The field is set for the 2001 Minnesota State Class AA Boys Hockey Tournament and so are the expectations of the Austin boys’ hockey team.

Monday, March 05, 2001

The field is set for the 2001 Minnesota State Class AA Boys Hockey Tournament and so are the expectations of the Austin boys’ hockey team.

Participating in its first state tournament since 1993, the Packer hockey team has its eyes set on a state championship. The Packers’ quest for the big trophy begins Thursday at the Xcel Energy Cente in St. Paul when they tangle with the Hastings Raiders, the champions of Section 2AA.

"Making it to the state tournament was on a lot of the kids’ goal sheets at the beginning of the year," Austin High coach Denny Laumeyer explained. "It was their ultimate goal. We felt if we played well and improved, it was a realistic goal."

Now that the Packers have realized their initial goal attention turns today to the much bigger prize. And while Laumeyer understands the challenge, he’s confident his team can rise again to the occasion.

"This trip is different then the 1993 trip," Laumeyer said, referring to Austin’s first appearance in the Minnesota State Boys Hockey Tournament in 1993. "That year we were a No. 7 seed (in the sections) and this year we were a No. 1. The expectations were different. The 1993 team had nothing to lose. This year’s team was favored in each game and that’s a different mindset. Both teams deserved to go."

After a regular season ending loss to Faribault, the Packers bounced back to defeat Winona and Owatonna by identical 5-1 scores and then held on to beat Rochester Century 4-3 for the section championship. As they have all season the Packers received balance scoring and solid goaltending to advance to state.

Laumeyer says it is the team’s balance and goaltending that has the team poised to make a run at the state championship.

"Our scoring depth upfront is much better (than in 1993)," Laumeyer said. "We don’t have to rely on one or two scorers."

After giving the players Friday off, the Packers are back practicing today in preparation for their 2:45 p.m. start Thursday vs. Hastings.

"We’re let the players enjoy it," Laumeyer said. "It all goes so fast. We’ll talk about things on Monday, but the goal is nothing different. A realistic goal is to play on Saturday."

The Packers will play in the second game of Thursday’s afternoon sessions. Eastview and Elk River, arguably the favorite, begin tournament action at 12:05 p.m. The night session begins at 7:05 p.m. with Moorhead vs. White Bear Lake and finishes with a 9:45 p.m. clash between Eden Prairie and Greenway (Coleraine).