Greyhounds hoping for a better rematch

Updated: March 10, 2010 - 12:40 AM

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The Duluth East boys' hockey team keeps catching Hill-Murray at the wrong time.

Troubles with skates and forgotten breezers left a few Pioneers players out of sorts early in a 6-4 loss to Blaine in the Schwan Cup Gold Division quarterfinals. Hill-Murray trailed 4-1 after one period before a rally came up short.

Hill-Murray played Duluth East in the next day's consolation semifinals and won 5-1. Now the Greyhounds gear up to face a Pioneers squad using its No. 4 seed as motivation.

"They'll have a chip on their shoulder, I'm sure," Duluth East coach Mike Randolph said. "We are not the favorites but I'd like to think we can give them a battle."

Both teams have improved since their Dec. 29 meeting. Duluth East (19-5-4) replenished its defensive corps, led by Minnesota-Duluth recruit Andy Welinski. And the Greyhounds spread out their scoring. Five players have recorded 10 or more goals.

When it comes to depth, however, Hill-Murray (25-2-1) has few peers. Seven players have scored 11 goals or more, but that is only part of what makes the Pioneers dangerous. They use three lines with little concern about matchups.

Forwards Jack Walsh, Kevin Becker, Ben Bahe and Willie Faust, along with defenseman Chris Casto, are the most visible players, but the Pioneers have 15 players -- including five defensemen -- with state tournament experience.

"They'll be well-prepared," said Randolph, whose Greyhounds went 1-3-1 in previous meetings with teams in the Class 2A field.

DAVID LA VAQUE