State Hockey: Blake outlasts Maple Grove in wild AA Quarterfinal
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Blake’s Will Svenddal scored the eventual game-winner with 2:14 remaining in a wild Class AA State Hockey Quarterfinal against Maple Grove. Svenddal had the game-winning goal and five assists in the game.
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Blake junior Joe MIller had a hat trick and two assists.
Maple Grove trailed 3-2 entering the thrid period, but Sam Jacobs tied it at 3 3:20 into the final period.
Jacobs goal was the first of seven goals the teams scored in the third period.
Blake's Joe Miller (20) and Ben Dexheimer (4) hug a teammate following a goal in their Class AA State Boys Hockey Quarterfinal win over Maple Grove[45TV]
Blake got a prair from Miller and Jack Sabre to lead 5-3 qwith 9:10 to go, but Maple Grove responded with goals from Tyler Oakland and an unassisted effort by Josh Giuliani to tie it once again at 5-5. Giuliani, a sophomore, scored twice.
A late penalty gave Blake a power play, paving the way to Svenddal’s winner.
Gavin Best added an empty-netter late to give the Bears their first Class AA State Tournament win since they moved up from Class A.
Blake will play in the Class AA Semifinals at 6pm Friday night against the winner of the Eden Prairie / Lakeville South quarterfinal.