During Monday's practice, Minnetonka's Derek Frawley took a scalding pass from assistant coach Steve Aronson near the right faceoff circle, turned and ripped the puck past the goalie and into the far upper corner of the net.
The play drew whistles and whoops from teammates who appreciate the skills of guys such as Frawley, fellow junior forward Thomas Schutt and sophomore Sam Rothstein -- players who fly under the radar but have helped Minnetonka soar to new heights.
Minnetonka (25-1-2), ranked No. 1 most of the season and seeded No. 1 in the Class 2A boys' hockey tournament, opens play against Lakeville North (11-15-2) at 6 p.m. Thursday at Xcel Energy Center.
The Skippers' four Division I recruits -- senior captains Max Gardiner, Troy Hesketh, Justin Holl and Andrew Prochno -- get the headlines. Several other players are capable of giving the opposition headaches.
"The same four guys aren't going to bring it every night," Skippers coach Brian Urick said. "We're fortunate in that we have younger guys who understand their responsibility. The country club is closed. They have to show up and work."
Minnetonka's depth showed in the eight games Gardiner missed because of a broken wrist. Schutt, normally the second-line center, took over Gardiner's spot on the first line and provided a combined eight points in victories against state tournament qualifiers Edina, Duluth East and Moorhead. Minnetonka did not lose a game while Gardiner was sidelined.
"Coach told me I had to step up and score some goals," Schutt said.
Upon Gardiner's return, Schutt resumed his role as a defensive menace, a player who gets into the breezers of the opposition's top forward and stays there.
Urick singled out Schutt's line for their work keeping Eden Prairie's high-scoring Kyle Rau off the score sheet in the Section 6 championship game.
Urick also praised Frawley for his tireless effort against the defending champion Eagles. Frawley tallied a goal and an assist in each of the past two playoff games despite a sinus infection that has sapped his energy for three weeks.
"His get-up, his first three steps, is unbelievable," Urick said. "And sick or not, he's got the skills to be a factor."
Frawley (18 goals, 33 assists), along with Gardiner, are the only Skippers with 50 points this season. Frawley, who wears No. 17, sometimes sees his assists initially go to No. 27 Gardiner -- one less chance for Frawley to hear his name called.
"I don't really care about the points," Frawley said. "Everybody just needs to step up and contribute the way they can."
Hesketh, despite being a Wisconsin recruit who already has been drafted by the Edmonton Oilers, can relate to being overshadowed. The offensive-minded Holl and Prochno are more visible, leaving Hesketh to do the grunt work.
"I tell guys, 'Grit your teeth, play your game and you'll go far,'" Hesketh said.
The Skippers are getting the message. Schutt and Frawley, said Hesketh, are "two of the hardest kids to go against in practice. They are the kind of kids you need to go as far as you want to go."
And there are other contributors. Michael Helmer's behind-the-back pass led to Erik Baskin's tap-in goal against Eden Prairie. Helmer is a fourth-line player; Baskin is better known for his physical play. Rothstein, son of former Grand Rapids and Gophers standout Tom Rothstein, checks in at 5-6 and 155 pounds yet "makes more hits than anyone," Hesketh said.
"Everyone knows their role and plays their role," Hesketh said. "You don't see anyone talking back or yelling. Everybody ropes, everybody rides. That's not just a saying, that's what we do."