An early 2-0 lead was too much to overcome for the defending Tier III Junior National Champion Atlanta Jr. Knights as the Twin Cities Northern Lights held on to win 4-3. The Northern Lights will now play in the championship game on Monday. Game time at the Rochester Rec Center is noon.
Twin Cities will play the winner of the second semifinal between the North Iowa Outlaws and Helena Bighorns.
The Minnesota Junior Hockey League champion Northern Lights took control of the game early when Eric Shand (from Matt Pietrzykowski) scored at 10:34 of the first period. A quick second goal was scored by Pietrzykowski at 11:13. Jace Childs and Tyler Teague assisted on the second goal.
Atlanta started the second period with great intensity and soon were on the scoreboard. Jordan Simmons goal at 1:14 made the score 2-1. At 4:21 a power play goal by Scott Hunter evened the game at 2-2. A timeout by the Northern Lights seemed to settle the players and at 10:31 Twin Cities again took the lead. Scoring for the Northern Lights was Tyler Teague (assist to Shane Gachne). A 3-2 lead is how the period ended.
The beginning of the third period was all Northern Lights and at 1:55 they had their reward. Jonas Fredriksson scored on assists from Pietrzykowski and Childs. Twin Cities again led by two goals.
A late power play goal was scored at 18:25 by Simmons, but it was not enough as the Northern Lights held on for the 4-3 victory.
Twin Cities goaltender Isaac Tjaden made 34 saves to earn the victory.
Twin Cities will play the winner of the second semifinal between the North Iowa Outlaws and Helena Bighorns.
The Minnesota Junior Hockey League champion Northern Lights took control of the game early when Eric Shand (from Matt Pietrzykowski) scored at 10:34 of the first period. A quick second goal was scored by Pietrzykowski at 11:13. Jace Childs and Tyler Teague assisted on the second goal.
Atlanta started the second period with great intensity and soon were on the scoreboard. Jordan Simmons goal at 1:14 made the score 2-1. At 4:21 a power play goal by Scott Hunter evened the game at 2-2. A timeout by the Northern Lights seemed to settle the players and at 10:31 Twin Cities again took the lead. Scoring for the Northern Lights was Tyler Teague (assist to Shane Gachne). A 3-2 lead is how the period ended.
The beginning of the third period was all Northern Lights and at 1:55 they had their reward. Jonas Fredriksson scored on assists from Pietrzykowski and Childs. Twin Cities again led by two goals.
A late power play goal was scored at 18:25 by Simmons, but it was not enough as the Northern Lights held on for the 4-3 victory.
Twin Cities goaltender Isaac Tjaden made 34 saves to earn the victory.
