Close Finishes and Overtime Wins Mark Busy Night in Minnesota Boys Hockey, January 27, 2026

Game Recaps

Several games across the state came down to a single goal, overtime, or late-period swings, with goalies playing a major role in keeping scores tight.

Southwest Christian/Richfield leaned on Rowan Forpahl in overtime to secure a 3–2 win over Hutchinson. Forpahl scored twice, including the game-winner nearly seven minutes into overtime. Southwest Christian controlled much of the play, outshooting Hutchinson 43–15, but Hutchinson stayed in it behind 40 saves from Weston Borstad. Jack Hantge and Griffin Hutchins scored for Hutchinson, which erased a two-goal deficit before the teams went scoreless in the third.

Monticello controlled play from start to finish in a 3–0 win over Princeton. Clyde Middleton scored twice, including a short-handed goal in the third, while Brady McGriff added a first-period goal. Nolan Wurm stopped all 12 shots he faced for the shutout. Princeton goalie Zachary Ennis finished with 50 saves as Monticello put 53 shots on goal.

Centennial needed just 18 seconds of overtime to get past Elk River/Zimmerman, 3–2. Kaden Johnson ended it after a back-and-forth game that saw both teams trade goals in the second and third periods. Tristan Kriech and Luke Hill scored for Elk River/Zimmerman, while Nick Carls had a goal and an assist for Centennial. Flynn Sanburg made 28 saves in the win.

Totino-Grace held off a late push from Duluth East for a 4–3 win. Oliver Hay scored twice for Totino-Grace, and Roger Mourad added the eventual game-winner late in the third. Duluth East scored twice in a span of just over two minutes to tie the game, but couldn’t get another past Taylor Hatton, who finished with 32 saves.

Breck built a two-goal lead in the second period and held on for a 3–2 win over Minneapolis. Owen Van Horn scored twice in the middle frame, while Cooper Klinck opened the scoring on the power play. Minneapolis outshot Breck 28–17, but Mac West turned aside 26 shots to seal it.

Litchfield/Dassel-Cokato needed overtime to get past Westonka, 4–3, in a physical game that featured multiple majors. Anton Haataja scored the winner just over a minute into overtime. Each team scored once in each period before overtime decided it.

St. Cloud Cathedral pulled away in the second period to beat Northern Lakes 6–4. Bo Schmidt and Elijah Van Heel combined for four goals and five assists as Cathedral scored four unanswered in the middle frame. Northern Lakes stayed close with power-play goals in the third, but Cathedral held on behind 32 saves from Hunter Moreland.

Rochester Lourdes shut out New Ulm 2–0 behind a 26-save performance from Brayson Magle. Sam Kleinschmidt and Jack Phillips scored in the second period, which proved to be enough in a game where both teams were disciplined and limited chances.

Willmar built an early lead, then survived a late push to beat Morris/Benson Area 5–4. Morris/Benson scored three times in the third period to tie the game, but couldn’t complete the comeback after Willmar’s strong first two periods. Luke Larson and Blake Grimsley each scored twice for Willmar.

River Lakes used a three-goal second period to edge Prairie Centre 5–4. Isaac Blaschko finished with a goal and two assists, and Devin Swanson made 28 saves. Prairie Centre kept pressure on late but couldn’t get the equalizer.

Maple Grove and Blaine skated to a 3–3 tie after overtime. Maple Grove led 2–0 early, Blaine answered with three straight goals in the second, and Cole Anderson tied it late in the third on the power play. Both goalies saw heavy action, with Blaine’s Wesley Andrle stopping 37 shots.

Cloquet/Esko/Carlton earned a 1–0 win over Superior (WI) behind a power-play goal from Jordy Sewell late in the third period. Jacob Iallonardo stopped all 15 shots he faced, while Superior goalie Ryan Pettingill made 30 saves to keep it scoreless deep into the game.

Cambridge-Isanti outlasted Becker/Big Lake 4–3 in overtime. Bennett Bergloff scored twice in regulation, and Blake Wotachek ended it just over three minutes into overtime. Becker/Big Lake erased a third-period deficit with two goals before overtime decided it.