While high school hockey has passed by, the Minnesota hockey season was not quite over last week as teams across the state took part in the Minnesota Hockey youth state tournaments.
The Armstrong/Cooper Youth Hockey U15B girls team took part last weekend amid an impressive 35-7-4 season thus far. They entered the state with 11 wins in their last 15 games, losing just three games, two of which by one goal to Wayzata U15B Gold.
The state-bound team was also the runner-up in District 3 and West Region standings. They finished second place in the Bemidji tournament, first in the Hudson tournament and second in the Fairmount tournament this season.
The action began on Mar. 15 in a 5-1 victory against Stillwater White at Blaine’s Fogerty Ice Arena to kick the tournament off in commanding fashion.
Armstrong/Cooper got the scoring started in the first period with an arching shot and goal from Lauren Zimmerman. The Wings continued to dominate the chances and found two more goals in the second period from Lia Mack and Zimmerman.
Madeline Wahl and Natalie Staples added two more in the third, while Stillwater added one of their own, as the Wings collected 45 shots on goal against Stillwater, dominating the shot count in each period as well.
The Wings kept at it the next day, beating the Alexandria Cardinals 6-3 in the semifinals in Blaine on Mar. 16. Goal tender Bryn Weser had more to do in this game, making 14 stops from 17 shots against Alexandria. Zimmerman scored twice once again, while Staples, Cecilia Hakes, and Evalyn Gorgos each collected points for goals or assists.
Saturday’s win over Alexandria continued the impressive trend of leading early and staying ahead for Armstrong/Cooper, who added 22 shots to their count for the state tournament.
Armstrong/Cooper’s hard work placed them in the final on March 17, facing Grand Rapids-Greenway for the third day straight at Fogerty Arena in a 4-3 fourth-overtime loss.
The result reflected the Wings’ ability to compete and fight, making Grand Rapids-Greenway earn its state championship the hard way and ending the start tournament with 15 goals in three games.
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