Prep report: Both Hilltoppers teams reach Herb Brooks title games

Dec. 27—Three unanswered goals allowed Duluth Marshall to reach Thursday's Herb Brooks Holiday Classic championship game at Ridder Arena after the Hilltoppers saw off Two Rivers 4-1 on Wednesday at Schwan's Super Rink in Blaine.

Jonas Martinelli gave the 'Toppers an early lead that was canceled out, but Pacey Adduono's goal at 5:14 of the second period held up as a game-winner an was followed by two from Bennett Scissons.

Benson Peterson had three assists for Marshall, while Kaenan Smith made 25 saves. The Hilltoppers will meet Gentry Academy in the championship game.

The Marshall girls also advanced to a championship game at Ridder, defeating Luverne 5-1 in a semifinal on Wednesday in Blaine. The Marshall girls will face Wayzata at 1:30 p.m., with the boys game at 4.

The Bluejackets rallied from two goals down to tie their semifinal of the Herb Brooks Holiday Classic at the Schwan's Super Rink in Blaine, but fell victim to a late game-winner from the Stars' Dakotah Bailey with 50 seconds to play.

Hibbing/Chisholm was down 2-0 after 34 minutes, but drew even when Isaiah Hildebrand and Christian Edmonds (power play) scored 2:32 apart around the midpoint of the final frame before Bailey decided it and Eli Bailey provided an insurance goal into an empty net.

Jace Kampsula assisted both Hibbing/Chisholm goals and Gavin Lamphere made 19 saves. The Bluejackets (8-5) will face Two Rivers on Thursday in the third-place game.

The Hawks entered Wednesday's game on their first two-game winless "streak" since the end of the 2019-20 regular season, but disposed of it quickly on Wednesday, scoring four times in the first period at Hermantown Arena.

Five Hawks scored with Will Esterbrooks recording a goal and two assists. A.J. Francisco, Andrew Johnson and River Freeman all had multi-point games.

Dane Callaway made 21 saves for Hermantown, which fired 45 shots on the Delano net.

The Hunters controlled territory on their home ice in the nightcap of the Heritage Hockey Classic on Wednesday night, allowing Irondale only 11 shots on goal.

Meanwhile, the offense delivered quickly, as Tristen Nephew, John Scott and Braeden Erickson combined to give the Hunters a 3-0 lead before the halfway point of the first period. Scott added a second goal in the next period while Irondale's only reply came with 34 seconds remaining, spoiling the shutout for Connor Doyle (10 saves).

Denfeld (6-3-1), which got two assists apiece from Nolan Harju and Brady McGinn, will face Park of Cottage Grove in the semifinals on Thursday night.

The Rails broke through late, as goals from Breckin Ross and Ethan Carter coming 62 seconds apart in the third period broke a 1-1 tie and helped the Rails advance in their home tournament, the Bill McGann Holiday Classic, on Wednesday night at St. Luke Sports and Entertainment Center.

Drew Sparacino scored in the first period for the Stars, and it took until the 11:46 mark of the second for Wyatt Mineheine to even it up for the Rails. Proctor finally broke through when Ross scored with 4:31 to play.

A.J. Reyelts made 19 of his 32 saves in the third period for the Rails, who will face Southwest Christian/Richfield in the late semifinal on Thursday night.

Kade Norman scored for North Shore, but after a deadlock lasting more than 30 minutes of play, it was the Wisconsin-based Spartans who prevailed in a shootout to advance in the Bill McGann Holiday Classic at the St. Luke's Sports and Event Center in Proctor on Wednesday.

Norman's goal for the Storm (5-2-1), coming 28 seconds into the second period, tied the game and ended up being the last scoring from open play.

North Shore goalie Zach Bentler made 31 saves.

Jaxsyn Schmidt scored twice for the Rebels, but four Governors goals in the second period was too much to handle for Moose Lake Area at the Ely Holiday Classic on Wednesday, Dec. 27.

