Blades Of Glory

The Jefferson Hockey team starts off well in their game against the Eden Prarie Eagles. They jump out to a two goal. However several careless mistakes allow Eden Prarie to score three quick goals at the end of the first and beginning of the second periods. However the Jaguars third line tied the game with a few minutes left remaining in the third period.

The game looked like it was headed for overtime, but then a d-to-d pass was picked off by the Eagles' star player, a big, fast physical player who had signed with the University of Minnesota earlier in the weak. He skated the length of the ice and rifled the puck past Bloomington's goalie handing the Jaguar's their first loss of the season.

The loss was more devastating than most because it was a conference game. Every year the Bloomington Jefferson Jaguars won their conference they went on to capture the state title two.

They would have to wait another six weeks till they played Eden Prarie again however.

Blades Of Glory

The book blades of glory starts of with the Bloomington Jefferson varsity hockey team in their locker room. Their coach, Tom Saterdalan, one of the most revered coaches in Minnesota high school hockey history, is giving them an impassioned speech after a tough practice. He is preaching to them about how to prepare themselves for an upcoming game against Lake Conference rival Eden Prairie.

The team was victorious in their first two games against mid-level competition, but Eden Prairie was on a different level than those other teams. They were a state title contender, like Jefferson.

The novel then goes into detail about the teams three captains. Matt Duncan, Tommy Gilbert and Nick Coffman. Tommy and Duncs were considered two of the top five players in the state. They were both strong, fast, good with the puck and had very quick shots. Nick was a defensmen playing his first season of varsity hockey but with a legendary work ethic his teammates had voted him an alternate captain along with Duncs. Tommy was the one who would wear the "C" on his jersey.

Blades Of Glory

I'm reading Blades Of Glory by John Rosengren. It's the story of the 2002 Jefferson High School hockey team. The novel explores not only the teams exploits on the ice, but in the classroom and their social lives. I am reading this book because I like hockey and it's an interesting novel about hockey in Minnesota.