Intrigue abounds in boys, girls' north metro hockey

North metro hockey holds a great deal of intrigue coming off a postseason ripe with upsets.

On the boys' side, Centennial defeated Champlin Park 4-2 in the Class 2A, Section 5 final and earned its first 2A boys' hockey state tournament appearance in nine years. Champlin Park reached the finals with a 5-4 upset of Blaine.

Centennial returns leading scorer Ryner Gorowsky (24 goals, 34 assists). Champlin Park's top three scorers, Luke Dalman (19-13), Bryce Plunkett (10-21) and Calvin Spencer (9-14) are back.

For all their success, however, the Cougars and the Rebels enter this season looking up at Blaine.

Graduation claimed veteran goaltenders from Centennial and Champlin Park. The Cougars also lost a great deal of scoring. Blaine is virtually intact in both areas. The Bengals boast likely their fastest-skating team in the past decade.

Forwards Tyler Cline (24-24), Joey Lau (16-23), Brandon Notermann (20-19) and Dallas Gerads (20-17) all surpassed 30 points.

On the girls' side, Section 5 was a hotbed for upsets last season as the top four seeds all fell. Irondale, led by forward Samantha Donovan, emerged the victor.

Kiersten Falck, twins Samantha and Katie Swanstrom, and Amy Schlagel represent a combined 194 points.

Andover moved to Section 7.

Three Irondale athletes signed national letters of intent with their respective colleges.

They are: Mattie Watts, Nordic skiing (Vermont), Veronica Wold, softball (St. Cloud State) and Donovan, hockey (Brown).

Jon Nuss, who led Mounds View's baseball team to its first Class 3A state tournament championship ever last spring and was chosen coach of the year, resigned.

Mounds View activities director Bob Madison said Nuss was offered an associate head coach position with the Mustangs. Madison declined further comment.