Roberg gives East winning words
Chad Roberg has been scoring quite a bit lately, so it didn’t matter that he didn’t score a single goal or assist when Duluth East whipped Edina 6-3 last Tuesday night. After the game, when the Greyhounds sang a raucus version of their school song in the dressing room at Braemar Arena, Roberg was singing the loudest.
“E…A…S…T, rah-rah for dear old Eeeeeeast.”
More importantly, before the game, Roberg had delivered the word of the day. “It was ‘everything,’ ” Roberg said. “We figured they’d throw everything at us, so we had to do everything well.”
When Duluth East cruised to the state tournament in each of the last five years, the Greyhounds would gather around their captain, who would lead the team in a simple chant: “1-2-3 ‘Hounds!” But something extra was required after the team started off 2-2 this season, with a 7-3 loss at top-ranked Elk River and a 5-1 whipping at Aldrich Arena by Hill-Murray.
“Elk River and Hill-Murray made it hard not to recognize we had to be different this year, and I guess I’m the designated preacher,” said Roberg. “I told the team we can’t get by just being the ‘1-2-3 ‘Hounds’ anymore. We can’t just put on the jersey and win.”
One of eight seniors and one of three captains, Roberg also was sixth in the cross-country sectional and 24th in the state cross-country meet.
“It took a while for me to get in the groove in hockey. I was slow and kinda sloppy. I’d like to go to college, and I’d like to get a scholarship. I’ve got about a 3.9 grade-point average and I had 1,310 on my SAT, and I’d love to go to Yale or Harvard. So I looked in the mirror and decided I needed to pick it up, for myself, and for everybody on the team.”
Two years ago, Roberg played as a sophomore when East lost to Edina in the state final. “Basically, I sat on the bench and chomped at the bit, ready to hurdle the boards whenever he called my name,” he said. “I zinged the pipe against Edina in the championship game. I played a lot as a junior, but this year, I decided I had to get back to having the same tenacity and work ethic as when I was a sophomore.”
Rodberg also asked his teammates to collaborate on a different key word for each pre-game chant. They yelled “1-2-3 Jump” before the Superior game, to remind everybody to be jumping. East won, to improve to a 3-2.
Next, the Greyhounds were embarking on an imposing pre-Christmas stretch: at Grand Rapids, against Cloquet at the DECC, at Silver Bay, at Moorhead and at Edina. “I said at that point that we could play pretty good and go 0-5 in that stretch,” said coach Mike Randolph.
Roberg issued the key word “1-2-3 Heart” at Grand Rapids, and the team responded with a narrow victory. Co-captain Mark Anunti whispered the idea of “1-2-3 Dominate” against Cloquet — and the Greyhounds won again. Another victory in Silver Bay last Thursday, then a tough triumph at Moorhead, where “speed” was the magic word, and Tuesday’s impressive 6-3 victory at Edina, allowed East to ride a six-game winning streak that transformed that early 2-2 record to 8-2 for the team’s Christmas break.
“Everybody is beating everybody else, but we’re going like this,” said Roberg, gesturing an upward vector. “But we always have to raise the bar and get ready for the next game, because we get everybody’s ‘A’ game. We might have a couple of losses, and be 2-2, and nobody looks at that and let’s up; we still get everybody’s ‘A’ game. Look at a team like Denfeld. They go out and play hard, every shift. We have to do that too.
“I started out on the power play, but when we started out 2-2, the coaches made some changes. I was taken off the power play, but I can’t complain. I wasn’t ready for it. The great thing about coach Randolph is that he always plays the guys who are ready to play.
“When I was playing kid hockey, I never got invited to Team Minnesota’s Peewees. I’ve got to come out and grind in the corners for 45 minutes a game and maybe I’ll swat in a rebound.
“I got moved onto what started out as a checking line, and then we started scoring,”
said Roberg, who scored a goal against Superior, another at Grand Rapids and a goal and three assists in the 6-1 victory over Cloquet. An 8-2 record and no games until Jan. 2 against Apple Valley at the DECC gives the Greyhounds a fresh outlook for the second half.
“I want the squad to go to state, because it’s something everyone should experience,” Roberg said. “It’s easy to say we won the state title our junior year, but we’ll be remembered for what we do our senior year. And none of us wants to have this be the East team that didn’t make it.”
