It was a thrilling weekend for area youth hockey teams as many battled their way into regional competitions. Their hard work and dedication paid off, leading to intense playoff matchups where every team left it all on the ice.
Peewees
Punch Their Ticket to State:
The North Shore Storm Peewee team hosted their regional tournament at Sonju Arena in Two Harbors, delivering an impressive performance. They dominated their first two games, defeating Hibbing 8-1 and Blaine 7-4. In the championship matchup against Grand Rapids, the Storm fought hard but fell just short in a 4-3 battle.
With a state tournament bracket still on the line, the Storm faced off against Hermantown for the second-place seed. The high-stakes game went into overtime before the Peewees sealed the win with a 4-3 victory.
“The boys punched their ticket to state with a 2nd place finish overall,” the Two Harbors Youth Hockey Facebook page shared.
The team now heads to the State Tournament in Plymouth, MN, where they’ll compete for the title from March 14-16.
Bantams Battle Through
Overtime Thrillers:
In Chisholm, the Bantams kicked off regionals with a hard-fought matchup against North Branch. The game remained scoreless through regulation and into double overtime before North Branch finally slipped one past Storm goalie Liam Christiansen.
Their second game against Rock Ridge was another overtime nailbiter. Tied 2-2 at the end of regulation, the Storm fought to stay alive, but Rock Ridge managed the game-winner, handing the Storm a tough 3-2 loss.
“Even though they didn’t pull the W, they played great,” read a post from Two Harbors Youth Hockey.
Christiansen had an outstanding tournament, facing 89 shots over the weekend and finishing as the top ranked goalie.
12U Girls Storm Take Third:
The North Shore Storm 12U girls hit the ice at Rukavina Arena, starting strong with a 4-1 win over International Falls. They followed up with a 4-2 victory against Anoka/Rogers, securing a spot in the championship game against Centennial/SLP.
After a tough loss, the girls found themselves in a rematch against Anoka/Rogers for the second-place seed. This time, Anoka/Rogers came out on top, leaving the Storm with a third-place finish in the tournament.
Capping off an incredible season, the 12U girls finished with a record of 28-10-2, proving themselves a force to be reckoned with on the ice.
With regionals now in the books, the Peewees turn their focus to the state tournament, while the Bantams and 12U girls close their seasons with a lot to be proud of.
