Section 2A/AA (Orange) scores early, rides a one-goal shutout into championship round with 1-0 win over Section 6A/AA (Gray)
A first-half goal by Cameron Dean (Holy Family), his second of the festival, proved the difference as Section 2A/AA (Orange) moved past Section 6A/AA (Gray) with a 1-0 victory in Saturday morning’s semifinal.
The Orange squad heavily outshot the Grays 27-13 for the game, but goaltending at both ends proved tight while scoring chances were limited at both ends as well.
Dean’s goal, assisted by Mikko Brown (Eden Prairie) and David Baer (Minnetonka), came with 5:12 remaining in the first 24 minutes. It left Section 6 to trail the rest of the way, while struggling to generate or sustain long periods of offensive pressure.
Kam Hendrickson (Holy Family) and Caleb Heil (Sioux Falls Power) combine for the shutout by stopping 13 shots.
Section 2 advances to the festival’s championship round Sunday afternoon, where they will face the winner of Section 1A/AA and Section 7A/AA. -Drew Herron
Kaiser and Zellers each score twice as Section 1A/AA (Red) survives Section 7A/AA (Gold) 5-3, punch ticket to championship
Kamden Kaiser (Northfield) and William Zellers (Shattuck-St. Mary's) both scored twice to help lead Section 1A/AA (Red) past Section 7A/AA (Gold) 5-3, and into championship round. Goaltenders Xander Carter-Kleven (Rochester Lourdes) and Quintin Stapf (New Prague) combined for 32 saves for the Red team that was outshot 35-18.
Zellers opened the scoring early first half, and after Gold answered a short time later on a goal by Andover’s Ben Doll, Kaiser scored with eight minutes the half to give the Reds a lead again headed into the halftime break.
A goal by Gold’s Caden Cole (Duluth East) leveled the score 3-3 with 15:10 to go before Zeller’s game-winner came with 10:16 left. Jackson Ernst (Lakeville South) added an empty-netter with 11 seconds to go to seal the victory. -- Drew Herron
Section 3 (Green) pulls away in second half to top Section 8 (White) 4-2 to reach consolation final
Four different skaters scored to help lift Section 3 (Green) past Section 8 (White) 4-2 and into Sunday’s consolation final.
A pair from Rosemount bookended the scoring as Hans Headlund opened the scoring early in the first half, and Christian Garrity added an empty netter in the final minute to push the Green past the Whites in what turned out to be a physical and contested battle. In between, Keaton Orrey (Eagan) and Zach Wooten (Eastview) netted scores that helped turn a one-goal deficit into a lead Section 3 would hold for good.
Braddon Lund (Thief River Falls) and Carson Pilgrim (Warroad) scored goals for Section 8 in the loss.
Section 3 advances to the consolation final Sunday morning on Rink A at PIC with a 9:45 puck drop set. They will face the winner of the matchup on the top half of the bracket, featuring Section 4A/AA (Royal Blue) and 5A/AA (Sky Blue). -- Drew Herron
Section 5 (Sky Blue) edges Section 4 (Royal Blue) to advance to consolation championship
A second-half goal by defenseman Brody Olson (Champlin Park) stood up as the game-winner that allowed Section 5A/AA (Sky Blue) to skate into the consolation final with a 3-2 victory over Section 4A/AA (Royal Blue) Saturday afternoon at Plymouth Ice Center.
Locked into a 2-2 tie at the half, Olson’s goal came early in the half, assisted by Preston Moses (Maple Grove) with 22:17 to play. Heath Nelson (Centennial) and Ben Box (Totino-Grace) also score for Section 5.
Alexander Sabev (Irondale) played the whole game in the crease, stopping 25 of 27 shots.
Down the stretch, Sky Blue killed two penalties to secure the win and set up a meeting Sunday morning with Section 3A/AA (Green). -- Drew Herron