Tomaino return sparks Hilltoppers
Tony Tomaino was like a lot of young hockey players, looking for a chance to accelerate their development. Tomaino’s return to Duluth, however, now has helped Marshall accelerate its development.
The Hilltoppers started the season 2-3-1 while Tomaino sat out the mandatory 15 days for transfering home from Faribault Shattuck as the season started. Since he’s stepped in on defense, Marshall has gone 5-1, including an impressive 8-3 victory at once-beaten Hermantown, which ignited a three-game sweep of the Hermantown-Proctor tournament.
“I think we started to play better defense,” said Tomaino, a 5-10, 170-pound junior defenseman. “I’m trying to play smart ‘D’ and go up when I get the chance, but we’ve got some crafty forwards, so it makes sense to move the puck up to them.”
Former North Star J.P. Parise, now the hockey director at Faribault Shattuck, lured Tomaino to come down to the private school, which plays an extensive schedule and is not within the high school league guidelines because of its travel and length of schedule.
“I played on a Minnesota Blades team last summer, and J.P. Parise was the coach,” Tomaino said. “He bugged me about coming down and taking a look at Shattuck, so I made a visit. I had gotten to be good friends with Mike Eaves’ son, and he plays there. Andy Murray coaches the high school team, and he’s an unbelievable coach. The first day of school was Sept. 1, and we started hockey that day, too. We had one week of training camp, then we started playing.”
After playing about 30 games at Shattuck, Tomaino started having second thoughts about home. “The hockey was really good, but I missed my family and friends, and I didn’t really like the dorm life,” Tomaino said. “I came back a week before Thanksgiving, and I knew I’d have to sit out 15 days before I could play.”
With a good nucleus, led by forwards Jake DeSanto, Cory Cartier, Chris Hood and Swedish exchange student Jon Bloomquist, plus defensemen Adam Conrad and Ben Paul, Tomaino’s impact went far beyond the four goals and seven points he’s scored. Marshall beat Proctor, lost to Blake, then beat Rosemount, Hermantown, Denfeld and Minneapolis South.
“A lot of people are surprised by us beating teams like Hermantown,” said Tomaino. “We played really good against them, and not as well against Denfeld and South. But we won those games anyhow. We know how to win now.”
Winning thrusts Marshall into the Up North Regional boys hockey ratings at sixth, in a week of some shuffling. For example, Hill-Murray has risen to No. 1 ahead of Elk River in the state rankings. While both teams remain unbeaten, Hill-Murray pounded out convincing victories over Edina and Bloomington Jefferson in the Edina tournament.
Duluth East, which had two weeks off, returned in style to thrash Apple Valley 8-2 Saturday night at the DECC, and the Greyounds rose to No. 1 in the regional and No. 3 in the state, as some of the area’s top teams suffered some attrition. Hibbing lost twice in its own tournament, Eveleth-Gilbert lost to powerful Roseau at the Roseau tournament, and only Greenway of Coleraine kept pace with East by sweeping the same Burnsville and Eden Prairie teams that beat Hibbing.
That made a perfect setting for East’s invasion of Coleraine, as the No. 1 and No. 2 regional teams, and No. 3 and No. 4 state rated teams. Both teams are near peak form, having benefitted by the high school league’s experiment to play 20 minute periods in selected holiday games. East played longer periods against Edina and Apple Valley, while Greenway and Hibbing played 20-minute periods instead of the normal 15 while swapping partners with Burnsville and Eden Prairie.
Elsewhere in boys state play, Roseville has risen dramatically, beating Hastings, while Anoka handed Eagan its first loss, then Roseville beat Anoka in the tournament final, while Eagan beat Hastings for the second time this season. Hastings star Dan Welch was off playing for the U.S. team, but Eagan beat the Raiders with him and without him.
The Duluth Dynamite girls team played well in the Grand Rapids tournament, but the big news in girls hockey was the Kaposia Classic at South St. Paul, which annually has a tougher field than the state tournament. Roseville was upset by Burnsville, although the game went to a shootout, so will officially be recognized as an overtime tie. Eagan went on to win the tournament, beating Burnsville in the final. Hibbing showed signs of recapturing its anticipated form, as goaltender Natalie LeMay returned to the nets after missing the first half of the season with an injury.
