Adapted Trojans unbeaten heading into state tourney
Brianna Stark makes a save for the Trojans. She stopped 21 of 24 shots in a win over South Washington and gave up just two goals in the playoff win over Wayzata/Minnetonka. (Chuck Kajer Photo)
The New Prague Trojan adapted floor hockey team will compete in the Minnesota State High School League Adapted Floor Hockey Tournament, which will be held Friday and Saturday, March 15 and 16, at Bloomington Jefferson High School. The Trojan team, which includes players from New Prague, Tri-City United, Le Sueur-Henderson, Belle Plaine and Jordan schools, are 10-0 on the season, having defeated South Washington County in their regular season finale last week, 10-3, and then defeating Minnetonka/Wayzata in a state play-in game 12-2.
New Prague enters the tournament as the No. 2 seed from the South, despite its unbeaten record. Seeding was done prior to last week’s game with South Washington County, which is 9-1 on the season, and South Washington received the No. 1 seed.
This is the Trojans’ ninth trip to the state tournament, having qualified every year but one since 2010. They were state champions in 2014 and placed several other times, including last year when they won the consolation championship.
New Prague will face Anoka-Hennepin in the quarterfinals of the state tournament. This is the same team they lost to in the first round last season, 10-7. Game time is 6:30 p.m. Friday, March 15. Win or lose, they play at least one more game on Saturday. If they win, they play at noon Saturday against either defending state champion St. Cloud or Maple Grove. If they lose, they play in the consolation round at 9 a.m. If they win either or both of their first two games, they will play a third game on Saturday.
Trojans 10, Thunderbolts 2 New Prague hosted South Washington County in a twice-postponed game Tuesday, March 5.
Both teams were undefeated going into the game. In fact, neither team had even trailed in a game all season.
“Our kids came out with a ton of energy and dominated this game from the first drop of the puck to the last,” said Coach Shellie Kriha. “We never trailed in this game, and it seemed like South Washington didn’t have an answer for anything that we were doing.”
Dylan Raaen led the Trojan offense with.....
To see more on this story pick up the March 14, 2019 print edition of The New Prague Times.
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