Red Wing Athletic Association

Once tryouts were complete and rosters were set the 2011-12 Red Wing PeeWee B team set their sights toward the upcoming season.  Coach Bump and Coach Reid were back for another year and Coach Jay was added to the roster.  Practices were spirited early on as the coaches ran the players through conditioning drills, getting their legs ready for the schedule ahead.  

The first game of the year served notice that this team was going to give 100% effort as they tied a good Hastings team 1-1.  Hustle and constant backcheck pressure would become a signature of this team.  A few more games would move them to their first District 9 game vs Rochester Black.  Again the Wingers played hard and would lose a 3-1 decision to eventual District 9 East Division leader and playoff champion. 

It was time for some team building and Breezy Point provided the perfect place for this.  Again the Wingers ran into some tough competition but again showed this team was not going to be outhustled.  Even though the team went 0-3, they were beginning to show the hustle and chemistry that would pay off once the District 9 schedule picked up steam.  The cold winds off Pelican Lake would blow the team into the Marina II more than once during the trip for wings, laughs and late afternoon get togethers.

The Wingers ripped off 5 consecutive wins after the tournament, including two District 9 victories, to really get their season going.  A tough 3-2 home District 9 loss to Rochester Gold would make the next game at Winona even more important.  Winona had given the PeeWee B's trouble in the past but this was a new Winger team this year.  Winona didn't know what hit them as they took 10 penalties and a 6-1 loss.  

A couple defeats to some good Twin Cities area teams along with a tough 2-1 home District 9 loss to Owatonna again led the Wingers to look in the mirror and ask themselves what they wanted out of this season.  A trip to Northfied for an important District 9 contest would offer an answer.  The Wingers got back to what worked for them earlier, hustle and constant backchecking.  A 5-3 win brought back that winning feeling leading into a key three game trip through western Minnesota.

A long early morning road trip west led the Wingers into Sleepy Eye January 7th for a game against New Ulm.  Almost a duplicate of the Winona game ensued.  New Ulm took over 10 penalties as the Winger charge clearly frustrated the home town team.  A 8-0 shutout was a good start to the weekend for the Wingers.  It was off to Mankato for a night game that evening against the West Division 2nd place Mankato Maverics.  A back and forth game eventually ended in a 5-5 tie and a precious District 9 point.  The Wingers loaded up their cars and headed north for a noon game Sunday against another West division power, St. Peter/LeSeuer.  A scoreless game eventually went 1-0 with the Wingers holding the lead.  They held on to win and gain another key District 9 win.

After an embarrasing 9-1 loss to Hudson unbeaten District 9 foe Waseca came to Prairie Island Arena.  The Wingers again showed when they skate hard and hustle they can play with anyone.  A strong game earned the Wingers a 1-1 tie and give Waseca what would be their only District 9 blemish for the year.  La Crescent next came to town with East Division standing implications.  The Wingers played well but the Lancers left with a 4-0 victory.  It was again soul searching time for the Wingers.  They still controlled their seeding destiny but needed to get some wins.

The Wingers traveled to Rochester to take on the Gold team and try to get revenge for an earlier season loss.  Playing one of their best games of the year yielded a 8-2 victory serving notice that they still wanted to hold their position in the District 9 standings.  

The Wingers went up to River Falls for a tournament and came up against a rough and tumble Waunakee team.  The Cheeseheads were no match for the Wingers and position moves were made by our coaches to show some mercy.  The Waunakee fans didn't understand this and waved a few fingers toward the Winger fans.  A couple little Cheeseheads even faked mooned our parents during the postgame handshake in a real classy move on their part.  Oh well what do you expect, they're Cheeseheads!

The Wingers returned home for their own Great River Classic. The arena and lockerroom were decorated and the coaches were in suits and ties for the big game.  Introductions under spotlights fired the team up and they responded with a 4-2 victory over Des Moines.  Losses to Champlin Park and Inver Grove Heights didn't dampen the spirits of the young Wingers though.  Their focus shifted to a season defining final District 9 game with Rochester Red.  Win and the #2 playoff seed was theirs.

The Wingers came out firing on all cylinders and gave one of their best efforts of the year, beating Rochester Red 7-4.  This gave the Wingers a first round bye into the District playoffs.  One last 8-3 win against Northfield prepared the Wingers for the playoffs.

Red Wing came up against St. Peter/LeSeuer in their first round match up and hung tough for two periods.  However the Wingers lost 6-1 and moved into the consolation bracket.  Rochester Red was next and showing no nerves in falling behind 3-1 the Wingers provided one of their most dramatic wins of the year.  A 3-3 tie was broken with just :06 remaining and the Wingers moved on to face the hometown La Crescent Lancers.  This game would go to overtime but again the Cardiac Kids would not give up and scored in overtime to advance for another match up with St. Peter/LeSeuer.  Tied after two periods the game swayed in St. Peter/LeSeuer's favor and eventually the Wingers fell 5-1, ending their season.

This was a great group of kids who bought into our coaches philosophy of team play and hustle.  They were fun to watch and brought many memories that hopefully will remain fresh in their minds for many years.  A special thanks goes out to our coaches.  For single guys in their 20's, one wouldn't think they would want to spend their winter with a bunch of middle school boys.  But it was their love of the game of hockey that inspired them to show the kids what the game is all about:  clean hard play.  This team took on the identity of their coaches in that they hustled and forced teams into taking penalties while not retaliating against cheap shots that came their way.  Thanks goes out to all the parents also.  We were a fun group and made some memories of our own.  So the season is over.  The ice is out of Bergwall and the ice at the Ath has seen better days.  But the boys will lace up their skates one more time for an end of the year party before saying goodbye to their successful season.       

Coming off an emotional District 9 victory over Rochester Red the Wingers welcomed Northfield to historic Bergwall Arena for their last home game of the year.  The Raiders were hungry as they had a play in game to prepare for against St. Peter/LeSeuer.  The Wingers continued their hustling ways though and came away with a 8-3 win.  Goalie forward Drew Bjorngaard came into the game looking for his first goal of the year and ended up with 2 and an assist.  Cam'ron Benway added 2 goals while Jordan Guse, Cameron DeLain, Jack Maroushek, and Josh Partington each contributed 1 goal.  Caden Bergin had 2 assists while Drew Siewert, Logan Sammon and Justin Walters each added 1 assist.  Mack "Turbo" Maroushek was between the pipes for the Wingers and made 10 saves in recording his first win of the year.  It was a fun night for the Wingers all around but soon after their focus turned to the District 9 playoffs.  The Wingers will take on St. Peter/LeSeuer Friday Feb. 17 at 8PM in LaCrescent in their first round match up.  The Wingers are really peaking and hope to carry this momentum into the playoffs.  Good luck Wingers!