four-year state tournament veterans.

They played different roles this season. Hanowski has tallied 44 goals and 51 assists; Haverkamp (12 points this season) shines primarily when killing penalties.

Hanowski assisted on a goal Wednesday while Haverkamp needed a cut over his eye dressed.

Both talked about the change in their respective programs' expectations.

"In the four years I've been here, we went from being happy to play at state to coming down here focused on winning a championship," Hanowski said.

Haverkamp won a title with the Cadets in 2006, but said each trip to state has been special.

Etc.

Duluth Marshall coach Brendan Flaherty noted that the Hilltoppers, having been to the state tournament the past three years, already have their Thursday just about completely planned.

"The people at the restaurants know us," he said.

JOHN MILLEA, DEAN SPIROS, DAVID LA VAQUE AND JON MARTHALER