Boys State
1. Hill-Murray, 9-0
2. Elk River, 8-0
3. Duluth East, 9-2
4. Greenway of Coleraine, 6-2
5. Roseville, 8-2
6. Roseau, 8-1
7. Eagan, 9-1
8. Hastings, 7-3
9. Hibbing, 7-3
10. Eveleth-Gilbert, 8-2
Boys Regional
1. Duluth East, 9-2
2. Greenway of Coleraine, 6-2
3. Hibbing, 7-3
4. Eveleth-Gilbert, 8-2
5. Silver Bay, 8-1-1
6. Duluth Marshall, 7-4-1
7. Hermantown, 8-2-1
8. Hayward, 7-1
9. Superior, 4-4
10. Proctor, 4-5-1
Girls State
1. Park Center, 14-0
2. Roseville, 12-0-1
3. Eagan, 14-1
4. South St. Paul, 13-1
5. Duluth Dynamite, 11-3
6. Bloomington Jefferson, 10-3
7. Rosemount, 11-2
8. Burnsville, 9-2-2
9. Mounds View, 7-4
10. Blaine, 8-4
WCHA Christmas wishes left over
[John Gilbert viewpoint…12-30-98…]
‘Twas the week after Christmas, and on Santa’s special list
is a not from WCHA coaches, a wish-list that was missed!
All of the preseason WCHA prognostications are distant memories, but they were right on in some ways. It was suggested that North Dakota and Colorado College not only would be the best two teams in the WCHA, but perhaps in the nation. Don’t look now, but the two of them have run away from what is otherwise a very balanced race. For third.
Meanwhile, here is the secret list of what each of the nine WCHA coaches asked for at Christmas time. It’s alphabetical, because Santa always goes in alphabetical order:
Dean Blais, North Dakota—A history book, so he can read about how, once upon a time, a long, long time ago, he didn’t have success with every move he made on every team he coached. He can read it between games, while his Fighting Sioux cruise to a third straight WCHA championship.
Craig Dahl, St. Cloud State—Continued solid goaltending to support an offense that has been surprisingly productive so far.
George Gwozdecky, Denver University—Completion of the new rink, so the Pioneers will have a home for their home games.
Don Lucia, Colorado College—A healthy Toby Petersen, whose return might allow the Tigers to prevent North Dakota from duplicating CC’s unprecedented feat of three straight WCHA victories.
Jeff Sauer, Wisconsin—A few goals, because the Badgers give up the fewest goals in the league but are still struggling for .500.
Mike Sertich, UMD—A new playbook: “Nice Guys Don’t Have to Finish Last,” which was needed since Sertie tossed the one he used the first half of the season into the bay. That one was: “How to Win the Title While Scoring Only Once Each Game.”
Dean Talafous, Alaska-Anchorage—Official documentation that the Seawolves won’t have to give back the four points they swiped from UMD at the DECC. They could prove critical.
Tim Watters, Michigan Tech—A second half that proves his Huskies can live up to the class and humility of their coach.
Doug Woog, Minnesota—Complete isolation to concentrate on videotapes of successful, well-coached and innovative teams, even if their talent was less than his current team. But wait! Those videos are of the Gophers during Woog’s first five years, ‘way back when they were stylish, cohesive over-achievers, who showed individual improvement from year to year, and actually had fun playing the game and being in the program.
Bulldogs hang on to top Denver 4-3
Denver University coach George Gwozdecky called Minnesota-Duluth “the best last-place team I’ve seen.” And that was BEFORE the Bulldogs rose up to bite the Pioneers 4-3 before 3,798 fans at the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center.
Afterwards, there could be no doubt. The Bulldogs led 2-0 early, saw the Pioneers rally to gain a 2-2 tie in the third period, but battled back themselves. Jeff Scissons set up the tie-breaking goal by Derek Derow and then Scissons scored himself for a 4-2 UMD cushion, which was entrusted to goaltender Brant Nicklin. He came through, his fourth breakaway chance in the final minute, amid 30 saves.
“They played well, and Nicklin played very well,” said Gwozdecky. “They took advantage of some of our breakdowns early in the game. But we had our chances. I can’t remember many games where we’ve had so many breakaways that we didn’t score on.”
The Pioneers (6-8-1) hadn’t won in Duluth since Dec. 3, 1933, but the Bulldogs (3-10-2), languishing in last place, have scored the fewest goals in the league, and hadn’t won a WCHA game in five tries at the DECC until Friday.
“That was a good hockey game,” said UMD coach Mike Sertich. “And that’s a pretty good hockey team Denver has. We moved the puck well, and we came up with some big goals when we needed them.”
