SLP Girls Hockey Falls to Irondale

The Samantha Donovan show made a stop at the as the Irondale Knights (No. 11 in Class 2A) broke open a tight game and defeated St. Louis Park 9-1 on Thursday in girls hockey.

Park head coach Donnie Williams was pleased with his team's effort and position play. Irondale coach Tom Rodefeld, who has coached the Knights for 15 seasons including two state Class AA finishes in 2009 and 2010, was impressed.  

"They played disciplined and were strong in their position play, the best coached Park team I have seen," he said.

For nearly two periods Park only trailed by two goals. Unfortunately, there was no answer for Donovan, a shifty sophomore who is sixth in the state in scoring and on her way to the school scoring record.  Donovan tallied four points on two goals and two assists to run her total to 29 goals and 16 assists in only 16 games.

The Orioles fell to 3-13 but battled hard all night as they trailed only 3-1 with three minutes remaining in the second period before a power play goal by Alex Toupal put the game out of reach. The spectacular goal concluded a brilliant cross-ice pass from Donovan to Toupal, who one-timed a top shelf wrist shot by a diving Hannah Brodersen in net.

Eighth-grader Elena Basill notched her fourth goal of the year in the second period to cut into the lead for Park. She swooped by Irondale senior captain Rachel Dekanick and around the net where her sister, Anna, set a pick so she could beat goalie Anna Pâté for the goal.

Irondale's Dekanick was injured late in the third period when she ran into the post hard. She laid nearly motionless for five minutes before she was helped off by teammates. The Rec Center was hushed in almost complete silence.

The severity of her injury was apparent after the game when she was supported off the ice by teammates. Tests are forthcoming on her injuries.