Park Cottage Grove scored the first three goals of the game and held on to beat host Hibbing 3-1 on Friday at the Memorial Building in Hibbing. PCG got a highlight reel goal from Joe Palodichuk when he took it end to end beat Logan Wright top shelf for the Wolfpack. The Pack got a goal from Carter Newpower and Marco Troje early in the third. Hibbing made it interesting when Mitchell Ziemba beat standout Goalie Conner Nelson with a wicked wrist shot. Nelson finished the game with 32 saves and the Pack moved into the Sweet 16.

Eveleth Gilbert showed signs of why this group of Iron Rangers has a bright future. The Golden Bears got two goals from Nathan Tassoni including the Game Winning goal with four minutes to play. The game was a showcase of some outstanding individual efforts from both teams. EG's Nick Beaudette and Elliot Van Orsdel showed power (Beaudette) and style (Van Orsdel). First year sensations Jack Harvey and Cody Croal did not disappoint for North Branch, they had their hands in all three goals and had several more including a chance by Croal with 3 seconds left, but Eveleth Goalie Mack Lautiger made the save.

Mankato came into the Founder's Cup with a lot to prove and within the first 15 minutes of the tourney, they had a pack of fans scoring five goals in the first. Three Mavs had two goals a piece; Brett Borchardt, Brandon Swenson, and Nate Looft. But one Maverick that stood out most was crafty Centerman Brody Lucas. Lucas is a gifted skater who has great hands and is a very polished hockey player. He finished with 1G/1A for the Mavericks who donned a great looking gray uniform with purple and white trim. The Mavs advanced to the Sweet 16 against Apple Valley on Friday night.

White Bear Lake came into the Founder's Cup having just played in the Bloomington Shootout where they finished fourth earlier in the week. They took on Detroit Lakes who had an impressive group of skaters. An evenly played game where either team could have won came down to who would make the least mistakes. Jackson Fields was great player last year when we saw DL in the West Regional in Anoka. Ten months later Fields was a beast, scoring twice and threatening several more times for the Lakers. His efforts weren't enough, the Bears took advantage of their chances and got a Short Handed Goal from Brandon Keeney late in the Second Period which stood as the game winner.

Minneapolis fought back and beat Superior 5-4 in a shootout Friday in Coleraine. Down 4-2 heading into the third period, Minneapolis got goals from Porter Ball and Nick Sachs to tie it. Sachs had two goals for the Storm as they advanced to the Sweet 16 against Forest Lake. Superior got two goals from Kaden Olson to get them off to the lead for the Spartans. In the Shootout, Minneapolis Goalie Aksel Reid came up big on all three Spartan attempts stonawalling all three Superior shooters.

River Lakes powered by two Texas Hatties by Blake Blattner and Logan Stellmach beat Virginia 10-2 on Friday in Coleraine. The Stars got four goals in the first and never looked back playing most of the third period in running time. Luke Strub had a goal and an assist for the Blue Devils who will play Superior in the White Bracket on Saturday. Stellmach and Blattner impressed YHH with their great skating and ability to create opportunities for the Stars.

Greenway and STMA hooked up in the Snake Pit (Hodgins-Berardo Arena) on the home ice of the Raiders Friday. The Pit proved to be a tough place to play for the Knights as Greenway got off to a 4-2 lead after the first period. The two teams traded six goals after that in an exciting offensive display. Christian Miller, son of former Mr. Hockey from Greenway Chris Miller, had four goals for the Raiders. Raider phenom Ben Troumbly had an amazing two goals and three assists on Friday. Zach Miller finished with two goals for STMA. 

In one of the more exciting games played Friday, East Grand Forks battled and won their Play-In game with feisty Pine City. St. Francis transplant Cole Avery got a late goal for the Green Wave to help them advance to the Sweet 16. Blake Moen scored for the Wave first in the opening period on a scramble in front of the net to beat Pine City star Goalie Alex Laven. Laven was the story of this game making 41 saves on 43 shots Friday. Pine City got its goal when Gabe Westbrook knocked in a Tanner Brouwer rebound.