Jackson Blake was all smiles on Saturday for Southwest (Boys Major).
WARROAD 3, JEFFERSON 0
The first game of the morning took on a peculiar theme, with all three goals scored in the game coming with less than one minute in each half.
Unfortunately for Jefferson, all of those goals were scored by Warroad.
Blake Lueck scored with just eight seconds to play in the first half, and Jackson Kohnen turned away all six shots he faced for the Warriors.
The game took on a back-and-forth tone for the entire second half, until Warroad’s Nick Pierre potted an empty net goal to put the Warriors ahead 2-0, and Jake Peterson iced the game with with another empty-netter.
ROSEAU 4, JOHNSON 0
After a scoreless first half, this matchup appeared to be headed fro a dramatic finish and possibly overtime.
However, Roseau decided they'd rather just win in regulation, racking up four goals in the second half in the shutout victory.
Cole Spicer scored 25 seconds into the second half, followed by a goal from the hands of Prescot Sexton. Spicer added another goal at the 14:20 mark, and Gavin Lindberg chipped in a goal late in the second half to secure the win.
SOUTHWEST 5, JEFFERSON 0
Nathan Hardy scored just over three minutes into the game, and Southwest was off to the races, peppering the Jefferson goaltenders throughout both halves.
Jackson Skyberg and Owen Van Tassel added goals in the first half for Southwest. Jacksen Panzer and Jackson Blake pumped the Southwest lead to 5-0 with 14:47 left in the second half, and the Indians shut down any and all Jefferson scoring attempts for the rest of the half.
JOHNSON 5, WARROAD 4
In another game that could be considered the most exciting of the weekend, Johnson thwarted a spirited Warroad comeback attempt and slipped away with the 5-4 victory.
Kellen Murphy scored twice, and Anthony Madigan added a goal to get the Govs going in the first half, taking a 3-0 lead into the second.
Warroad stormed back in the second half, getting goals from Dylan Godbout, Ethan Sillerud, Wesley Brunello and Nick Pierre in a span of 11 minutes, giving the Warriors a 4-3 lead.
With 1:43 remaining, Brody Lamb of Johnson took matters into his own mitts, tying the game 4-4 and then winnings it for the Govs on and assist from Isaac Howard with just 1:19 left in regulation.
ROSEAU 7, SOUTHWEST 6
Roseau squeaked past Southwest in a shootout after playing to a spectacular 6-6 tie in a regulation that saw each team score four goals in a respective half.
The Rams posted four goals in the first half, getting tallies from Gavin Lindberg, Trey Fechko, Cole Spicer and Zachary Stocker. William Matzke and Jackson Blake found the net for Southwest in the first half.
In the second frame, it was all Indians. In less than five minutes, Drew Fisher, Easton Young and Jackson Blake notched goals, with Blake scoring the tying goal, earning the Hatty on a re-direct that gave the net-minder no chance.
Southwest's luck ran out in the shootout however, as Roseau's Cole Spice earned the win for the Rams with the only goal.
Cole Spicer, Roseau
The division's leader in points relies on smooth hands and a nose for the net.
Jackson Blake, Southwest
A threat to score any time he touches the ice, Blake's passing skills and hockey sense are that of a seasoned veteran.
Brody Lamb, Johnson
Lamb has been Mr. Clutch this weekend, coming up with big goals and big performances. Tied for second for the division lead with five points.
Jackson Kohnen, Warroad
Kohnen has been solid between the pipes for the Warriors, showcasing a quick glove hand.
Trey Fechko, Roseau
Fechko combines the strength to bully players off the puck with the skill to feather a pass through multiple defenders.
Jimmy Clark tacks on a goal for Southwest in Saturday's 9-1 win over Roseau in Boys Minor Division action.
JOHNSON 2, ROSEAU 1
It was the “Steffen Show” this morning in the matchup between Johnson and Roseau, with Landon Steffen and Luke Steffen carrying Johnson to a thrilling one-goal victory.
