Preliminary hockey report: Denfeld, Marshall reach tournament final – Duluth News Tribune

Nolan Harju scored three goals and two assists as Duluth Denfeld marched past Irondale 9-2 on Friday to reach the final of their home tournament, the Heritage Holiday Classic at the Essentia Duluth Heritage Center.

Tristan Nephew scored twice and John Scott provided four assists.

Liam Fish made 18 saves for Denfeld, which will play Park of Cottage Grove for the tournament title on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.

It took a last-minute winner from Corbin Matanich, but Cloquet-Esko-Carlton suffered its first loss of the 2024-25 season at the Granite City Showcase in St. Cloud on Friday.

Grady Knutson scored on the power play for CEC with 6:05 to go in the second period, but St. Cloud tied it on Jackson Sheetz's goal with 9:37 to go before Matanich stunned the previously 9-0 Lumberjacks.

Jacob Iallonardo made 19 saves for CEC.

The Hilltoppers offense was unstoppable in the Super Rink Winter Classic on Friday as eight different players had multi-point games.

Chief among them was Bennett Scissons, who had a hat-trick and three assists.

Marshall scored three times in each period. Benson Peterson had a goal and three helpers, while Layton Anderson added three assists.

Wyatt Brown made 27 saves for Marshall (7-1-2), which will play Blake for the tournament championship on Saturday night.

Jace Kampsula and Ethan Sundvall each scored two goals in a comfortable victory for the host Bluejackets on Friday night at Hibbing Memorial Arena.

After the visiting Bluejackets tied the game early in the second period, Hibbing/Chisholm scored six straight goals, with Sundvalls coming on both power plays. Tate Swanson posted assists on three straight Hibbing/Chisholm goals.

Rex Walli made 12 saves for Hibbing/Chisholm, who had a 42-14 shots lead.

The Spartans struggled in the semifinals of the Heritage Hockey Classic on Friday, December 27.

Superior survived a second period in which it was outscored 19-2 by only trailing 1-0, but Park scored four times in the third period before Brayden Severin's last-minute score.

Hunter Sidorowicz made 33 saves for the Spartans.

Cal Scott scored a pair of power play goals as the Wolverines topped the Tigers on Friday night at Eveleth Hippodrome.

Caz Carlson assisted both Rock Ridge goals as the Wolverines held a one-goal lead throughout the third period before two late empty-netters.

Wyatt Jonassen made 17 saves for Rock Ridge (7-3-1).

Gavin Davidson and Breckin Ross scored for the Rails, but the Royals got two goals each from Brady Tersteeg and Madden Brown, handing the hosts an 0-2 record through two days of the Bill McGann Holiday Classic on Friday at Aspirus St. Luke Sports and Event Center in Proctor.

Brayden McLeon made 35 saves for Proctor.

Four first-period goals conceded were too many for the Storm to overcome a semifinal consolation loss at the Bill McGann Holiday Classic.

Jacob Carpenter gave the Storm an early lead, but Red Lake Falls scored four times in a span of less than five minutes to take control.

Cole Anderson also scored for North Shore, which was outshot 34-14 and got 29 saves from Dax Krech.

The Spartans got five goals from five players in the first period as they eliminated the Madison-based Metro Lynx on the second day of the Culvers Cup Tournament at the Verona Ice Arena in Verona, Wisconsin on Friday, December 27.

Makaela Reinke opened the wave, followed by Hailey Olby, Emma Ferg, Adalyn Benson and Michaela Geissler.

Reinke added a later goal and two assists for a four-point game, while three other players finished with three points. Reinke had a hat trick in a 7-1 win over Brookfield on Thursday, December 26.

Kaylie Nault made 10 saves in Friday's win.

Superior goes for the tournament title vs. St. Croix Valley on Saturday, December 28.

Giulia McGiffert scored a pair of goals for the Storm and also assisted a Natalie Walker tally in Blaine during the Super Rink Winter Classic.

Nina Thorson had a goal and an assist, while Alexa Harrison made 18 saves.

North Shore will play Northern Tier for the Gold Bracket title on Saturday at 4:30 p.m

Kylie DeBay scored on the power play with 5:42 to play as the Lightning prevailed in a close game during Friday's Mid-Winter Meltdown at the Eden Prairie Community Center.

DeBay also assisted Abby Skelly's power-play goal to tie the game late in the second period.

Teagan Christy made 15 saves in the win.

Mallory Hartl made 44 saves for the Rebels, but the Cougars broke through in the third period with three goals in the final five minutes.

Sandra Ribich scored a goal in the first period for Moose Lake.

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