Freshman defenseman Kent Sauer got UMD started when he moved in boldly from the point to put away a pass from behind the net by Ryan Homstol after only 2:19 had elapsed. “I got there just at the right time, and I didn’t aim, for once,” said Sauer, a 6-1, 225-pounder, who scored his first college goal to celebrate homecoming for his older brother, Craig Sauer, who is a linebacker with the Atlanta Falcons, who are in Minnesota to play the Vikings in the NFC title game on Sunday.
At 6:21, freshman center Tom Nelson stationed himself in the slot while Colin Anderson passed in from the right boards to Curtis Bois behind the net, and Nelson quickly deposited the relay from Bois to the lower left for a sudden 2-0 headstart. It was his first goal, too. “I feel relieved,” said Nelson, who is from across the bay in Superior, Wis., where he led his team to three consecutive Wisconsin state high school hockey titles. “We had some nice plays, and played well overall. And it’s a good thing Nicklin stood on his head.”
The Bulldogs kept the pressure on, generating a half-dozen other promising scoring chances that either misfired or were stopped by goaltender Stephen Wagner. But after 15 minutes of being dominated, Denver got its offense untracked.
Nicklin had stopped Mark Rycroft on a 3-on-2 rush midway through the period, and also saved a Kelly Popadynetz breakaway later in the period. It took the Pioneers fourth line to connect for a goal when Bryce Wallnutt fed out from behind the net and Joe Ritson scored while being checked at 15:52.
Denver had the edge in chances in the scoreless second period, as Rycroft couldn’t quite reach a late return feed from Paul Comrie on a 2-on-1, and Gavin Morgan zoomed in on two successive breakaways, only to be foiled by Nicklin. Jon Newman just missed on a power play when his shot from the left circle glanced up and away off the crossbar.
The Pioneers got the equalizer at 7:46 of the third period, with each team a man short. Comrie made use of the extra portion of room on the ice, carrying from the right boards across the slot, holding the puck patiently until he could use a defender as a screen and then drilling his shot into the lower right.
At that point, it looked a lot like a number of UMD games where the ‘Dogs played well enough to win, but found a way to lose. But Derow’s goal rejuvenated the ‘Dogs. And Scissons exchanged passes with Ryan Coole, 1-timing the return to score the ultimate winner.
Comrie waltzed in from the right to score his second goal with 1:44 remaining, but Nicklin and the Bulldogs managed to hang on. Of course, it took one more breakaway, when Bjorn Engstrom intercepted Mark Carlson’s pass and sailed in alone. Nicklin stood his ground, gave him nothing, and Engstrom’s shot missed the net.
“Everyone thinks I saved it,” said Nicklin. “I’ll take it.”
Denver University 1 0 2 — 3
Minnesota-Duluth 2 0 2 — 4
First Period: 1. UMD–Sauer 1 (Homstol, Derow) 2:19. 2. UMD–Nelson 1 (Bois, C. Anderson) 6:21. 3. DU–Ritson 2 (Wallnutt, Veres) 15:52. Penalties–Sauer, UMD (hooking) 2:28; Engstrom, DU (hooking) 10:48; Coole, UMD (hooking) 18:13.
Second Period: No scoring. Penalties–Kidd, DU (high-sticking) 6:01; Coole, UMD (roughing) and Ritson, DU (roughing) 9:41; Patterson, DU (roughing) 13:01; Coole, UMD (interference) 15:25; Rycroft, DU (roughing) 20:00.
Third Period: 4. DU–Comrie 11 (Rycroft, Kurulak) 7:46. 5. UMD–Derow 7 (Scissons, Coole) 12:00. 6. UMD–Scissons 12 (Coole, Bois) 16:33. 7. DU–Comrie 12 (Hacker, Morgan) 18:16. Penalties–Pogreba, UMD (holding) and Patterson, DU (roughing) 7:28; Pogreba, UMD (high-sticking) and Kurulak, DU (high-sticking) 15:19.
Saves: Wagner, DU 8 11 8–27; Nicklin, UMD 8 12 10–30 . Attendance–3,798. Referee: Mike Riley; assistant referees: Brett Klosowski, Marco Hunt.
An especially good year passes
[1998–a very good year/john gilbert upnorth viewpoint…]
As years go, the just-passing 1998 was more than just special to me, because I hopped on board the Up North Newspaper Network in midyear. That also means some of the highlights of my sports year had a different scope. While everybody runs retrospective columns when the year ends, here are some events that missed the mainstream lists.
