August 1 marks the third anniversary of the Howilu Sports and Games Network's entry into the blogosphere.
HSGN was created in 2016 after the website the author wrote for on high school sports examiner.com went out of business, leaving him distraught so he decided to start his own blog that not only covered high school sports, but also game shows.
Last season, in addition to writing about games the author does the public address announcing for St. Louis Park High School and Groves Academy, HSGN got to cover the first game played at TCO Stadium on the site of the vikings training camp in Eagan between the Farmington Tigers and the Eagan Wildcats. Dave Giles, who handles the public address announcing for several Eagan High School sports as well as several state tournaments, including the Prep Bowl and boys and girls basketball was at the mike for this historic game.
HSGN was also on the scene in October for a section football game on a cold Saturday afternoon with the St. Louis Park Orioles battling the Cooper Hawks in New Hope. Two weeks later the winter sports season began with girls hockey as HSGN headed down Highway 55 to Golden Valley for an early season matchup between the Centennial Cougars and the Breck Mustangs.
State tournament coverage has been an HSGN staple since its sign on and it began in late November with two days of Prep Bowl coverage at US Bank Stadium. Girls and boys hockey would also come in February and March.
A highlight of the winter sports season was a Saturday matinee boys basketball game between the top ranked Minnehaha Academy Redhawks and the Austin Packers in south Minneapolis. The Redhawks showed that they were one of the top teams in Minnesota and with names such as Jalen Suggs and Chet Holmgren coming back, Minnehaha could be park of USA TODAY's Super 25 boys basketball teams. It will be more challenging for the Redhawks as they move up to Class AAA for the upcoming season.
A couple of spring sports highlights. Freshman pitcher Kristopher Hokenson pitched a no-hitter in his first start for the St. Louis Park Orioles. HSGN was also present for the first time at CHS Field to cover the Class AAAA semifinals and third place game. The third place game was a near no-hitter for the Stillwater Ponies Ben Borrman until the top of the seventh inning when the Rogers Royals came back to tie the game and the Ponies won it in the bottom of the seventh on Nicholas Seeman's squeeze bunt with the bases loaded. HSGN was also going to cover the Class AAA & AAAA finals at Target Field but a lengthy rain delay nixed the plans due to a late start.
Now for a brief look at what's happened over the summer. There will be new head basketball coaches at Benilde-St. Margaret's since girls head coach Bob Downs and boys head coach John Moore retired. Michael Swann will be heading the Red Knight girls program and former Litchfield High School standout Hans Hoeg will coach the boys. Also, Bryce Tesdahl, who led the East Ridge Raptors to their first state boys basketball tournament left the Woodbury school to coach the Minnetonka Skippers.
On the game show scene, ABC, still riding success with its Sunday game show lineup of Celebrity Family Feud, the $100,000 Pyramid and To Tell the Truth has another all game show night on Wednesdays that starts out with a revival of Press Your Luck, hosted by Elizabeth Banks. The new version still has the dreaded whammy but now has bigger bucks and a new bonus round where a contestant can avoided getting four whammies and try to win a million dollars. Following Press Your Luck is the return of Card Sharks, hosted by Joel McHale. Fortunately, the survey questions are back and it's a much better incarnation than the 2001 megabomb. Rounding out the evening is the return of Match Game with Alec Baldwin back as host.
As HSGN heads into its fourth year online, the future is bright. In addition to state tournaments, HSGN plans on covering football games (on nights when St. Louis Park is on the road) and trying again to cover the Breakdown Basketball Tip-Off Classic that canceled coverage due to a snowy weather picture.
Plenty of high school sports coverage coming up starting this month.
Wednesday, July 31, 2019
Monday, July 8, 2019
Former Jefferson Hockey Player McDonald Killed in Helicopter Crash
The Bloomington Jefferson hockey community is in mourning.
On June 28, Tim McDoanld, who was a member of of the 1992 and 1993 state champion Jefferson boys hockey teams was killed in a helicopter crash at the Brainerd Airport. McDonald, who piloted the helicopter, was 44.
McDonald was part of a great run of Jefferson boys hockey teams that utilized team oriented play under the leadership of head coach Tom Saterdalen and his assistant John Bianchi. Other notable names included Micke Crowley, Nick Checco and Cort Lundeen. In the nets for the 1992 team were Sean Glynn and Randy Koeppl.
In the 1992 state tier I tournament, McDonald sent the Jaguars into the state championship game against the Moorhead Spuds with an unassisted goal in overtime to beat the Cloquet Lumberjacks. Jefferson would hoist the championship trophy after defeating the Spuds. Following the championship game, McDonald would be named to the Tier I All Tournament team.
McDonald would cap his senior season with two goals in the 1993 state Tier I semifinal game with a pair of goals against the Elk River Elks. The Jaguars would once again be victorious with a 4-0 shutout win over the Hill-Murray Pioneers in the title game.
After graduating from Jefferson, McDoanld would join fellow Jaguar Jon De St. Hubert at Gustavus Adolphus College. McDonald would play three seasons for the Gusties, scoring 61 goals and assisting on 63 for a total of 124 points in 97 games.
McDonald would later serve his nation as a Blackhawk pilot in the US Army. He served two combat tours in Iraq and would become a medevac pilot. He would also be the father of four children.
HSGN would like to send its condolences to the McDonald family on the passing of one of the members of a team that worked together to bring home two of three consecutive state titles to the west Bloomington school. May he rest in peace.
Blogger's Note: Research for this article comes from sources that include The Bloomington Sun-Current and gustavus.edu.
On June 28, Tim McDoanld, who was a member of of the 1992 and 1993 state champion Jefferson boys hockey teams was killed in a helicopter crash at the Brainerd Airport. McDonald, who piloted the helicopter, was 44.
McDonald was part of a great run of Jefferson boys hockey teams that utilized team oriented play under the leadership of head coach Tom Saterdalen and his assistant John Bianchi. Other notable names included Micke Crowley, Nick Checco and Cort Lundeen. In the nets for the 1992 team were Sean Glynn and Randy Koeppl.
In the 1992 state tier I tournament, McDonald sent the Jaguars into the state championship game against the Moorhead Spuds with an unassisted goal in overtime to beat the Cloquet Lumberjacks. Jefferson would hoist the championship trophy after defeating the Spuds. Following the championship game, McDonald would be named to the Tier I All Tournament team.
McDonald would cap his senior season with two goals in the 1993 state Tier I semifinal game with a pair of goals against the Elk River Elks. The Jaguars would once again be victorious with a 4-0 shutout win over the Hill-Murray Pioneers in the title game.
After graduating from Jefferson, McDoanld would join fellow Jaguar Jon De St. Hubert at Gustavus Adolphus College. McDonald would play three seasons for the Gusties, scoring 61 goals and assisting on 63 for a total of 124 points in 97 games.
McDonald would later serve his nation as a Blackhawk pilot in the US Army. He served two combat tours in Iraq and would become a medevac pilot. He would also be the father of four children.
HSGN would like to send its condolences to the McDonald family on the passing of one of the members of a team that worked together to bring home two of three consecutive state titles to the west Bloomington school. May he rest in peace.
Blogger's Note: Research for this article comes from sources that include The Bloomington Sun-Current and gustavus.edu.
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