Here's an article about the great year our VFW squad had last season... Keep checking back for future articles following our Greenwave in the Elite League and season previews for our Program.
2009-10 Bantam A Season recap
The EGF VFW Bantam A team had a tough and grueling schedule. With high expectations for a group that made the Pee Wee A State tourney the last couple of years the coaches put together a challenging schedule and by the end of the season the team ended up playing 10 of the top 13 ranked teams; including all of the top 5 teams in the State.
The team’s first accomplishment was winning the Moorhead invitational tourney. In the championship game EGF blasted the hosts Moorhead 6-1 to win the tourney. EGF would also participate in 2 separate Roseau Tourneys playing State powers like Woodbury, Grand Rapids & Elk River all 3 teams eventually made it to the State Tourney.
Playing a tough schedule worked just like the coaches planned and helped the team prepare for the most important part of the season which was the playoffs. EGF ended up blowing a 3rd period lead in the district championship game to lose to Roseau, but they still advanced to the West Regional’s in Fergus Falls. Blowing that lead ended up being a great lesson to the team and they didn’t lose another game the rest of the year when they started the 3rd period with a lead. The team didn’t have much luck or any bounces go their way all season, but at Regions they would finally get there big break when they won a 3 way tie breaker with Moorhead and Andover to get a chance to play in the regional championship game with a berth to the State tourney at stake. EGF played arch nemesis Roseau. Many of the same players for both teams met 2 years earlier in the same situation in a regional championship game to go to State. In that game Roseau got a quick 3-0 lead but EGF came back to win and advance to Pee Wee A State Tourney. All the parents, players and coaches remember that game as if it was yesterday. Would Roseau get their revenge? The answer was NO! EGF came out and took a quick lead and was in control pretty much the whole game and won 3-1 to advance to the Bantam A State tourney for the first time in about 13 years.
At the State tourney in Richfield, EGF was huge underdogs vs. 3rd ranked Osseo-Maple Grove who had a 55-10 record. With strong defensive play and great goaltending EGF got the lead and never gave it up as they went on to win 2-1. The State semifinals were a Northern match up vs. #2 ranked Grand Rapids. After a scoreless 1st period Rapids got on the board in the 2nd period. Down 1-0 midway through the third EGF got into penalty trouble and Rapids would pad their lead and never let EGF back in the game as Rapids went on to win 4-0. This would put EGF in the 3rd place game vs. Wayzata. Using the same formula that got them this far EGF would get a 1st period lead and never give it up as they ended up defeating Wayzata 3-0 and capturing 3rd place.
The season had many great memories for all the players, coaches and parents. One cool thing was all the games at the State Tourney were broadcast with commentary on the internet by the Minnesota Sports Network and anyone was able to watch for free and anyone could purchase a copy of any of the games. The team also got to do some educational team bonding by touring the State Capitol in St. Paul and they attended a WCHA Final 5 game at the Xcel Center where the Sioux played Denver.
The coaches would like to thank all the kids for their hard work and dedication and the parents for all their support. We also want to give a special thanks to Judd Stauss and Kane Aubol for coming out and volunteering their time. They both had a huge impact on this team’s success.
Team members include: Grant Boyum, Jake Chisholm, Luke Beito, Nathan Peltier, Gage Ausmus, Eddie Eades, Dixon Bowen, Nick Ranten, Cale Mack, Colton Poolman, Nick Korynta, Rayce Martin, Tommy Hajicek, Brandon Loven, Kolton Aubol and Tanner Lindstrom. Coaches: Nick Bowen, Kyle Gast, Jeff Bowen, Neil Purcell.
