Shed a tear for the Alaska Icebreakers U-16 girls hockey team, and then offer a round of applause.
After winning their quarterfinal game in four overtimes Saturday at the USA Hockey Tier II National Championship in Anaheim, Calif., the Icebreakers lost their semifinal match in five overtimes.
The won't get a shot at a national title today, but the Alaska All Stars will in the Tier II U1-9 tournament in Anaheim.
The Icebreakers fell 3-2 to Center Ice/Auto Pro Glass of Michigan in the semifinal when Kimberly Harter scored 28 seconds into the fifth overtime period -- which came after three 17-minute periods and four 10-minute overtimes in a game that lasted for nearly 92 minutes of playing time.
Goaltender Ashley Wilkes provided phenomenal performances. She stopped 68 shots in the semifinal loss and backstopped the Icebreakers to a 3-2 quarterfinal win over the New England Junior Falcons. Zahn Thompson furnished the game-winning strike in the 83rd minute of play.
Thompson and Erika Martin scored goals in regulation for the Icebreakers in the quarterfinal win.
In the heartbreaking semifinal loss, Martin and Madison Morey scored in regulation.
In the Tier II U-19 girls competition, the All Stars blasted the Anaheim Lady Ducks 11-0 in the semifinals Saturday after beating the Marquette AdvantEdge of Michigan in the quarterfinals.
In the semifinal win, Zoe Hickel scored two goals and added an assist, and Marianne Kristiansen added 1-3--4 totals. Nicole Mrugala pitched a 15-save shutout, and Brianne Bohn and McKenzie Boardman each added three points.
In the All Stars' quarterfinal win, Hickel scored two goals, Larissa Mrugala added a goal and Nicole Mrugala enjoyed another 15-shot bagel.
In boys play, the Shattuck-St. Mary's team from Minnesota that includes four Anchorage skaters will play for the Tier I U-18 national championship today after winning quarterfinal and semifinal games Saturday.
Shattuck advanced to the title game in Simsbury, Conn., on the strength of a semifinal, double-overtime 4-3 win against the Greater Boston Junior Bruins, who feature Yale-bound forward Ryan Cole of Anchorage.
Tanner Sorenson and Bryan Sinz of Anchorage each furnished an assist against the Bruins. Shattuck beat the D.C. Capitals 3-0 in the quarterfinals, with Sorenson providing a helper. Shattuck also includes Ryan Schwalbe and Samuel Fejes of Anchorage.
At the Tier II U-16 girls tournament, in Anaheim, Team Alaska received 24 saves from Madilynn Davis and jumped to a two-goal lead in the second period of a quarterfinal before falling 3-2 in overtime to Mountain States Girls Hockey League of Colorado. Marisa Ketterman and Alexandra Brodie scored goals for Team Alaska, and Brodie assisted on Ketterman's goal.
Here's how the other Alaska teams were eliminated in quarterfinals Saturday:
Tier II U-16 boys -- Goaltender Darien Dahl turned in a magnificent performance, but it wasn't quite enough to keep the Alaska Wolves from falling, 3-2 in overtime, to the Mid State Mustangs (Pa.) in Reston, Va.
Dahl delivered a 2.78 goals-against average and .922 save percentage in two tournament games -- "He was money,'' one of his coaches, Travis Frisk, wrote in an email. Bryan Grant and Bradley Hudson scored second-period goals for the Wolves, who never trailed until their opponent scored in extra time.
Tier II U-18 boys -- The Alaska Junior Aces got two goals from Zach Aregood, including one short-handed, and 38 saves from Thomas Davis, but were knocked out, 8-2, by the Houston Wild in Gates Mills, Ohio.
Garrett Brown and Patrick Anaruk furnished assists. Aregood finished with five goals and five assists in four games, and Adrian Ramos and Brown each contributed 4-5--9 totals in the tournament. The Aces on Saturday suffered for their lack of discipline -- the Wild converted four of 14 power-play opportunities.
Tier II U-14 girls -- Sabrina Nichols stopped 25 shots but the Alaska Icebreakers were beaten 6-0 by the Wisconsin Ice Spirit in Anaheim.
Anchorage Daily News
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