Landon started the scoring with a power play goal at 15:37 of the first half, assisted by Luke and William Whitelaw.
Roseau answered in the second half with a goal by Oliver Moore, and the teams traded momentum throughout the next 14 minutes of play.
Luke Steffen scored the game-winner for Johnson, scoring in the slot on one knee with 3:15 to play in the half.
JEFFERSON 8, WARROAD 3
Jefferson hung a four-spot on the board in both the first and second half, showcasing deft passing and elite speed in the process.
Wyatt Olson led the Jaguars with two goals, and the Jags' depth was also highlighted with six other players chipping in one goal each.
Jordan Ronn, Finn Brink, Gavin Black, Luke Margenau, Jay Ellingson and Zander Billins marked the scoresheet for Jefferson.
Dawson McCann and Elijah Miller managed goals for Warroad in the first half, and Zam Plante scored the Warriors' third goal with 10:29 to play in the second frame.
SOUTHWEST 9, ROSEAU 1
Perhaps fatigued from an earlier battle with Johnson, and coupled with skating on an Olympic-sized ice sheet, Roseau hit the ice sluggish and Southwest took full advantage.
Jack Sweeney led the Southwest attack, earning a Hatty and handing out two helpers in the win, getting two of his goals and both assists in the Indians' five-goal second half. Jimmy Clark added two goals and an assist for Southwest, which got single goals from Landen Gunderson, Tommy Cronin, Beckett Hendrickson and Dawson Jenson.
Grant Kohnen scored the lone goal for Roseau in the loss, scoring just 1:23 into the first half.
JOHNSON 3, JEFFERSON 1
Johnson's Landon Steffen gave the Govs a 1-0 lead in the first half, scoring off a pass from Caden Hegarty for the shorthanded tally. The Govs would take the less-than-stable 1-0 lead into the second half.
Daniel Roeske scored midway through the second half to give Johnson a 2-0 lead, a two-goal cushion that the Govs would soon discover they would need, as Ty Tuccitto roofed a shot under the crossbar to cut the lead in half.
Johnson then turned to its rock-solid defense and quieted the Jefferson threat with an empty-net goal with 1/10th of a second remaining by Cooper Conway to end the game.
SOUTHWEST 9, WARROAD 6
It turns out you don't have to make the trek to Churchill Downs to see a great horse race.
The final game of the evening did not disappoint, with the thoroughbreds from Southwest and Warroad racing the puck up the ice over and over again in this back-and-forth battle.
Jack Sweeney and Landon Gunderson each scored two goals to pace the Indians, who scored an impressive eight times in the first half. Wyatt Carlson, Gavyn Thoreson, Tommy Cronin, Joseph Schiller and Jimmy Clark all scored one goal each, and Clark tacked on three helpers for four total points.
Ty Hanson led Warroad with two goals, while Isaac Johnson, Abe Carlson, Blayne Mortenson and Zam Plante scored one goal apiece in the loss.
Luke Steffen nets the GWG in Saturday's win over Roseau.
Cole Spicer scores the GWG in Roseau's shootout win over Southwest.
Jack Sweeney, Southwest
Any player that puts up 14 points in four games earns a spot in this list.
Jimmy Clark, Southwest
Just behind Sweeney with 12 points, Clark is just as comfortable scoring a goal as he is completing a beautiful pass.
Zam Plante, Warroad
Plante has racked up seven points so far, thanks in large part to his speed and slippery skating.
Ty Tuccitto, Jefferson
Strong skater has a quick and accurate shot that can find the net in a hurry.
Austin Burnevik, Roseau
Burnevik's speed and soft touch have enabled him to score three goals, tops for the Rams.
Lily Mortenson scores for Johnson in the Govs' win over Jefferson on Saturday.
JEFFERSON 4, ROSEAU 2
Jefferson took a 1-0 lead on a goal by Suzy Higuchi in the first half, and Margaret Malecha turned away five shots to enter the second half with the slim lead.
