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Friends to the end

By Loren Nelson, Editor, 06/09/11, 9:32AM CDT

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Burnsville combination of Childs, Engum too much for White Bear Lake


Burnsville's Jace Childs, left, had a state-tournament record seven assists against Kyle Hansen, right, and White Bear Lake. Photo by Helen Nelson

Jace Childs to Bohdi Engum. Shot and a goal.

The combination that has clicked so often for Burnsville connected one last time late in the fourth quarter, all but clinching the Blaze’s 11-7 triumph over White Bear Lake in the third-place game of the Minnesota State High School League’s state tournament on Thursday, June 9, at Chanhassen High School.

“I’ve known him since you could say Squirts in hockey,” said Engum, a standout hockey goaltender for the Blaze, about his buddy Childs. “It has been such a long time, he’s like a brother to me.”


Burnsville's Jace Childs puts on the brakes. Photo by Helen Nelson

Engum, a senior who was named to the six-member All-State Tournament team, finished with three goals. Two of Engum’s goals came courtesy of assists from Childs, who shattered the state tournament single-game record for assists with seven. Blake’s George Ordway had the previous record with four.

“That’s crazy,” Engum said about Childs’ assist total. “He had a great game. A great game.”

Burnsville (12-7) trailed 3-0 in the first quarter but then scored six of the next seven goals.

Jake Maxson also had three goals for the Blaze, including two in the final stages of the fourth quarter.

Joe Garrison scored two goals for White Bear Lake (12-6).

Burnsville was clinging to an 8-7 lead with 9:39 remaining when it scored the final three goals.

“It just felt awesome,” Childs said. “We calmed down more. The first half we were jittery.”


Burnsville's Bohdi Engum scores one of his three goals against Jack Ramert and White Bear Lake. Photo by Helen Nelson

And all those assists?
 
“I was dodging and they were sliding early to me, so there were guys wide open on the back door, and I just hit them.”

The Childs-to-Engum chemistry, not to mention senior leadership, allowed Burnsville to recover from a 3-6 start to the season. The Blaze showed their resiliency again by regrouping after an emotional-draining one-goal loss to No. 1-ranked Benilde-St. Margaret’s in the state semifinals.

“It was very important as a team to finish with a win,” Engum said. “It gives us a feeling of an accomplished season.”

And one last chance to play with a childhood buddy.

“This summer I’ll hang out with him, and then next year we’ll probably go our separate ways,” said Childs, who was also a hockey standout for the Blaze. “It’s kind of depressing, but oh well.”


Burnsville co-captains Collin Schroeder, left, and Jace Childs, middle, are joined by Dylan Delaney as they hoist the third-place trophy from the state tournament. Photo by Helen Nelson

Statistics, Summary

1. Jace Childs, Burnsville
No goals for the senior attackman, but still he turned in a career game with an amazing seven assists. That total eclipsed the previous single-game state tournament record by Blake’s George Ordway in 2009. Childs also tied Ordway’s record for assists in a tournament with seven.

2. Bohdi Engum, Burnsville
The fleet-footed senior attackman scored three goals and was on the receiving end of numerous pinpoint Childs’ passes. Engum’s third goal, on a feed from Childs, of course, came with 3:27 remaining, put the Blaze ahead 10-7 and all but put the game out of White Bear Lake’s reach.

3. Jake Maxson, Burnsville
A junior midfielder, Maxson scored three goals including two of Burnsville’s final three as the Blaze turned a 8-7 lead into a comfortable 11-7 advantage.

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