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MARCH.2016 // MINNESOTAHOCKEYJOURNAL.COM 21 "I think a lot of people think of it as less hockey, not as good as varsi- ty," said Edina defenseman Ryan Spades. "I think the speed is a lot faster than people think. It's just as good of hockey as really any other hockey that we have." Alex Bowe from Wayzata has continued his career this season, playing junior hockey in the Tier 3 North American 3 Hockey League. The Trojans returned seven players this year. Spades is one of five players to return to the Edina team from last year's championship squad, along with goalie Colin Dunn, who backstopped the team in the seven-overtime game. "You can't just not play hockey in Edina," Spades said of playing Junior Gold. "It doesn't matter where you play, you've got to play." MEMORIES FOR LIFE As for seven overtimes, Spades can still relive the experience. "I will cherish it forever," Spades said. The memories for Smith, while still vivid are lacking one important piece—he didn't see the winning goal. Smith had bent down to pick up something he had dropped on the bench. "I looked up and pandemonium, they were hog-piling Chris," Smith said. Assistant coach Rick Barnes added: "At that point, you didn't even really believe it went in. The band was celebrating and it was like, it went in, something finally went in." The two teams have met in the Junior Gold state championship each of the past two seasons with the game being won in overtime both times. There is a good chance they could meet again. This time, however, a trip to the national tournament is secure for both teams. Each team has received a bid to go to the national championships in Reston, Va. Lindahl said his team is still focused on the state tournament, despite the privilege to play in the national championships this year. Last year's letdown is perhaps fueling them even more. "I've never been, as a coach or athlete myself, I've never been in a locker room of any sort that had just the raw emotion that one had," Lindahl said. "We tried to tell them that they needed to get through it, but in time they'll understand how unique and cool an experience, how special of an experience that was. "We all want to be winners, but being a loser sometimes doesn't mean you are always losing out on that experience. Maybe in the long run you get more out of it than would have if you came out on the right side of it." Emotion and experiences they'll carry forever. Sign up for the new One-Timers e-newsletter at TouchpointMedia.com LOOKING FOR FREE HOCKEY NEWS DELIVERED DIRECTLY TO YOUR INBOX? M US T R E A D S T O RIE S F R O M T H E E D IT O RS O F M IN N E SOTA H O CKE Y J O U R NAL NE TIMERS