Wisconsin Seniors 2, Michigan HP-18 2
With 3:52 left in the first period, Dylan Ross put himself in the right spot at the right time as he banged home a rebound right on the doorstep to put the Wisconsin Seniors up 1-0. The lead was short-lived as Michigan HP-18’s Adam Pitters responded with a goal less than a minute later. Alex Nagel pushed the Wisconsin Seniors up 2-1 in the second period with an assist from Matt Fall. Alec DeLuca tied it up just five minutes into the third and final frame. Both teams exchanged scoring chances right down to the final buzzer, ending the game in a tie. Brett Miller made 22 saves for Michigan HP-18 and Matt McCoy stopped 19 for Team Wisconsin.
Minnesota Seniors 13, Team Massachusetts 0
Anoka’s Michael Talbot started the scoring with a gorgeous redirection off a point shot from Hermantown’s Eric Gotz. Doug Larson of Crookston made it 2-0 before Burnsville’s Cade Borchardt opened up the goaltender and slid the puck in five-hole to put the Minnesota Seniors up 3-0. It was the first of what ended up being a hat trick for Borchardt. With just 1.7 seconds to play in the first period, he scored his second. Borchardt made a nifty play on the outside of the defense, powered to the net and buried it around the far side of the goaltender. Gino Lucia and Tyler Rock added goals for the Minnesota Seniors in the second period. Austin Dollimer of Rosemount added a goal and two assists. Lane Krenzen, Brendan Skarda, Ethan Johnson and Justin Jallen all scored to close out the game. Rochester John Marshall’s Brady Meyers and Hermantown’s Luke Olson combined for the shutout.
Minnesota HP-18 4, Michigan Seniors 3
The Michigan Seniors got on the board quickly when JP Lafferty slammed in a one-timer from Lee Pietila right front of the net. But it wouldn’t take long for the Minnesota HP-18s to respond. Mankato West’s Kyle Looft fired a hard shot from the point that was initially saved, but Eden Prairie’s Hunter Johannes was there to put home the rebound and even the score at 1-1. Maple Grove’s Samuel Huff potted a nice goal late in the first period to give Minnesota HP-18 its first lead. Early in the second period on the power play, Delano’s Ben Meyers showcased some smooth skating and silky hands as he wove his way through traffic and made a nice deke on the goaltender to make it 3-1. Bemidji’s Braty Tatro made it 4-1 with assists from Jax Murray and John Stampohar, but Michigan Seniors fought back. Nick Blankenburg scored with an assist to Logan Jenuwine in the second. Michigan’s Nick Bowman made a perfect pass to Ian Melrose, who was wide open on the back door to make it 4-3 with 11 minutes left in regulation, but Minnesota HP-18 held on to secure the victory. Derek Schaedig stopped 34 shots for Michigan Seniors. Minnetonka’s Matthew Muller and Waconia’s Trevor Rowe combined for the Minnesota HP-18 victory.
North Dakota 4, Wisconsin HP-18 2
Eric Pladsen scored the game’s first goal to give North Dakota a 1-0 lead. But on an ensuing Wisconsin HP-18 power play, Nicholas Techel buried a pass from Chase Blackmun to tie it up. With less than five minutes to play in the first, Braden Costello gave North Dakota their first lead of the game with an assist from Jordan Elliott. Grant Reichenbacher tied it 2-2 for Wisconsin HP-18 with an assist to Logan Geisness, but Costello struck again for North Dakota, giving them a lead they would not relinquish. Tony Haley scored the insurance goal in the third period with assists to Collin Caulfield and Parker Simonson. Wisconsin HP-18 pulled their goaltender late in the game but North Dakota bore down for the win. Jordan Elliott made 34 saves for the win.
Tiebreaker
Minnesota HP-18s win the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Michigan Seniors, so the Minnesota Seniors will play Minnesota HP-18s in the championship game at 12:45 p.m. on Sunday.
Sunday’s schedule:
8 a.m.: Wisconsin HP-18s vs. Massachusetts
8:15 a.m.: Michigan HP-18s vs. North Dakota
10:30 a.m.: Michigan Seniors vs. Wisconsin Seniors
12:45 p.m.: Minnesota Seniors vs. Minnesota HP-18s