Hutchinson vs. (1) Warroad
Grant Slukynsky scored three goals and totaled seven points in Warroad's 9-3 win over Hutchinson.
Scoring Summary
| Period | Time | Team | Goal | Assists | Goal Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 16:27 | Warroad | Grant Slukynsky | Anthony Foster, Blake Norris | Even Strength |
| 1 | 13:55 | Warroad | Grant Slukynsky | Vance Kleinschmidt, Carson Reed | Even Strength |
| 1 | 10:34 | Warroad | Grant Slukynsky | Anhotny Foster, Gage Wilmer | Even Strength |
| 1 | 8:01 | Warroad | Blake Norris | Grant Slukynsky | Even Strength |
| 1 | 5:48 | Hutchinson | Nik Johnson | Joey Croatt, Cam Longie | Even Strength |
| 1 | 3:38 | Warroad | Jayson Shaugabay | Grant Slukynsky, Owen Meeker | Even Strength |
| 1 | 0:54 | Warroad | Jayson Shaugabay | Cooper Cole, Blake Norris | Even Strength |
| 2 | 11:44 | Warroad | Anthony Foster | Grant Slukynsky, Vance Kleinschmidt | Even Strength |
| 3 | 15:50 | Warroad | Matthew Hard | Sky Solig | Even Strength |
| 3 | 15:08 | Hutchinson | Brady Knorr | Austin Jozwick | Even Strength |
| 3 | 14:02 | Hutchinson | Brady Knorr | Austin Jozwick | Even Strength |
| 3 | 9:30 | Warroad | Jayson Shaugabay | Grant Slukynsky | Even Strength |
Warroad's Jayson Shaugabay netted a hat-trick in Wednesday night's win over Hutchinson.
Slukynsky shines on big stage for Warriors
Hutchinson coach Matt Telecky had a hunch that his team would start slow on Wednesday night in its quarterfinal matchup against No. 1 seed Warroad (27-2).
He just didn’t know how slow.
“I could see it on the blue line during the national anthem,” Telecky said. “A lotta wide eyes.”
Those wide eyes of the Tigers expanded as the first period progressed, as Warroad senior forward, Northern Michigan commit, and Mr. Hockey finalist Grant Slukynsky wrote himself into the state tournament record books.
Slukynsky scored a pure hat trick to start the game and added two assists to cap the period with five points, tying him with Minnesota hockey legend John Mayasich for most points in a single tournament period.
“I saw it on the scoreboard,” Slukynsky admitted with a grin. “I’m just trying to keep the lead and do what’s right.”
Slukynsky finished with three goals and seven points, while linemate Jayson Shaugabay tallied his own hat-trick in the 9-3 win. Brady Knorr scored twice, and Nik Johnson scored once for the Tigers (19-9-1) in the loss.
After six goals in the first frame, the Warroad lead was never in doubt, but it did take a couple of dents Warrior coach Jay Hardwick would like to avoid in Friday’s semifinal round.
“I was…not happy,” Hardwick said of his team giving up two goals in 62 seconds during the third period of Wednesday’s win.
“I didn’t think we were very sharp today, with the exception of these two,” Hardwick added, referring to Slukynsky and Jayson Shaugabay. “I was nervous all day. I just thought that the bright lights and big arena was going to affect some guys.”
In addition to the heightened setting, the eyes of several hockey icons were trained on the Warriors, including 1988 Mr. Hockey Larry Olimb and former first-round NHL draft pick Henry Boucha, considered one of the greatest Minnesota high school players of all time.
“We really appreciate the support that we get from our legends that have come before us,” Slukynsky said.
“It’s really cool to carry on the tradition that they’ve set forth.”
Brady Knorr scored twice in the third period for Hutchinson on Wednesday night.