This year's Class 2A and Class 1A boys’ hockey state titles landed in the Lake Minnetonka area, and after an extended winter, more than a dozen players will put their decorated hockey seasons aside and set forth toward another state tournament berth, this time on the turf as Minnetonka hosts Orono in our Top Game of the Week.
Jack Bayless was the second-leading scorer on Minnetonka's hockey team, but he's all about shutting down scoring in lacrosse as the Skippers goalie. Bayless allowed an average of 5.2 goals per game last spring when the team went 8-6 en route to an appearance in the Section 2 title game, where Minnetonka fell to Eden Prairie 11-6.
Bayless won't go it alone, as the Skippers also welcome back leading scorer and Denver commit Andrew DiFrancesco (41-13-54).
Minnetonka enters the matchup holding bragging rights after defeating Orono 13-4 in last spring’s regular-season finale. It was an uncharacteristic lopsided loss for the Spartans, whose other three losses were single-goal decisions during their 9-5 season.
To reverse its fortunes in this go-round, Orono can look to Florida Southern commit Evan Babekuhl, who is entering his fourth year starting at long-stick midfielder. Babekuhl blends quick reflexes — he's a starting goaltender in hockey — with speed and precision as a runner who disrupts opposing offenses. He’ll anchor the defense as the Spartans break in freshman goalie Garth Hatchett, who is transitioning from being an attackman.
Both teams compete in Section 2, and given their recent success and locality, Thursday’s meeting boasts an extra-special air.