Tuesday started with a bang and ended with…well, another bang. 

Today’s opener featured the Detroit Jr. Red Wings and the Western Selects, and through two periods, the Jr. Red Wings held a 4-2 lead thanks to four goals from Cameron Coombe (more on him later). Midway through the finals period, the game turned into a track meet.

Detroit and Western Selects combined for seven goals in the final 6:28 of the third frame, with the Jr. Red Wings emerging with an 8-5 win. 

In the finale, Montreal trailed Team Brick Alberta 1-0 heading into the third period, only to have Kwency Fontaine tie the game with an unassisted goal. The teams seesawed for the rest of the third, with the action almost uninhibited by penalties.

Just under two minutes into overtime, Montreal’s Liam Tep scored the game-winning goal, giving the Canadiens a 3-0 record and the top spot in the Styles Conference. 

Team Minnesota had a single game on the schedule for Tuesday and made it count, avenging last year’s semifinal loss with a 5-3 win over defending champ, the Connecticut Jr. Rangers.

Moorhead’s Henry Corwin scored three of the team’s five goals in the win, bringing his Brick total to six tallies in three games. Corwin leads Team Minnesota in scoring with eight total points, followed by Edina duo Charlie Hansen and Tanner Peterson, who have five points apiece. 

On Wednesday, Minnesota will face nemesis Toronto Pro Hockey. Not only is Pro Hockey a perennial final-four team at The Brick, but this year’s Pro Hockey squad is also 2-0 so far.

As if Team Minnesota needed any extra encouragement, Pro Hockey was the only team to beat the Team Minnesota 2011’s last summer in pool play, edging Team MN 4-3 in overtime.

It looks like it’s Cameron Coombe’s turn. 

While older brother Colby scored four goals in six games for the Chicago Jr. Blackhawks at the 2019 Brick, it’s Cameron’s time to light up the ice at the West Edmonton Mall. 

After an 8-2 loss to Montreal to start the tourney, Detroit has bounced back with an 8-5 win over Western Selects and a 4-1 victory over CCM Chicago to give itself a 2-1 record heading into Wednesday. The Jr. Red Wings’ lead catalyst has been Coombe, who leads the team and the tournament in total scoring with seven goals and 11 points. 

After two heartbreaking losses on Monday, Team Pennsylvania officially got on the board with a 3-1 victory over Boston on Tuesday. Now at 1-2 and seeming to find its groove, Team PA could be in line for one of the final playoff spots come seeding time. 

Consider the losses yesterday - a valiant comeback attempt with three goals in the third period on a 7-4 loss to Team Minnesota and an overtime defeat at the hands of the BC Jr. Canucks. This Team PA group is going to do all it can to not be left out of the playoff conversation.  

After Flynn Kelley put the Junior Bruins ahead 1-0 in the first period, Team PA’s Cooper Hackett took over, scoring the contest’s next three goals to secure the win for Team PA. 

With his performance, Hackett has now scored eight of his team’s 10 goals, with those eight scores ranking first among all skaters through Tuesday.