An early goal on the power play for the Lightning's Allie LeClaire proved to be their only one on Wednesday at the Walser Tournament in Edina, as the Crimson scored twice in the second period to take over the game.

Riley Toivonen made 15 saves for GRG (9-5), which had 11 shots on goal in the third period without getting an equalizer.

Grace Karakas scored twice for the Northern Stars, but four goals between those two from Mounds View/Irondale were decisive in the consolation bracket at the Herb Brooks Holiday Classic in Blaine.

Ella Brisbois made 25 saves for Duluth.

Jack Battaglia's 25-point game helped the Lumberjacks hand the Cardinals their first loss of the season on night one of the Wood City Classic in Cloquet on Wednesday, Dec. 27.

Cloquet, which has won three straight to get back to 4-4 on the season, led 42-32 at the half and had several sources of scoring, including 17 points from Seth Rothamel and 16 from Shazae Henagin.

The Cardinals, who had a six-game win streak snapped, got 17 from Dylan Nyberg and 11 from sophomore guard Lane Gervais.

The Giants fell victim to a Pine City squad that knocked down 12 3-pointers in their Wood City Classic game in Cloquet on Wednesday, Dec. 27.

The Dragons took a 35-24 lead at the half and grew it from there.

Cooper Sickel finished with a game-high 17 points for the Giants (2-6), while Cameron Jones added 14.

The Tigers fell victim to a state-ranked G-E-T squad that drained 17 treys in the semifinals of the La Crosse Aquinas Tournament.

Cody Schmitz dropped 38 points for the 8-1 Redhawks, who recently entered the Wisconsin Division 3 state poll at No. 10.

For Northwestern (6-2), Gavin Williams scored 21 and Bryce Priem 14.

The Patriots held the Rebels to 20 second-half points and pulled away to win their opener at their home tournament in Pequot Lakes on Wednesday night, Dec. 27.

Nolan Nelson was the leading scorer for MLWR, which trailed 31-24 at halftime before being outscored 39-20, with 12 points.

Noah Larson scored 19 second-half points and finished with 25 to lead the Crosby-Ironton Rangers to victory over Fond du Lac Ojibwe in the first round of the Ranger Tournament Wednesday, Dec. 27 in Crosby.

James Stokman added 22 points, eight assists, five steals and five rebounds.

Jordell Brown scored 25 points and Anthony Reynolds 14 for the Ogichidaag.

In the earlier game, Deer River defeated Proctor 94-46.

The Lumberjacks were upset victims for the first time this season, on a day in which they didn't get a scorer into double figures.

The Giants (6-2), whose only losses so far this season were at Mountain Iron-Buhl and Hermantown, held the Lumberjacks to 18 first-half points and held a 10-point lead, which was enough to get to the finish line.

Marta Forsline, a 6-foot-2 sophomore power forward, scored 19 points to lead all scorers.

For Cloquet, Leilani Fonoti scored eight points.

The Greyhounds paid for a slow start on their home floor, losing by 30 to the Cardinals to open the Snowball Shootout.

Coon Rapids scored 41 points in the first half and took a 21-point lead into the break.

Casey Beck put on a show, scoring 31 for the visitors, while East (3-7) got 16 from Lilly Kuettel and 14 by Candice Ndomb.

The hosts prevailed in the championship game of the Esko Coaches Classic, as Cairin Berger led the way for the second-straight day, scoring 21 points on Wednesday, Dec. 27.

Hannah Swanson added 19 for Esko (6-4).

The Hawks went cold in the second half of their consolation bout in the Esko Coaches Classic, as a 14-point second half spelled a second loss in as many nights.

Center Olivia Johnson put up 21 points for Hermantown (2-9).

The Rebels took the early initiative with a 34-19 halftime lead and grew it from there to take down the Gobblers at their holiday tournament in Aitkin on Wednesday, Dec. 27.

Madison Wasche led all scorers with 18 points, while Tyler Orvedahl aded 10.