Jack Ferry scores the game-winner for the Elks during Sunday's shootout.
A back-and-forth battle culminated in an extended shootout, in which Elk River's Jack Ferry cleanly beat Grand Forks' Nicholas Pineo to give the Elks the Battle of the Blue Ox championship.
The Elks jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period, with the indomitable duo of Zach Michaelis and Austen Humphrey tallying goals eight minutes apart. The Elks did their part on the defensive side of the ice as well, holding the Aviators to just three shots in the first frame.
Grand Forks' Tyler Zahradka sparked the comeback for the Aviators, netting two goals in the second period just two minutes apart, knotting the score at 2-2.
William Lawson-Body put Grand Forks ahead 3-2 with 6:31 remaining in regulation, but the lead would not last as the Elks tied the game at 3-3 with a power play goal at the 12:11 mark of the third period by Joseph Nordstrom.
The teams traded impressive goals and spectacular saves in the shootout before Ferry's game-winner.
Austen Humphrey was a force this weekend for Elk River.
Orono turned in another dominant performance en route to claiming the Blue Ox title with a 4-1 win over Park of Cottage Grove on Sunday.
Zack Simon scored twice for the Spartans, with Hadley Stephenson and Nick Messerli each added one goal in the win.
The Wolfpack turned their game on in the third period, holding the Spartans scoreless and getting a goal from Brandon Greeder, but it wasn't nearly enough to threaten the Orono lead.
Lucas Jorgenson of Orono was named MVP of the tournament.
BA champs, the Orono Spartans.