3/28/2018

Edition 1, Volume 1

“I believe someone at your school will want this puck in your trophy case Tomorrow.”
–Mark Manney, Andover Boys Hockey Head Coach

Just a couple of weeks back, the Andover Boys High School Hockey team had to travel to Duluth for a Section Championship to play one of the top ranked teams in the State of Minnesota, Duluth East.  The Andover squad was an underdog and lost 9-2 to this same Duluth squad earlier this season.  Playing Duluth East is always a challenge, playing them on their backyard pond, just minutes from their  home arena, takes it  to another level of  toughness.

The Section 7AA game was scoreless through the first period, then Andover scored two goals in the 2^nd period.

Heading into the  3^rd period  the Duluth East  team which had lost just one game all year,  was  down 2-0.

Duluth battled back to  tie the game in the  3^rd period  and  send the game it to a sudden-death overtime.    Almost five minutes  into  overtime Duluth East scored the game winner and  the arena with over 9,000  fans  in attendance erupted with  95%  of the fan  base from  Duluth.  They were headed to the most coveted tourney in the state of Minnesota, The State Hish School Tournament in St. Paul, Minnesota.

It was at this point the actions of the Andover Coach, Mark Manney created Momentum in a Minute.

As Duluth players and coaches were celebrating their overtime win on the ice and his players from Andover greatly disappointed by the loss. Coach Manney noticed the puck used to score the game winning goal was still in the net.  During the choatic celebration Coach Manney, picked up the puck, manuevered through the frenzy of Duluth East players, sticks, and gloves all over the ice at this time.  Heart broken himself after such a tough loss, he then approached the Duluth East coach, congratulated him  and handed him the puck, saying, “I believe someone at your school will want this puck in your trophy case tomorrow.”

His actions and his leadership made such impact on his players that it triggered momentum to such a level, the underclassman on this Andover team committed to an intense off-season training program.  The goal, they will be the team on the ice at the Section Championship next celebrating a trip to the 2019 State Tournament.  They played nearly 60 minutes of intense hockey in the championship game and almost 30 games during season with endless practices.  It was the action of Picking Up the Puck, that triggered momentum in a minute for the Andover Boys High School team and their 2019 Season.  Best Days Ahead, has become the team motto.