When Coach Behan saw this team in Training Camp in August, he was not shy about saying this was a special group.  Good talent and great kids was his motto back in August.  The 2005-2006 version of the Jr. Blues didn't disappoint him as the Jr. Blues made history winning their third consecutive Junior B Silver Cup National Championship.  It had been 23 years since a team has won 3 in a row.  The odds were against them, but this team was all about breaking the odds. 

 

The 2005-06 Jr. Blues made a lot of history this season.  They produced the best regular season record in the history of the CSHL at 47-1-0-0.  They at one point had a 41 game winning streak.  That streak far surpassed the club record 20 game streak set just last season.  In the course of the regular season they only allowed 65 goals against while scoring an amazing 281 goals.   The Jr. Blues then secured their fourth consecutive Hurster Cup CSHL Playoff Championship. 

 

The first game of the 2006 National Championships would prove to be a pivotal game against the Phoenix Polar Bears.  The power house team from the southwest was once again one of the pre-tourney favorites.  It was in 2003 that the Polar Bears defeated the Jr. Blues in the National Championship Game 1-0.  The winner of this game would be in great shape to advance to the crossover games while the loser would face an almost impossible chance to advance. 

 

3/31 vs. Phoenix Polar Bears:

The Jr. Blues played with the urgency of a National Championship Game right from the beginning against the Polar Bears.  On the power play, Pat Dolan skated the puck to center ice where he made a terrific pass to Tom Lange who went in all alone and beat the Phoenix goaltender to give the Jr. Blues the lead.  The Polar Bears tied the score later in the period but the Jr. Blues kept playing well.  Grant Everett was set up by Eddie Effinger and Ryan Kretzer on the power play again to take the lead.  Effinger's goal mouth pass set up Everett at the side of the net for the tap in.  The second period was tense as the Jr. Blues were playing well but couldn't pull away.  Then, the play of the game occurred and the Jr. Blues were the ones who made it.  CJ Chappell chipped the puck to Ryan Kretzer in the neutral zone.  Kretzer found himself on a 2 on 1 break with Eddie Effinger.  Kretzer hit Effinger streaking into the zone.  Effinger then set up Kretzer driving the net.  Kretzer amazingly didn't shoot and slid the puck right back to Effinger who deposited into the wide open net fooling the goaltender and defenseman on the play.  The Jr. Blues once again used their transition game to capitalize against the Polar Bears.  This time Grant Everett hit Chad Larkowski who was flying down the right wing.  Larkowski snapped a perfect shot just off the far post to give the Jr. Blues a 4-1 lead.  Moments later Eddie Effinger scored his second goal of the game on the power play as he was set up by Bret Morrell with Chris Saracino also assisting.  With a 5-1 lead heading into the third period, the Jr. Blues continued to attack.  Tim Jost scored after a nifty behind the back pass from Ryan Loach.  Joe Combs also assisted.  A Polar Bear goal wouldn't discourage the Jr. Blues as they came right back.  Tom Lange scored on his second breakaway of the game with Ryan Loach and Tim Jost assisting.   Cal Heeter was spectacular in nets making 31 saves on 33 shots.  The Jr. Blues outshot the Polar Bears 46-33 in what Coach Behan described their best game of the season. 

 

4/1 vs. Boston Jr. Bruins:

The Jr. Blues found out on this day that nothing in the Nationals comes easy.  The Jr. Bruins had lost their first round robin game and were desperate to stay alive in the tournament.  Bret Morrell got the Jr. Blues going just 1:46 into the game.  Morrell made a cut to the net from the point and Chad Larkowski hit him with the pass.  Morrell was unable to get the shot off so he continued into the corner.  At that point, he undressed a Jr. Bruin defenseman and walked back in front scoring the first goal of the game.  Just two minutes later the slick passing play of the "red line" proved to be too much for Boston.  Ryan Loach tapped in a Tom Lange pass as Tim Jost also assisted on the tic-tac-toe play.  At this point it appeared the Jr. Blues were ready to fly by the Jr. Bruins.  However, the Jr. Bruins played a strong, steady game the rest of the way and played the Jr. Blues to a stand still.  The outstanding goaltending of Robby Moss kept the Jr. Blues slim lead intact.  With just 16 seconds remaining in the second period, Chris Saracino scored the goal that would allow the Jr. Blues to breath easier.  Saracino was set up driving the net in the slot as he placed a backhander for the 3-0 lead.  Tom Lange made the pass after a Tim Jost cycling play.  The third period wasn't pretty, but Rob Moss held on for the shut-out.  Tim Jost scored an empty net goal late in the game with Lange and Saracino assisting making it a 4-0 final.  The Jr. Blues out-shot the Jr. Bruins 31-26.

