FALL Finals Day 3: The Championship Bracket is Set!

18U: 

St. Cloud 3 @ Kenai River 2 - The St. Cloud Norsemen defeated the Kenai River Brown Bears to advance to the 18U championship game. Kenai River started off hot, with a pair of goals in the first period coming from William Bidon and Alexander Niemi to lead 2-0 heading into the first intermission. St. Cloud answered back by finding the net three times in the second period with goals from Eli Engebretson, Nick Hansen, and Carter Hays to give the Norsemen a 3-2 lead going into the third period. St. Cloud held on to its lead through a scoreless third period to secure the victory to advance to the championship.

Austin 4 @ Fairbanks 8 - The Fairbanks Ice Dogs took down the Austin Bruins in a high-scoring game to advance to the 18U championship game. In the first period, Fairbanks found the net three times in just over two minutes with goals from Chase Russ, Beckett Fredenberg, and Eli Schilling to make it a 3-0 game early. Fairbanks added to its first-period run with a goal from Brayden Braatz, assisted by Jonah Johnston, with 3:00 remaining to enter the first intermission up 4-0. Austin started the second period by getting on the scoreboard with a goal from Noah Thurston to make it a 4-1 game. Fairbanks responded with a pair of goals coming from Chase Russ and Madden Brown to extend its lead to 6-1. Austin closed the period with a goal from Jaxson Horning to make it 6-2 heading into the third period. Brayden Braatz and Madden Brown each scored their second goals of the game in the third period to extend Fairbanks’ lead to 8-2. The Bruins had a final push with two goals from Rocco Geisler late in the third to make it 8-4. Fairbanks secured the win and advanced to the championship.

16U: 

Wisconsin 4 @ Minnesota W 5 - The Minnesota Wilderness won a tight game against the Wisconsin Windigo this afternoon to advance to the 16U championship game. Wisconsin opened scoring in the first period with a goal from Talon Imme to take a 1-0 lead heading into the second period. Minnesota answered with a four goal period, goals coming from Jax Colter, William Barrs, Vincent Panichi, and Liam Brubaker to take a 4-1 lead at the end of two. Wisconsin kicked off the third period with a pair of goals from Salvatore Delaney and Clark DePlazes to make it a one goal game at 4-3. Mikko Karjala found the net for Minnesota to extend its score to 5-3. Talon Imme scored a last second goal with 0:16 left for his second of the game for Wisconsin to make it 5-4. Minnesota held on and took home the win to advance to the championship.

Minnesota M 9 @ Fairbanks 3 - The Minnesota Mallards took down the Fairbanks Ice Dogs in a high-scoring game to advance to the 16U championship game. Minnesota opened scoring in the first period with a power-play goal from Harrison Hudson before Fairbanks answered with a goal from Jack Breen to tie it 1-1. The Mallards responded with three goals from Austin Ariola, Tristan Budzynski and Wyatt Boettcher to take a 4-1 lead heading into the first intermission. Minnesota added to its lead early in the second period with Hudson's second goal of the game before Fairbanks answered with a goal from Jackson Ryberg to make it 5-2. Blake Langer found the net for Minnesota to extend its lead to 6-2, but Fairbanks responded with a goal from Grayson Boser to make it 6-3 heading into the third period. Minnesota took control in the third with three goals from Drew Hendricks, Ariola and Boettcher to extend its lead to 9-3. The Mallards held on to secure the win and advance to the championship.