West 16U kept its undefeated streak alive this weekend going 6-0-3 in its last 9 games.  West 16U won its first game, beating a short-handed Metro Northeast 18U 9-1 and tied the second game vs. a skilled Madison Capitols 3-3.  Carson Jones from Eden Prairie led the way for West 16U with 3 points for the weekend followed by several players with 2 points.

West 16U continued its torrid pace of fast starts jumping out quickly against MNE18U outshooting its opponent 17-1 in the first period.  Carson Jones opened the scoring assisted by Preston Perrault from Orono.  Blake’s Bennett Hawley followed with a short-handed goal on a break-away and assisting on the next goal from Orono’s Fisher Eiss, putting West 16U up 3-0. Orono’s Jack Suchy and Monticello’s Troy Dahlheimer then traded a pair of goals each sandwiched by Luverne’s Jim Erickson’s goal. Evan Proudfit and John Simon both from Holy Family each got an assist.  Jones finished the scoring with an assist by Litchfield’s Brandt Pederson putting West 16U up 9-0 but Metro Northeast18U added a goal ending the game at 9-1.

The second game of the weekend was fast, physical, and intense against a very strong Madison Capitols team. The Capitols came out fierce but West 16U’s goalie Jack Cusey from Mankato East made several big saves, until the Capitols finally broke through going up 1-0 in the second period.   West 16U responded in the third period with Wayzata’s Ike Taraszewski scoring on a feed by Fisher Eiss on the power play. West 16U then took the game’s momentum with Benilde’s Nathan Clark scoring on a rebound off a shot by Jones, putting West 16U up 2-1.  Wayzata’s Sawyer Anderson made some great saves before the Capitols tied the game at 2-2, putting the energy back again on the Capitol’s side.  But West 16U responded with their own surge with Chanhassen’s Jack Haley scoring on an upper corner shot, assisted by Evan Proudfit and Chaska’s Blaine Warnert to put West 16U up 3-2 with just 10 minutes left to play.  West 16U killed off consecutive penalties including a 5 on 3 until the Capitols tied it up on yet another power play with 5 minutes remaining.  West 16U kept fighting and came close to winning it with a few chances including a shot off the pipe at a minute to go, but the game ended in a 3-3 tie.

Next weekend West 16U will be in St. Croix facing South 18U and Metro Northwest 16U.