USM 2 vs Blake 4

     Friday, in the first round of the 21st annual Bob Nelson Tournament at Blake School in Hopkins, Minnesota, the host Blake School outskated, outshot, and outplayed University School.  Only the solid goaltending of USM senior Dan Smyzcek kept the score reasonable, 4-2 in favor of Blake.

     USM scored the first goal.  On a power play, junior defenseman Zach Hafeman got the puck to his partner, sophomore Nathan Burke at the center of the Blake blue line.  Burke fired a low wrist shot that made it through a crowd of pads in front of Blake’s goalie Ryan Hayes just 4:47 into the game.

     After that the game became Blake’s.  The Bears tied the score less than a minute later. On a breakout from the Blake end, defenseman Brent Szalapski sent it to Donald Chute who skated it toward center ice.  He saw Kasey Boyd speeding up the left side and sent Boyd in on a breakaway.  Boyd moved in on Smyzcek, swept past him and deposited the puck in the net like he was at an ATM machine

     Blake took the lead at 12:24 of the first on a power play of their own.  Catching the USM forwards out high in the USM zone, defenseman Ryan Bullock sent a shot toward the far post.  It hit a USM stick and caromed toward the net and Blake’s George Ordway hustled to it and gunned it in at 5:12.  Christopher Chute also had an assist on the play.

     Blake furthered its lead at 4:42 of the second period while on another power play.  The Bears moved the puck around the USM zone waiting for an opportunity.  Ford Traff sent it to E.J. Faust who moved it to the point to Bullock.  Bullock blazed a low shot that went past Smyzcek who was screened on the play.

     Despite being outshot in the period 21 to 9, USM inched back into the game with a power play goal in the waning seconds of the second period.  Senior Alex Tesensky and junior Aaron Storch entered the Blake zone on a 2 on 1.  As a defender stepped up to check him, Tesensky slid the puck to Storch who moved in and tried to stuff it past Hayes.  The rebound popped out into the slot.  USM’s Simon Leahy raced in and fired it over the sprawling Hayes at 16:56.

     Although the play was more even in the third period, USM was unable to score while Blake added an insurance goal.  Controlling the puck behind the USM net, Christopher Chute sent a quick pass out front to Cam Falvey who tapped it under Smyzcek at 10:01.

     In the game Hayes stopped 23 of USM’s 25, while Smyzcek saved 41 of 45.

     Blake moves on to the tournament championship game against Owatonna High School at 3:00 Saturday.  USM is now 0-2.  The Wildcats play in the consolation game at 1:00 against Delano High School of Delano, MN.