Game v Coon Rapids, Part 6

Here are some photos of a bunch of very happy guys.

Here's the team right after they received their first place trophy. Each kid got a medal for playing in the tournament. Those weren't the only prizes awarded. Matthew also won the "top shot" medal for a hockey shooting game in which the boys shot the puck at some target lights. He hit all nine lights in the fastest time for the Richfield team. He's the kid with his face closest to the trophy in the above photo.

The coaches have done a spectacular job this season. We owe them a big 'thank you' for their hard work and the progress we've seen in the team and the kids as individuals. That's Coach Jeff (Max's dad), Coach Mark Johnson, Coach Jake McCoy and Coach Chris (Eric's dad.) Not pictured is team manger Evan (Wyatt's dad.)

Finally, here's a team picture with the trophy and the coaches. Congratulations to all for a first place finish in New Ulm. Many thanks to CJ (Jacob and Marco's dad) for the photo.

With that, we packed up our stuff and left little Germany on the Minnesota prairie. I'm sure we'll all be back next year.

Game v Coon Rapids, Part 5

Here's one of the goals that was scored, in this case by Marco.

Marco is on the ice in front of and just to the right of the net...

...and then he gets up to celebrate.

Jackson stabs at the puck as it comes in high...

...and knocks it over the net. Looks like he might have blocked this one with his face again.

And that's it for game photos. The action was done at this point, except for the celebrating. That's the topic of the next post. The boys won the game 6-4, after being in a deficit position of 1-4 at one point. The boys and coaches deserve a lot of credit for their come-from-behind win.

Game v Coon Rapids, Part 4

More single photos.

Hunter.

Max D. putting a shot in goal. It looks like a technique Max B. sometimes uses.

Jackson making a save.

Henri.

Game v Coon Rapids, Part 3

Once the second period started, the Richfield team started to get back on track.

Henri with a pass.

Wyatt working for control of the puck.

More coaching going on.

Garrett getting ready to receive a pass.

Eric taking a shot.

Game v Coon Rapids, Part 2

The game continued to go against the Spartans despite the best efforts of offense and defense.

Here's Max D. getting ready to take a shot.

Andrew S. is backhanding a pass around an opponent.

Max D. again, moving in for another offensive play.

Max K. chasing the puck. He does a great job of keeping things under control.

At the end of the first period, it was time for Coach McCoy to have a little talk with the team. Whatever he said, it started to work early in the second period.

Game v Coon Rapids, Part 1

Our final game of the tournament, against Coon Rapids, was easily the most exciting and rewarding the team has played yet this year. With a lead-in like that, could the game have done anything but start badly for the Richfield team? They tried valiantly, but the Coon Rapids team was better prepared than their earlier opponents. So Coon Rapids quickly scored a few goals, and it was 3-1 or 4-1 after the end of the first period.

We had a few shots on goal, but only one of them made it to the net.

Here's Jacob moving in for a shot.

Dylan working the center.

The defense had plenty of opportunities to get in the Coon Rapids offense's way, and sometimes did...

Here's Willy trying to move the puck into scoring territory for Richfield

Another shot by Dylan.

Eric passing the puck.