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| 2013-14 Missota Conference Champions |
Coach Keith Revels' squad defeated Shakopee 5-3 Thursday night at Schmitz-Maki Arena to remain unbeaten (12-0-1) in conference play and clinch the last-ever Missota title. The league will disband after the 2013-14 school year with the Tigers moving to the South Suburban Conference.
"I think we knew all along the conference title was in reach," Revels said, "but it was not an easy feat. Fourteen games over three months requires consistent persistence. Team chemistry is the key component to the success we are experiencing.
"I'm pretty proud of this group of young men right now. They seem to be able to find a way to win even when they are not at their best."
The conference clincher, the Tigers' 15th straight victory, surely didn't come easily. Farmington got the better of the play all night but could not shake the pesky Sabers.
Shakopee drew first blood in the opening period before Alex Aubrecht tied the count on assists from Justin Novak and Austin Martinsen.
The second period was a carbon copy of the first with the Sabers scoring first and Farmington responding with a goal by John Siebenaler to send the teams to the final break deadlocked at 2-2.
Dallas Tucker (from Tanner Grubb and Jack Erickson) gave Farmington its first lead of the game with a score 4:31 into the third period but the lead was short-lived. Shakopee re-tied it fewer than 90 seconds later to set up a hectic finish.
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| Erik Holmstrom scored the game-winner (photo by J. Lindquist) |
The power play scores were a fitting ending to the evening's proceedings as the visitors picked up five penalties, including a bench minor, in the final 10 minutes if play.
"Shakopee lost their composure and we kept our focus," Revels said. "We picked each other up and pressed on."
Nick Schoening went the distance in goal for the winners, running his season record to 8-1 with a 19-save effort.
Novak continued his season-long role as primary playmaker, finishing the night with four assists to raise his season point total to 51. Martinsen (goal, 2 assists) and Siebenaler (goal, assist) also had multiple-point nights for the winners.
The conference champs (20-3-1) close the books on their regular season Saturday afternoon with a conference afternoon game at Chaska then await the results of the Section 1AA seedings.
"I am thinking we'll be second with a chance of falling to third," Revels predicted, "but either way our focus will remain the same. Don't get complacent. Keep pushing forward and improving each and every outing."
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| Justin Novak assisted on four of the five Tiger goals (photo by Jim Lindquist) |