The Jaguars notched another goal early in the second half pushing their lead to 2-0 after Sloane Matthews potted an unassisted tally.
Shae Messner and Alyssa Watkins scored 23 seconds apart to tie the game 2-2, but Morgan Wohlers answered for Jefferson with 1:47 to play. Wholers added an empty-netter to cement the win 4-2.
SOUTHWEST 5, WARROAD 4
Vivian Jungels again showed that she is among the most dangerous players in the Challenge, scoring two goals and adding an assist to lead Southwest to victory over Warroad.
Southwest leapt to a 2-0 lead in the first half behind goals by Kate Lee Gilligan and Jungels before Makenna Aure and Lily Gillespie evened the score at 2-2 for the Jaguars.
Abby Ness started the second half with a goal for Southwest, followed by Jungels netting her second goal of the game. Samantha Broz pulled Warroad within one goal at 4-3, flipping the puck over Southwest goaltender Becky St. George's shoulder.
Sadie Lindsay scored a power play goal to extend Southwest's lead to 5-3 with 10:56 to play.
Sophia Melsness scored on the power play with 1:56 to play, but Southwest was able to hold off the late Warroad charge.
JOHNSON 2, JEFFERSON 1
In a game that only saw three combined goals, the excitement level more than made up for the relative lack of scoring. A seesaw battle that saw an outstanding goaltending performance on both sides.
Lily Mortenson scored early in the second half after the Governors and Jaguars battled to a 0-0 draw in the first half, giving Johnson a 1-0 lead.
The Govs went up 2-0 with 2:33 to play on a goal by Madeleine Greer, who managed to muscle a loose puck past the Jaguars' goaltender.
Taylor Koeppl pulled the Jags within one, but the girls in blue fell just short of tying the game.
Johnson goaltenders Hailey Hansen turned away 11 shots in the first frame, and Makenzie Cole rejected 18 in the second half.
SOUTHWEST 4, ROSEAU 3
Southwest raced to a 3-1 lead over Roseau, and then managed to hold of the late Rams charge to escape with a one-goal victory.
Ava J. Lindsay opened the scoring with an unassisted goal at the 19:30 mark of the first half, and Roseau's Alyssa Watkins answered with a goal of her own to tie the game 1-1. With 2:46 left in the first, Vivian Jungels converted a Sadie Lindsay pass to give the Indians a 2-1 lead after the first.
Shae Messner knotted the game again for the Rams less than five minutes into the second half. Southwest answered with a goal by Sadie Lindsay, then took a 4-2 lead when Vivian Jungels scored her second goal with 3:31 to play.
Kaci Trosvig netted a goal with 1:35 remaining, before time ran out on the Rams.
WARROAD 4, JOHNSON 2
Warroad pounded the Johnson net in the first half, totaling four goals, and then hung on for dear life as the Govs attempted to launch a comeback.
The Warriors had four different goal-scorers, with Mckenzie Rich, Kailey Niccum, Whitney Tuttle and Samantha Broz all marking the scoresheet.
Lily Mortenson scored both goals for the Governors in the loss.
Warroad's Samantha Broz lifts the puck past Southwest's Becky St. George during the Warriors' Saturday loss.
Alyssa Watkins, Roseau
Watkins is a consistent scorer, netting three goals in three games for the Rams.
Sadie Lindsay, Southwest
Lindsay has gotten better and better as the weekend has progressed, having her best game on Saturday night. Lindsay scored a goal and had two assists in Southwest's 4-3 win over Roseau.
Samantha Broz, Warroad
A powerful skater, Broz is an expert at playing low in the opponent's slot.
Vivian Jungels, Southwest
Leads the division in points with eight (six goals, two assists), Jungels can flat out score from anywhere on the ice.
Hailey Hansen and Makenzie Cole, Johnson
Both goaltenders showed guts in Saturday's 2-1 win over Jefferson, turning away a combined 34 of 35 shots, many of those from close range.