NP floor hockey team earns return trip to state

With one final home game remaining, the New Prague floor hockey team has earned a berth in the state tournament again this year and played for a top seed in the regularseason finale against Dakota United.

At 7-0, the Trojans hosted DU yesterday, Wednesday, Feb. 19. The Trojans’ unblemished record includes a win over their nemesis the past two seasons, LakevilleFarmington-Burnsville. The Blazin’ Cats defeated New Prague in the championship game last year.

The state tournament is March 7-8 at Coon Rapids High School.

Trojans 9, Stillwater 4 The Trojans outscored the Ponies in two of the three periods of the Feb. 13 contest. The win gives NP an expected top seed among southern Minnesota teams heading into the state tournament.

The Trojans took a 3-0 lead to the first period and held a 5-2 lead after two periods. New Prague iced the win, outscoring the Ponies, 4-2, in the final 15 minutes.

“This was by far the best all-around game we've played all season,” said coach Jeremy Kalal after the win. “Our kids played great. Landon Malecha played great in goal, neutralizing Stillwater's center who scores 90% of their team's goals. We played great team defense and we were able to shut down Stillwater's high scoring offense.”

Logan Bermel paced New Prague with three goals. Carter Tupy scored twice and added an assist. Trystan Seger scored two goals with an assist and Elliot Soukup chipped in a goal and assist. Lorelai Hamre had two assists in the victory.

“Our center, Logan Bermel, played really well and our forwards got to work keeping the puck on our end for the majority of the game,” Kalal said. “We have been waiting for our team to play a complete all-around game and tonight was that game. It is exciting to see them peaking at the right time.”

Trojans 9, Lakeville-Farmington-Burnsville 0 “The Blazing Cats have been the state champions the last two years, and we've lost to them in the championship game each of those years so it felt really good to dominate them like we did,” NP coach Jeremy Kalal said. “We were in control from the first second of the game and stayed in control of the game the entire way.”

New Prague jumped to a 5-0 lead in the first period of the Feb. 11 clash and took a 7-rip lead into the second intermission. The Trojans outscored the Blazin’Cats, 2-0, in the final period.

Elliot Soukup led the Trojans with five goals. Logan Bermel and Trystan Seger each added two goals and an assist. Nikkos Patrin had two assists while Brock Kocina and Ryan Swenson both assisted on a goal.

“Landon Malecha (NP goalie) was only tested a few times in goal, but when he was tested, he made some great saves,” Kalal said.