Sports
Novas Prepare For Biggest Test of Season
After a 19-2-4 regular season, the Minneapolis Novas boys hockey team begins the Section 6AA tournament at top-seeded Eden Prairie
Team speed was the key.
The Minneapolis Novas boys hockey team began the year with a lot of unknowns. The Novas, a consolidation of the East and West programs, had a new coach and a completely new team makeup.
But depth, cohesiveness and team speed helped Minneapolis fly to a 19-2-4 record this regular season. Now, with the Section 6AA playoffs beginning Thursday, the Novas will take on perhaps their biggest challenge yet.
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Minneapolis, the eighth-seed in the section tournament, will travel to face top-seeded Eden Prairie.
“It will be the biggest challenge that these boys have ever had,” Novas coach Shawn Reid said. “It will be a monumental task for our boys.”
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The Novas blazed through their regular season schedule this season, grabbing the Two Rivers Conference title with an 8-1-3 record. Along the way, Minneapolis grew together one win at a time and reaped the benefits of a deep roster and a four-line rotation.
While senior Alec Kelly said his East team might have had 10-15 kids trying out this winter, the Novas had a full bench.
With that came the ability to wear down opponents.
“Speed definitely is the key to our success,” Alec Kelly said. “Just working together the whole time.”
It is that hard-working philosophy that the Novas expect to bring to Thursday’s game in Eden Prairie, which is ranked No. 2 in the Associated Press Class AA state poll.
The Eagles (18-5-2) won’t give Minneapolis a lot of chances to score, so junior forward Newton Fuller said the Novas need to be ready when breakdowns occur.
“We’re going to see way fewer opportunities,” Fuller said. “So when we do get our chances, we need to bury them.”
Just like they’ve been all season, the Novas said they are up to the challenge. Fuller said their record shows they know how to win. Senior Jack Kelly said it’s an opportunity to pull a early postseason upset.
Minneapolis plans to move full speed ahead.
“That could definitely happen,” Jack Kelly said. “We just need to hustle the whole game, pressure them all the time.”
