Hill-Murray Pioneer Hockey: Game 2007-12-28

First Period
Mtka, Sam Coatta (Erik Hansen, Jake Gardiner), 3:57 (pp).

Second Period
Mtka, Jake Thornberg (Nick Helmer, Justin Erhart), 7:55.
HM, Ryan Furne (Dan Cecka), 8:34.
Mtka, Nick Helmer (Jake Thornberg, Justin Erhart), 11:04.

Third Period
Mtka, Erik Hansen (Jake Gardiner, Nate Jensen), 4:32.

Shots by period
Hill-Murray	13	6	7	-	26
Minnetonka	8	14	15	-	37

Goalies Minutes GA Saves Result
HM - Joe Phillippi 51 4 33 L
Mtka - Matt Buonomo 51 1 25 W

Power Plays Goals Attempts Time
Hill-Murray 0 1 2:00
Minnetonka 1 3 4:25

Minnetonka captured the Gold Division championship, defeating Hill-Murray 4-1 in a matchup of two teams who hope to be back at the Xcel in March. The Skippers took over the second half of the game after Hill-Murray failed to capitalize on early opportunities, getting goals from four different players and 25 saves from senior goalie Matt Buonomo.

Hill-Murray sent pucks through the Minnetonka goal crease repeatedly in the first ten minutes, but a single Minnetonka power play yielded the only goal of the first period when Sam Coatta tucked in a rebound of a point shot.

The Pioneers again had chances early in the second period but had trouble putting shots on net. Minnetonka picked up its play midway through the period and recovered a loose puck in the neutral zone, creating a 3-on-2 whereupon Jake Thornberg scored on a wrist shot from 25 feet.

Hill-Murray got on the board less than a minute later when Ryan Furne skated up the left side and blasted a low shot past Buonomo.

The Skippers made the most of a fortunate bounce on another 3-on-2, as the initial shot deflected right onto the stick of Nick Helmer who scored from close range.

The goal seemed to deflate Hill-Murray as Minnetonka carried the play for the remainder of the game, racking up a 29-13 shot advantage over the final two periods. Erik Hansen scored the game's final goal, making a great move in the neutral zone and putting a wrist shot into the upper corner from the left circle.

Buonomo finalized a solid performance with back-to-back saves on Dan Sova and Dave Cascalenda in the last minute, giving Minnetonka its third three-goal victory of the tournament.