The Chicago Mission 16U team put on an absolute passing clinic on Friday afternoon at the Schwan Super Rink in Blaine, moving the puck with purpose and creating scoring chances frequently en route to a 3-0 win over the Rocky Mountain RoughRiders. 

Perhaps even more impressive is the fact that Mission managed a shutout while hobbling themselves with penalties, 11 in all. 

Camden Thiesing kicked off the scoring in the first period for Mission with the assist going to Notre Dame commit Wyatt Schingoethe, a 1-0 lead that would last through the second frame and into the third. 

Joshua Lopina scored less than three minutes into the third for Mission, and Schingoethe tacked on an empty-net tally to close out the win, while goaltender Jackson Bernard finished with nine saves to earn the clean sheet.  

Realistically, ties are not nearly as entertaining as fans would hope. 

That was not the case in Friday’s duel between Team Wisconsin and Detroit Little Caesars, as the squads battled for three periods to a 2-2 draw at the Brooklyn Park Community Center as part of the Minnesota Blades Showcase. 

Little Caesars jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period as a team full of Division I talent got loose, with Mason Burkhart scoring an even-strength goal near the midway point of the period and Nicklas Andrews adding a shorthanded tally less than two minutes later. 

Team Wisconsin would roar back in the second, with as Drake Baldwin scored an unassisted goal and Robby Newton netting the equalizer with 2:46 to play in the period on an assist from Mason McCormick. 

A scoreless third period was a testament to strong goaltending play, highlighted by some key saves by Team Wisconsin’s Garrett Larsen as Little Caesars poured on the sauce late in regulation.

Shattuck-St. Mary’s bounced back after a less-than-stellar performance against Detroit Little Caesars on Thursday with a win over the uber-talented Detroit Honeybaked squad, which at last count had six Division I commits on its roster. 

Owen Baumgartner and Will Traeger each scored within the first four minutes of the first period to stake the Sabres to a 2-0 lead, with Baumgartner scoring an unassisted beauty and Trager knocking home the puck on an assist from Baumgartner. 

Despite the 2-0 lead, the game remained tight throughout the second period before David Nesburg scored the dagger with just 5:10 left in the period to get over the two-goal hump. 

However, the Sabres’ 3-0 lead was plunged into doubt, as Honeybaked’s Jacob Badal muscled his way to a goal early in the third period and again with just 4:22 to play in the game to pull Honeybaked within one. 

Shattuck-St. Mary’s forward Peter LaJoy and goaltender Carsen Stokes teamed up to snuff out the comeback attempt, with LaJoy scoring an empty-net goal and Stokes displaying a dazzling array of blocker saves to ice the win for the Sabres.  

Antonio Stranges, Detroit Little Caesars

A crafty forward with a knack for creating space, Stranges has committed to Michigan. 

Jacob Perrault, Chicago Mission

Perrault is the quintessential two-way forward, just as effective in his own zone and on the penalty kill as he is with the puck. 

Daniel Laatsch, Team Wisconsin

Laatsch is a smooth-skating, puck-moving defenseman with good reach and an accurate shot. Recently committed to Wisconsin.

 Jacob Badal, Detroit Honeybaked

A strong skater with good hands, Badal netted two goals in Friday's loss to Shattuck-St. Mary's. Committed to Western Michigan. 

Carsen Stokes, Shattuck-St. Mary's

Stokes has a strong blocker, nice reaction speed, and solid fundamentals.