 

4/2 vs. Queen City Cutthroats:

The Jr. Blues were just one win away from an amazing fourth consecutive trip to the Junior B Final Four.  The first period showed the Jr. Blues were hungry as they dominated the stanza.  Tom Lange scored a power play goal with Ryan Loach setting him up with a nifty pass.  Chris Saracino also assisted on the goal.  Later in the period, Brendan Sheehan scored a power play goal with Grant Everett and Pat Dolan assisting.  The Jr. Blues were taking advantage of the Queen City undisciplined play as Chris Saracino scored on the power play with a blast from the point. Grant Everett and Joe Combs assisted.  Pat Dolan scored yet another power play goal off a Ryan Kretzer face-off win.  Eddie Effinger added a late even strength goal with Brendan Sheehan and Ryan Kretzer assisting giving the Jr. Blues a 5-0 lead.  Because the Jr. Blues had sustained numerous injuries in the game and their 5 goal lead would give them the #1 seed in the cross-overs, the third period was just a period of running out the clock.  The Jr. Blues played a contain the entire period, not even attempting a shot or to score the entire period.  The Cutthroats ruined Robby Moss' bid for his second shut-out with just 42 seconds remaining on a power play.  The Jr. Blues out-shot Queen City 35-15 for the game.  The 5-1 victory placed the Jr. Blues in the number one seed playing the talented Twin Cities Northern Lights of the Minnesota Junior Hockey League in the Semi-finals.

 

4/3 Semi-Final Game vs. Twin Cities Northern Lights:

The Jr. Blues injury list was long and very discouraging when the Jr. Blues woke up Monday morning.  With defenseman Dan Weiss already out with a broken collar bone, the margin for injuries was very slim at best.  Tom Lange suffered a severe shoulder separation against Queen City.  Grant Everett re-injured his separated shoulder also.  Bret Morrell who was butt-ended in the spine was in severe pain and lacked mobility.  Pat Dolan continued to nurse his painful elbow injury.  CJ Chappell playing with a sprained ankle and a painful rib injury.  Brendan Sheehan had a severe thigh bruise.  Plus the normal bumps and bruises one would expect at this stage of the season.  The heart and character of this team would shine at the moment is was needed the most.  Each of the injured players refused to sit out this monumental game.  Lange couldn't put on a shirt by himself but he didn't miss a shift.  Everett was his normal physical pest and incredible warrior despite the enormous pain.  Morrell limited by his back still showed his skill to go along with his grit an determination.  Chappell was not going to be denied this opportunity and Sheehan found the leg injury wasn't going to slow down his speed.  And Captain Pat Dolan simply was playing his very best hockey of his life despite the painful injury.  Without a doubt, these players each made a difference in what proved to be the biggest game of the season to date.   The strong, fast and skilled Northern Lights were impressive to say the least.  The Jr. Blues dug deep and with amazing heart battled the Minnesota team right from the beginning.  The only goal of the first period was scored by Chris Saracino on the power play.  Saracino deposited  a Ryan Kretzer rebound with Eddie Effinger also assisting on the goal.  The second period found injured Tom Lange scoring the next goal.  The power play goal was a spectacular play in front after a Joe Combs shot from the point.  Lange swatted the puck into the net in mid-air to give the Jr. Blues a 2-0 lead.  Ryan Loach also assisted on the goal.  Twin Cities quickly responded with a power play goal themselves to cut the Jr. Blues lead to 2-1.  The game was up and down with both teams creating scoring chances.  Ryan Loach then redirected a nifty Tom Lange pass to give St. Louis a 3-1 lead.  Bret Morrell started the play also assisted.  With just 20 minutes to go, the exhausted, battered, and drained Jr. Blues took the ice with a 3-1 lead.  But, the Northern Lights scored a power play goal in the period's first minute to close within one.  At that point, the momentum had clearly swung in favor of the Northern Lights. The Jr. Blues were on their heels and seemingly had run out of gas.  Somehow, someway, the Jr. Blues mustered up the heart to change the game.  The line of Ryan Kretzer, Eddie Effinger and Brendan Sheehan played the Shift of the Nationals and their hard work was rewarded.  With constant pressure and countless battles won in the corners and on the wall the line buzzed the Northern Lights.  Kretzer cycled the puck to Sheehan who found Effinger in front.  Effinger being tied up by the defenseman still managed a shot.  Still being wrapped up by that defenseman, Effinger's amazing second effort allowed him to poke home his own rebound to regain the Jr. Blues 2 goal lead.  Just 23 seconds later the Jr. Blues struck again.  Tom Lange intercepted a pass at the Twin Cities blue line.  He quickly found Tim Jost who had isolated a defenseman with Ryan Loach.  Jost made a quick pass to Loach who one-timed a shot past the goaltender giving the Jr. Blues a 5-2 lead.  Pat Dolan added a short-handed empty net goal late in the game to make the final 6-2 as the Jr. Blues had earned their fourth consecutive trip to the Jr. B National Championship Game.  The third period was considered by Coach Behan to be the most heroic performances he had witnessed in his 8 years behind the bench for the Jr. Blues.  With all the injuries, adversity, and exhaustion, the heart of this young group of St. Louis players was on display for the entire nation.  In the period, the Jr. Blues amazingly out-shot the Northern Lights 24-11.  Cal Heeter was very strong in net making 36 saves on 38 shots.  Now it was time to play for a National Championship!

