The All Star Games for the AT&T Metroplex HS Hockey League had two very different style of games on Tuesday Night at the Dr. Pepper Arena in Frisco.
First up was the JV Game where the South Division were able to jump on the North real early with a 4-0 lead just 8 minutes into the game that featured 2 30 minute run-time halfs. Some of the early action was dominated by Coppell's Matt Lasky as he had his first 2 of a game leading 6 points on the night as he assisted Coppell Teammate Scott Browning and Birdville's Tanner Moss.
Others in the JV Game that had big nights including Coppell's Scott Browning who better Lasky with his 8 points (including 5 goals which helped get Browning earn the Game's MVP Award for the night as the South Division went on to a 17-8 victory over the North. Team South was able to score 6 unanswered goals near the end of the 1st half and the beginning of the 2nd half that eventually put the game away. Despite some strong efforts Heath Ford of Dallas Jesuit & Nick Verges of Allen in the 2nd half, it was no where near enough to help the North Division get back into the game.
The Varsity Game turned out to be a much more exciting and a lot more tense matchup as both teams had surges in the game as the South were able to get out to a 3-1 lead after Southlake Carroll's Taylor Bedford & Mansfield's Spencer Erickson each scored in just over a minute that turned a 1-1 tie to a 3-1 South Division Lead as 8 different players were able to score a point each during the 1st period for the South Division for them to take the lead.
One of the big surprises of the All Star Game on Tuesday Night was that Midlothian's Brent Jones was held out from scoring a goal that only McKinney ISD back on January 12th has been able to do all season, even though he did get two assists last night.
However, the night was stolen by Garland's who had 4 points on the game including a fantastic goal with just 1:07 left that gave the North a 7-5 lead with a great wrist shot from the slot that was given on a cross ice pass from Frisco's Preston Ware that turned out to be the insurance goal and for good reason when Nick Alexander of Jesuit scored with 49 seconds left in the game to make it 7-6. But the South couldn't get the equalizer to force a game deciding shootout.
Dean has been one of the few highlights on what has been a Garland Team that hasn't been that good this year. He's the only player with double digit goals for the season for Garland ISD on a team that is just 3-14-1 this season which is the worst record in the entire league (Gold or Silver Tier) and have already been eliminated from playoff contention with just 4 games left in the regular season.
Other players for the North that had strong nights included Grayson Masters (Allen) & Matt Levene who also had huge parts in the North Division Surge where they scored 4 times in just 2:30 late in the 2nd period that helped turn the tide for the North Division after the South had a 5-2 lead early in the 2nd period.
The Game MVP's on Tuesday Night were Garland's Tyler Dean in the Varsity Game & Scott Browning of Coppell in the JV Game. For their efforts, both players won a pair of Dallas Stars Tickets for upcoming Stars Home Games.
North Division All Stars
South Division All Stars
South Division Head Coach Mark Johnson
North Division Head Coach Steve Lamere
