The Alexandria boys' hockey team will be going to the state tournament for the third time in school history, following a 4-1 victory over Sartell-St. Stephen in the Section 6A championship game in St. Cloud Friday.

 

The Sabres were playing in their first ever section final.  The Cardinals had also defeated Sartell-St. Stephen 4-1 on February 4 in Sartell.  The two teams skated to a 5-5 overtime tie in Alexandria on December 19.

 

"We struggled a bit early in the game, but Sartell played hard and made things difficult on us," explained Alexandria head coach Scott Woods.

 

The Cards got off to a fast start and led 1-0 after the first period.  Thomas Williams, the leading scorer in the Central Lakes Conference, scored the goal just 2:41 into the game, with assists going to Ross Thompson and Casey Vangsness.

 

Sartell-St. Stephen tied the game at 11:02 of the second, but the Cardinals responsed a few minutes later.  Ashton Gronholz scored on the power play at 14:08, with an assist going to Garrett Skinner.

 

Leading 2-1, Alexandria played the third period the way they have since mid January.

 

"We came out and proved this was our time and no one was going to take it away from us!" Woods exclaimed.

 

Gronholz picked up a turnover just 26 seconds in and scored to make it 3-1.  About four minutes later Williams scored the Cards' second unassisted goal of the period to seal the victory.

 

Erich Murphy made 30 saves to earn the win as the Cardinals were outshout 31-22, but made the most of their offensive opportunities.

 

"Erich played fantastic," said Woods.  "He held us in the game at times."

 

Alexandria will now face Mahtomedi at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 10.

 

"Mahtomedi was seeded number two and we were drawn out of a hat to play them," Woods stated.

 

The Cardinals' previously particiapted in what was called the Division II tournament in 1992 and was in the Class AA field in 1996.