The Edina PeeWee B1 Green will take the ice on Friday in the first round of the 2025 Minnesota Hockey Peewee B State Tournament, and if you’re planning on watching the action in person, you may notice a familiar face among the team.
When he’s not advocating for his clients in the courtroom, you will find Avery Appelman on with ice working with the Edina Peewee hockey team. He’s been coaching the Edina PeeWee B1 Green squad for the past five years as the team’s goalie coach, and he finds working with today’s youth in a sport that he’s deeply passionate about is an incredibly rewarding way to give back to the community.
Edina Peewee B1 Green won the District 6 tournament in late February before taking home the regional championship in Luverne two weekends ago. Now the team is gearing up for what they hope will be another exciting Minnesota State Hockey Tournament. The Edina Peewee B1 Green took home the state championship in 2021, and their time in the state tournament kicks off this Friday at 3:15 p.m. against Wayzata White at the Plymouth Ice Center in Plymouth.
The Last Line Of Defense
It should come as no surprise that Avery enjoys working with goalies. In the courtroom, Avery views his role as a criminal defense attorney as his client’s last line of defense. Our attorneys stand tall and work tirelessly to achieve fabulous results for our clients. It’s not easy, and it takes a special mindset to know that you’re the last person standing in front of their clients dutifully working against the serious consequences the State of Minnesota works towards. Goalies are the defense lawyers of the hockey world. The last bastion of defense.
The goalie position has always held a special place in Avery’s heart for other reasons as well. His son, Branson, grew up in Osseo Maple Grove Youth Hockey Association playing goalie. Branson continues to play junior hockey in pursuit of his dream of playing college ice hockey.
Avery spent countless hours at the rink watching Branson between the pipes at practices and games. Similar to the legal world, Avery wanted to soak up as much knowledge as possible so that he could apply it when the opportunity presented itself. Avery credits Brennan Poderzay (University of Minnesota Ice Hockey Assistant Coach/Goalie Coach) and Brandon Dornfield (Augsburg University Assistant Coach) for their private work with Branson over the past 10 seasons as a key reason why Branson thrived on the ice and why Avery is a better coach for his goalies today.
When asked about his work with goalies, Avery noted that goalies are a group that can be easily overlooked and neglected when it comes time for skill development.
“Goalies can oftentimes be neglected by coaches. Head coaches always like to assert that the goalie is the most important player on the team, yet they skip over or outright neglect their development and rarely if every will there be dedicated practice time to goalie related development. I hear ‘his only job is to stop pucks, how hard is that?’ But the team will neglect the goalies, will not do drills catering to their development at practices…so how do they get better? Goalies need an advocate, someone who cares about them, the position and their development. That’s me. I work with the goalies, coach their mindset and ensure they are dialed in and focused for their games and understand their role.” said Avery.
Avery went on to say that his goalies have done a fabulous job this season and he’s proud of the effort and commitment to their craft that both have shown this season.
“Working with the goalies and the Edina PeeWee B1 Green has been a great way to give back to the community, stay involved in something bigger than myself and devote some time to helping the players. I enjoy the sport of hockey and am grateful for the opportunity Edina Youth Hockey Association affords me to continue to help coach their young players,” said Avery.
We hope to see you when the puck drops on Friday at the Plymouth Ice Center! Go Edina PeeWee B1 Green, and best of luck to all players during their hockey state tournaments!
