Champlin Park's third-generation goalie anything but routine

Game time approaches and Champlin Park senior goaltender Brennan Boynton's routine begins.

Teammate Sam Lee works his Rubik's Cube and tosses it to Boynton to make the final turn.

Then Boynton applies essential oils to help him focus and breathe.

In-game performances for Boynton, one of the state's top goalies, are often routine as well: Shot. Save. Shot. Save. Shot. Save.

He made 57 stops in a 4-0 loss against Andover and 56 in a 3-1 upset of Duluth East.

Protecting the net is the job. But Boynton put something extra into his performances to reciprocate the support shown by Rebels co-head coaches Pat Janostin and Tommy Potter. When Boynton failed to make a select team three years ago, his high school coaches stepped up to ensure decision-makers gave him a better look.

Last year, Boynton's abilities drew interest beyond Minnesota high school circles. Janostin and Potter supported their goalie even if it meant he would leave Champlin Park without completing his senior year.

Potter said, "It's like [Duluth East coach Mike] Randolph said after we beat them, 'Your goalie is phenomenal. As long as you have him back there, you've got a hell of a chance to make a statement.' "

Boynton is a third-generation goaltender, following his paternal grandfather, who played at Minneapolis Edison, and father, who played at Anoka. Boynton found himself drawn to the net as well.

"My parents tried to push me away from it, probably because my dad had gone through it," Boynton said. "But I always wanted to be a goalie. I thought it was cool how everyone comes up to you after the games."

The crowd did not include evaluators of the Minnesota Hockey High Performance 16s, a springtime opportunity for the state's top players. Boynton did not qualify to try out within his section. While he used the experience as fuel to improve, the Rebels' coaches bristled.

"We felt that he was left off because he was from Champlin Park vs. another program," Potter said.

"He's overcome a lot of adversity in terms of politics," Potter said. "He made the 17s, and he was their best goalie."

Boynton enjoyed a strong junior season at the high school level. He earned all 13 Rebels victories, allowed 2.04 goals per game and stopped 92 percent of shots faced.

His consistency, despite a middling Champlin Park team, drew him interest.

"We were worried he'd go to juniors after his junior year," Potter said. "But I told him, 'I'm going to keep putting your name out there. And if you go to a junior team, I'll throw your gear in the back of my truck and drive you there.' "

Boynton appreciated the gesture.

"After junior year I started getting some calls," Boynton said. "I had a spot as a second goalie on a NAHL team. I decided I'd rather play all the games here than sit there and play fewer games. And I said if I'm not leaving, I want to come back and be one of the top goalies."

Potter, a 2010 Champlin Park graduate, saw some of his better peers leave for private schools Breck and Totino-Grace. He said keeping Boynton, who hopes to play junior hockey next season as a springboard to college hockey, "was huge for us."

Lee, a defenseman, said, "It shows he's committed to the guys and he doesn't want to leave us out to dry."

As for those routines, Lee doesn't recall how Boynton became the Rubik's Cube closer. But they can't stop now. Same for Boynton's use of essential oils. He started as a freshman on a recommendation from his mother. He said he puts InTune on his forehead to aid his focus, uses Breathe and peppermint to "kind of wake you up and clear your sinuses," and adds Citrus Bliss because "it's just a good smell."

Boynton hopes to be applying those oils well into the Class 2A, Section 5 playoffs. The Rebels last reached a section final in 2013.