Rock Ridge 4 (8-1-0)
Minneapolis 1 (4-5-0)

Game Summary:

First Period:

• The game began with strong defensive efforts from both teams, resulting in a scoreless first period. Rock Ridge attempted 8 shots on goal, while Minneapolis had 5, but neither team managed to score.

Second Period:

• Momentum picked up in the second period. Rock Ridge opened the scoring at 7:49 with a goal from Brant Tiedeman, assisted by Carson Mast and Grady Dimberio.
• Shortly thereafter, at 8:08, Rock Ridge extended their lead with Levi Flatley scoring, assisted by Brant Tiedeman and Easton Walters.
• Minneapolis narrowed the gap at 9:38 with Ronan Davis scoring their only goal, assisted by John Bebler and Bodie Dahl, making the score 2-1 in favor of Rock Ridge.

Third Period:

• Rock Ridge continued their offensive push in the third period. Brant Tiedeman netted his second goal of the game at 7:41, assisted by Levi Flatley and Easton Walters.
• The highlight of the period was a short-handed goal by Rock Ridge at 15:10, scored by Kasey Lamppa with an assist from Caz Carlson, demonstrating their ability to capitalize on scoring opportunities even while a player down.

Key Game Statistics:

• Power Plays: Neither team was successful on the power play, with Rock Ridge not having any opportunities and Minneapolis failing to score during their two chances.
• Shots on Goal: Rock Ridge led in shots, totaling 24 (8 in each period), compared to Minneapolis’ 14 (5 in the 1st, 4 in the 2nd, 5 in the 3rd).
• Penalties: Rock Ridge incurred 4 minutes on 2 infractions. Despite being short-handed at one point, they managed to score, showcasing their defensive resilience and offensive prowess.

Luverne 4
Dodge County 3

Luverne Edges Dodge County in Southern MN Thriller

Luverne skated away with a 4-3 victory over Dodge County in a nail-biting battle that saw lead changes, missed power plays, and a flurry of goals. Despite facing a shot barrage from Luverne (43 to Dodge County’s 16), the Wildcats managed to stay competitive thanks to their opportunistic offense and gritty defense.

Luverne Starts Fast: The Cardinals wasted no time getting on the board, with #8 Landyn Lais opening the scoring just 2:33 into the game. Dodge County responded quickly, however, with #13 Gryffon Funke netting the equalizer less than four minutes later. Luverne regained the lead before the first period ended through #6 Blake Sauer’s even-strength goal.

Luverne Extends Lead in the Second: The Cardinals continued their offensive push in the second period, adding two more goals before the halfway mark. #4 Benjamin Hartquist and #6 Blake Sauer (again) found the net to extend Luverne’s lead to 4-1. But Dodge County refused to give up, with Funke scoring his second goal of the game to cut the deficit to three before the period closed.

Dodge County Rallies in the Third: The Wildcats came out flying in the third period, determined to mount a comeback. #10 Dylan Klomps’ even-strength goal just two minutes into the frame rekindled hope for Dodge County. Unfortunately, despite their best efforts, they couldn’t find the equalizer, and Luverne held on for the 4-3 victory.

Key Statistics:

• Luverne outshot Dodge County by a significant margin (43-16), but both teams scored three even-strength goals.
• Neither team capitalized on their power play opportunities (Dodge County was 0-for-2, Luverne 0-for-3).
• #13 Gryffon Funke’s two-goal performance for Dodge County was a bright spot in their defeat.

Warroad 4
East Grand Forks 3

In a thrilling overtime battle, and on a night they retire his step-dads jersey, Carson Pilgrim wins the game in OT for the Warriors 4-3. The game was a rollercoaster of momentum shifts, with both teams showcasing their skill and determination. Here’s a quick recap of the game:

Game Summary:

First Period:

• Warroad set the pace with Draydin Johnson scoring at 9:16, assisted by Ryan Lund, giving Warroad an early 1-0 lead.

Second Period:

• Warroad extended their lead to 2-0 with a goal from Carson Pilgrim at 3:47.
• East Grand Forks began their comeback with Landon Jamieson scoring at 9:06, assisted by Judd Pesch and Jace Panzer, making the score 2-1.
• Warroad responded quickly with Ryan Lund scoring at 12:04, assisted by Ryan Shaugabay, pushing their lead to 3-1.
• East Grand Forks rallied back with two consecutive goals. Brock Schultz scored at 12:44, assisted by Jace Van Eps and Cooper Hills, and Landon Jamieson netted his second goal of the game at 15:25, tying the game at 3-3.

Third Period:

• The third period was a tense affair with both teams playing strong defense. Neither team managed to score, sending the game into overtime.

Overtime:

• The overtime period was short-lived as Carson Pilgrim emerged as the hero for Warroad, scoring the game-winning goal at 5:58, assisted by Murray Marvin-Cordes.

Key Game Statistics:

• Power Plays: Neither team had power play opportunities, with both East Grand Forks and Warroad going 0 for 0.
• Shots on Goal: East Grand Forks led in shots with a total of 36 (9 in the 1st, 14 in the 2nd, 13 in the 3rd) compared to Warroad’s 31 (11 in the 1st, 12 in the 2nd, 7 in the 3rd, 1 in OT).
• Penalties: Remarkably, there were no penalties throughout the game, a testament to the disciplined play from both teams.

St. Thomas Academy 4
Cretin Derham Hall 3

St. Thomas Academy Takes Down Cretin-Derham Hall in High-Scoring Comeback

St. Thomas Academy staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Cretin-Derham Hall 4-3 in a thrilling high school hockey matchup. Cretin-Derham Hall jumped out to an early lead, but St. Thomas Academy found their offensive rhythm in the second and third periods to snatch the victory.

Early Advantage for Cretin-Derham Hall: The Raiders struck first in the opening period, with #10 John King burying a shot past the St. Thomas goalie just under eight minutes in. They added another goal early in the second period through #9 Easton Swift, seemingly holding firm control of the game.

St. Thomas Academy Roars Back: The Cadets refused to back down, however. #22 Cole Braunshausen and #27 Brody Dietz (on a power play) found the net in the second period, tying the game at 2-2 heading into the final frame.

Dramatic Third Period Decides the Winner: The third period was a tense affair, with both teams trading goals. St. Thomas Academy took the lead for the first time through #9 Will Dosan, but Cretin-Derham Hall responded quickly with #7 Dawson Kloek’s equalizer. Finally, with just over five minutes remaining, #23 Niko Russ netted the game-winning goal for St. Thomas Academy, securing the 4-3 victory.

Key Observations:

• Despite both teams ending with similar shot totals (26 for Cretin-Derham Hall, 25 for St. Thomas Academy), St. Thomas Academy converted their chances more effectively in the crucial second and third periods.
• Both teams capitalized on their power play opportunities, with St. Thomas Academy scoring once on two attempts and Cretin-Derham Hall failing to convert on their three chances.
• St. Thomas Academy’s late-game surge and resilience proved the difference, as they managed to score two goals in the final five minutes to secure the win