skip navigation

Delano, Breck Rivals Skating Together in Elite League

10/14/2016, 5:45pm CDT
By Peter Odney
John Keranen of Delano has scored six points so far in Elite League play for Team Northwest. Credit: Nick Wosika.

John Keranen of Delano has scored six points so far in Elite League play for Team Northwest. Credit: Nick Wosika.

It’s all fun and games until the regular season starts.

At least, it is for the Delano players that suit up for Team Northwest alongside members of post-season rival Breck in the Upper Midwest Fall Elite League.

The Tigers have had their season ended the past four seasons by the Mustangs, including three heartbreaking defeats in the Class 1A, Section 2 finals, but three players still manage to coexist with their rival this fall season.

“It’s fun,” Delano senior forward John Keranen said succinctly on Tuesday night of sharing the ice with Mustang players Dalton Weigel and Mitch Machlitt with his fellow Tiger seniors Brian Halonen and Andrew Kruse.

“I didn’t expect them to be the way they are, but they’re friendly. They’re nice kids,” Kernanen added.

Team Northwest needed both program’s respective players in Tuesday’s 4-2 win over Team Southwest, with Delano’s Halonen scoring the go-ahead goal at the 12:05 mark of the third period unassisted to give Team Northwest a 3-2 lead and Keranen, Weigel and Matchlitt all turning in solid performances.

Halonen plucked the puck out of is own skates and rifled a wrist shot over the blocker of Team Southwest’s Jared Moe, capitalizing on one of the several offensive chances created by Halonen’s speed and zone awareness.

A pure forward when the situation calls for it, Halonen can be seen stalking an opponent’s blue line, in prime position to snag a long pass and create a scoring chance.

“If the time is right I’ll do it, but there’s two ends of the ice and you’ve got to play both ends,” Halonen said after the win.

Wayzata forward Colin Schmidt scored twice for Team Northwest (9-4-3), with Maple Grove’s Sam Huff notching the other goal.

Edina junior forward Sam Walker scored both goals for Team Southwest (4-8-4) in the loss, which was Team Southwest’s third straight defeat. 

Team Northwest is currently the top UMHSEL team the standings, just behind Shattuck-St. Mary’s, but Keranen jokingly warns that the warm fuzzies the Delano and Breck players have established will not last through March.

“It’s definitely not going to be a friendly game when we play them,” Keranen said. “We’ll be trying our best to beat them.”

Delano’s Brian Halonen scored the go-ahead goal in the third period for Team Northwest of the UMHSEL. Credit: Nick Wosika.

Delano’s Brian Halonen scored the go-ahead goal in the third period for Team Northwest of the UMHSEL. Credit: Nick Wosika.

Top Stories

Tag(s): State Of Hockey  News