* Frigid winter weather notwithstanding, 60,000 fans paid their way into the Metrodome to watch Jeremy McGrath return to the pinnacle of motocross racing at the annual Supercross.
* There were four sides to a bizarre high school hockey story in Elk River: 1. Coach Tony Sarsland threatened one of his players during a game and was suspended for four games. 2. Several players from past teams contacted a reporter to say they had been similarly abused, verbally and/or physically, by Sarsland over the past 3-20 years, although some didn’t want their names used. 3. Damage control by a small group of Sarsland’s personal boosters insisted the accusations were only malcontents out to get Sarsland. 4. An “impartial” three-man panel investigated and determined it was a one-time incident, so Sarsland should resume coaching. Incredibly, the committee refused to interview any past accusers because they might be “prejudiced.” (That’s like having your store robbed, but the police only want to interview those clerks who weren’t robbed!) I always enjoyed dealing with Sarsland, and his Elks are currently No. 1 in the state, even though legal action is currently being pursued against Sarsland and the school by the family of one of the team’s top players.
* The state hockey tournaments were filled to the brim with thrills by Up North teams. In the girls tournament, Hibbing beat Bloomington Jefferson, then upset No. 1 Roseville, before losing a 1-0 overtime thriller to Apple Valley in the final. In boys play, Edina won a state-record six-overtime 6AA playoff final against Eden Prairie, but at state, Duluth East beat Hastings, Bloomington Jefferson (3-2 on Kevin Oswald’s overtime goal) then stopped Anoka with a 3-1 defensive masterpiece in the final. Eveleth-Gilbert beat Hermantown in an all-Up North Class A final, after Hermantown upset No. 1 Red Wing.
* I missed what undoubtedly was the biggest single sports event in Duluth during 1998 — UMD’s hockey victory over Minnesota in the third and deciding playoff game, and coach Mike Sertich’s celebratory grand slide into the goal. I did, however, see Tony Gasparini’s first goaltending start, in the WCHA Final Five, end when he was held down in the crease by a St. Cloud State player while the Huskies scored the tying goal in the final seconds, then beat the Bulldogs in overtime.
* Simon Peter of Tanzania made his move going up Lemon Drop Hill — where most runners falter — and emerged from the North Shore fog and drizzle to win Grandma’s Marathon in a record 2:12:47.
* The Duluth-Superior Dukes struggled all summer, but Ila Borders proved she could pitch, and handle an overload of national media, which was the thing she wanted least.
* The Trans-Am auto race on the streets of Minneapolis was befouled by several weird rulings by officials, as reported in the Up North Network if not elsewhere. A month or so later, Sports Car Club of America officials cited that race and others while dismissing those same officials. Sadly, Minneapolis officials have decided to discontinue the unique charity race.
* Iron Range native Warren Johnson dominated Pro Stock drag racing, and the Line family, from the Cloquet “suburb” of Wright, stood out at the August BIR drag races. Incomprehensibly, the chief shareholder of the public track made the rest of 1998 stormy by firing and/or prompting resignations from loyal, long-standing BIR workers. If the track runs in 1999, it will be after hiring an entire new staff.
* More hockey news was huge: Duluth East senior-to-be Patrick Finnegan passed up his senior year to play Major Junior at Windsor, Ontario…NHL star Brett Hull, a summertime Duluthian, left St. Louis to sign with Dallas…Cloquet’s Jamie Langenbrunner missed the start in a contract dispute but now is flying for the same Stars…And UMD is starting to build an on-campus arena for its new women’s hockey program, which will be easily expandable to be a state-of-the-art home on the hill for the Bulldog men as well.
Ah, but now we’re into pre-retrospection, which will have to wait for a future year.
About the Author
John Gilbert is a lifetime Minnesotan and career journalist, specializing in cars and sports during and since spending 30 years at the Minneapolis Tribune, now the Star Tribune. More recently, he has continued translating the high-tech world of autos and sharing his passionate insights as a freelance writer/photographer/broadcaster. A member of the prestigious North American Car and Truck of the Year jury since 1993. John can be heard Monday-Friday from 9-11am on 610 KDAL(www.kdal610.com) on the "John Gilbert Show," and writes a column in the Duluth Reader.
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