 

4/4  National Championship Game vs. Toledo Cherokee:

 

Here we are just 9 days later and we have a re-match of the Hurster Cup Championship Game.  The Toledo Cherokee shocked the Minnesota Ice Hawks 3-2 in overtime to advance to the National Championship Game.  It was the second time in three years the Jr. Blues were facing a CSHL member in the National Championship Game.  The injury list only grew worse from the Semi-Finals for the Jr. Blues.  Several of the injured players had weathered the game but only aggravated their injuries.   It was a time for one last heroic effort for the boys from St. Louis.  Coach Behan talked before the game about how heart is what will prevail this Championship night.  The coach proved to be so right in his pre-game speech.  Early in the contest the Cherokee were on the power play.  A shot from the point was deflected several feet wide but found the stick of a Toledo player who redirected it into the net giving the Cherokee the lead.  This was the first time the entire Nationals the Jr. Blues found themselves behind in a contest.  But at times like this, the leaders take charge.  Captain Pat Dolan wristed a quick shot from the high slot past the Toledo goaltender to tie the score.  Ryan Kretzer and Eddie Effinger assisted the goal.  Later in the period, on the power play, Tim Jost hit Bret Morrell cutting to the net.  The defense tied up Morrell's stick so he quickly kicked the puck to Ryan Loach who gave the Jr. Blues the lead.   But this game was far from over.  The second period was a roller coaster ride that had both teams showing their determination.  Pat Dolan was injured on a check in the corner as the Toledo player walked out alone and tied the score.  Dolan shaken up on the play, needed medical assistance but refused to leave the game.  Then, the Jr. Blues scored what should be considered the highlight reel goal of the Nationals.  Bret Morrell started the play as he hit Tim Jost.  Jost quickly found Ryan Loach as a 3 on 2 developed.  Loach then put a move on the defenseman with a toe drag between the legs and a sauce pass back to Jost all in once continuous motion.  Jost one-timed the pass as the Jr. Blues regained the lead.  Grant Everett then scored an unbelievable short handed goal.  Stealing the puck in the corner, Everett walked out about 15 feet from the goal.  The Toledo goaltender had everything covered except for a couple inches under the cross-bar.  Well, Everett clanged one off the bar and the Jr. Blues seemingly took control of the game with a 4-2 lead.  But the Cherokee took advantage of a bizarre call and scored a power play goal late in the period cutting the score to 4-3.   With the Jr. Blues to the point of exhaustion, the injured players having more severe pains than ever.  They somehow had to play one more period to secure the National Title against the big, strong physical Cherokee.  Just 3 minutes into the period, the Cherokee tied the score off a face-off and now it was anyone's game with the Cherokee having a huge advantage of momentum on their side.  With this, the Jr. Blues showed the entire nation what heart, pride and determination can do.  Those who were watching had to surely think at this point the game was heading in the Cherokee's direction.  But, without fail, this game and this season would be decided by the line that had decided so many games early in the season.  Ryan Kretzer had not scored a goal the entire Nationals.  But he scored the goal that would win a National Championship for his St. Louis Jr. Blues.  Chris Saracino started the play with a shot from the point.  Brendan Sheehan shot the rebound into the pads of the goaltender by Kretzer found Sheehan's rebound and slammed it home giving the Jr. Blues the lead with 13 minutes remaining.  Two calls went against the Jr. Blues down the stretch.  With just over 7 minutes to go, Tom Lange was trying to outrace a Toledo defenseman on an icing.  Lange smashed into the boards, bad shoulder and all, but the official mistakenly thought he had made contact with the Toledo player and called a boarding call.  On the Cherokee power play, Ryan Kretzer and Eddie Effinger blocked two consecutive shots from the point to make the pivotal plays to kill the penalty.  Cal Heeter then was called upon to make a big save as the Jr. Blues clung to their precarious one goal lead.  Then, with 2:14 remaining, Tom Lange was called for a high-sticking penalty.  Again, this penalty kill was going to be the kill of the season.  Pat Dolan, Paul Puglisi, Bret Morrell, Eddie Effinger, Tim Jost, Ryan Kretzer and Eddie Effinger all were used as the Jr. Blues were desperate to hold on to the lead.  The final minute saw Dolan paired with Morrell and Kretzer and Effinger up front to kill the penalty.  Kretzer and Effinger were relentless as they tied the Cherokee in knots.  When the penalty expired, the Cherokee had a rush, but CJ Chappell replacing the player in the box made a huge hit to stop the Cherokee's last chance.  The clock ticked down and the celebration was on.  The team piled on goaltender Cal Heeter as the jubilation was felt throughout the building.  Coach Behan was given a water cooler dunking by Bret Morrell and Tom Lange as the celebration continued for moments.  After the awards presentation, the Silver Cup was raised and once again it was the Jr. Blues parading the Cup around the ice.  Each player and coach took their turn with the biggest trophy in USA Hockey, even the injured players who couldn't hold the Cup above their head still carried the price around the ice.   The game was as even as two great teams battled to the end.  The Jr. Blues out-shot the Cherokee 37-36 as Cal Heeter recorded an undefeated season with 32 saves. 

