Section 5 goaltender Wes Johnson (Totino-Grace) stopped all 11 first-half shots he faced in Saturday's 4-2 victory over Section 8 at Plymouth Ice Center. Photo by Loren Nelson, LegacyHockeyPhotography.com
Goaltender Wes Johnson of Totino-Grace flawless as Section 5 secures 4-2 semifinal win over Section 8
Goaltenders Wesley Johnson (Totino-Grace) and Jack Hanson (Chisago Lakes) stopped a combined 24 of 26 shots for Section 5 in a 4-2 triumph over Section 8 in Saturday’s CCM Minnesota Hockey High Performance Boys 16 Festival semifinals at Plymouth Ice Center.
The victory sends Section 5 into Sunday’s 5:45 p.m. championship game against Section 2.
Johnson was particularly sharp for Section 5, as he stopped all 11 shots he faced in the first half — including multiple breakaway chances. Finn Brink (Maple Grove) scored the lone goal of the first half and Section 5 never trailed.
Section 8, an 8-1 quarterfinal winner over Section 3 on Friday night, closed to with 3-2 with 9 minutes, 18 seconds remaining on a goal by Aaron Reierson (Moorhead). Section 5 regained its two-goal advantage just 31 seconds later when John Ross (Spring Lake Park) scored.
Samuel Johnson (Totino-Grace) and Jack Kernan (Maple Grove) also scored for Section 5, which had seven players register a point.
Noah Urness (Roseau) also scored for Section 8.
Goaltender Jack Hanson (Chisago Lakes) made 13 saves on 15 second-half shots as Section 5 held on to beat Section 8. Photo by Loren Nelson, LegacyHockeyPhotography.com
Minnetonka's Burrows, Garry provide all the offense as Section 2 secures 2-1 semifinal victory over Section 6
Minnetonka’s Hagen Burrows and Gavin Garry each scored and Carter Wishart (Chaska) stopped all nine shots he faced in the second half for Section 2 in its 2-1 semifinal victory over Section 6.
Section 6 opened the scoring on a first-half goal by Drew Stewart (Benilde-St. Margaret’s), but Section 2 took control when Burrows and Garry scored 3:14 apart late in the opening half.
Both teams’ goaltenders were flawless in the second half as Will Ingemann (Wayzata) stopped 14 shots to keep Section 6 within striking distance.
Section 6 goaltender Benjamin Swanson (Fergus Falls) made 19 saves on 21 shots in the first half. Section 2 goaltender Isaiah Paulnock stopped seven of eight first-half shots.
Section 2 goaltender Carter Wishart (Chaska) dives to make a second-half save in Saturday's 2-1 semifinal win against Section 6. Photo by Loren Nelson, LegacyHockeyPhotography.com
Hermantown's Hanson, Duluth East's Peterson each notch a goal and an assist for Section 7 in 3-0 triumph over Section 3
Ty Hanson (Hermantown) and Wyatt Peterson (Duluth East) each had a goal and an assist and Myles Gunderson (Grand Rapids) stopped all 13 second-half shots he faced to lead Section 7 to a 3-0 consolation semifinal victory over Section 3.
Hanson, a defenseman, scored 2:49 into the first half and notched an assist on Peterson’s goal less than 5 minutes later.
Carter Davis (Elk River) scored the lone goal of the second half.
Section 3 managed just two first-half shots on Section 7 goaltender Derek Gibeau (Greenway). Section 3’s Dominic Johnson, meanwhile, was pelted with 27 first-half shots.
Gentry Academy's Berg, Shaw continue torrid scoring pace as Section 4 cruises to 6-1 victory against Section 1
Joseph Belisle (White Bear Lake) scored a goal and added two assists and Alexander Reedy (Stillwater) stopped all 10 shots he faced in the second half as Section 4 rolled to a 6-1 triumph over Section 1 in a consolation semifinal.
Section 4’s Charles Drage (Mahtomedi) and Section 1’s Aidan Willis (Lakeville South) traded goals in the first half, which ended with the score tied at 1-1.
The second half was all Section 4, as it scored five unanswered goals en route to the day’s most lopsided victory.
Gentry Academy’s Wesley Berg and Reese Shaw continued their strong play, as Berg had two assists and Shaw a goal and an assist. They lead all tournament scorers with five points each.
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