 

After the game the Jr. Blue locker room was one of tears and smiles.  Coach Behan struggling to communicate his admiration of the heart and character of the players on this National Championship Team.  Each player shared their thoughts about the season.  Thanks to the Jost family, the coaches and most importantly the thanks to each and every member of this Championship Team was the words most often spoken.  Emotion of achievement was overcome by emotion of finality.  For over an hour the team shared their last moments in a locker room together. The team realizing they had achieved their goals, despite the injuries and adversity.  They had put together one of the finest season's ever in the history of Junior B Hockey.  They had accomplished this because of a tremendous sacrifice by each player and coach who will always remember this season as the season that will forever define what a Team really means.   The St. Louis Jr. Blues 2006 National Champions!  A team of Champions for sure! 

 

Nationals Scoring:

Ryan Loach 4 goals, 5 assists; +5 (plus/minus)

Ryan Kretzer 1 goal, 7 assists; +3

Eddie Effinger 4 goals, 3 assists; +3

Tom Lange 4 goals, 3 assists; +4

Chris Saracino 3 goals, 3 assists; +5

Tim Jost 2 goals, 4 assists; +6

Pat Dolan 3 goals, 2 assists; +3

Grant Everett 2 goals, 3 assists; +4

Bret Morrell 1 goal, 4 assists; +6

Brendan Sheehan 1 goal, 3 assists; +2

Joe Combs 3 assists; +2

Chad Larkowski 1 goal, 1 assist; +3

CJ Chappell 1 assist; +1

Scott Keeven; +2

Paul Puglisi; +5

Pat Sheehan; Even

Tim Gardner; Even

Kyle Gouge; +2

Max Barron; Even

Ryan Holzum; Even

 

Rob Moss - 40 saves, 41 shots, 2-0-0, 0.50 GAA, .976 save %,  1 shutout

Cal Heeter - 99 saves, 107 shots, 3-0-0, 2.67 GAA, .925 save%

 

Season accomplishments:  

Tim Jost led all scorers with 88 points.  Ryan Loach was second with 87 points.  Ryan Kretzer was third with 79 points and Eddie Effinger was fourth with 72 points.  Tim Jost led in goals with 37, Tom Lange was second with 34, Ryan Kretzer third with 33, and Ryan Loach fourth with 31.  Bret Morrell had 55 points, most ever by a Jr. Blues defenseman.  Chris Saracino had 42 points.   Plus minus was led by Bret Morrell with +71, Tim Jost was second with +63, Chris Saracino was third with +58 and Ryan Loach was fourth with +57.  Cal Heeter sported a 1.37 GAA and a .949 save % to go along with his 27-0-0-0 record with 7 shout-outs. Robby Moss sported a 1.43 GAA and a .945 save % to go along with his 23-1-0-0 record with 6 shut-outs.