At 33-0 the Silver Bay/North Shore Pee Wee hockey team is on its way to state! Pictured in front L-R: Goalies Gustaf Kindstrand and Alexa Harrison. Second row L-R: Forwards Candence Shoen and Abigail Johansen; Ethan Meeks defense; Rayce Gibson forward; Ayden Althus, forward; Brody Bronikowski, forward; Cole Anderson, forward; Hunter Rikkanene defense. Back row L-R: Coach Eric Berquist, Avery Thompson, defense; Coach Wade LeBlanc; Jacob Carpenter, defense; Kale Hackensmith, forward; Coach Zac Harrison and Coach Kevin Johansen. Photo courtesy of Jes Rodne
The Silver Bay/North Shore PeeWee hockey team has had a fantastic season so far. The kids are unbeaten and sport a 33-0 record. That perfect mark propelled them to first place in District 11.
That first-place ranking qualified them for region play, which was held last weekend in Moose Lake.
The first game was against Cloquet, and it was a nail biter. Down 1-0, with 48 seconds left in the third and final period, the kids from the North Shore rallied for two goals and took a hard-earned win and advanced to the second round.
The second game was no less intense. Pitted against East Grand Forks, the score was tied 5-5 at the end of three periods, and the teams went into a 10-minute overtime. The first team to score in overtime would advance to the championship game, but could the North Shore squad hold up once again?
The answer was yes.
Showing the grit and determination that brought them to a perfect season, Silver Bay/North Shore scored the winning goal within the first minute of overtime and won the game.
The next day the kids laced up their skates and met mighty Grand Rapids for the championship game and the right to go on and play at state.
Playing their fast-paced style, Silver Bay/North Shore skated to a 4-2 win and now will represent the region a state on March 13th in New Ulm.
Two of the players on the team are from Grand Marais, Brody Bronikowski, and Rayce Gibson. A third player on the squad, Jacob Carpenter, recently moved from Grand Marais to Silver Bay with his parents, Bryan and Leah Carpenter.
“These kiddos are so amazing and have shown such great sportsmanship, dedication, and love for the game,” said Jes Rodne, the mother of Rayce. “There are a lot of long drives and late-night practices in Silver Bay. These kids also maintain an honor roll GPA!”
Advancing to the state tournament are Jacob Carpenter, Brody Bronikowski, Rayce Gibson, Gus Kindstrand, Avery Thompson, Ethen Meeks, Cole Anderson (not the one from GM), Alexa Harrison, Hunter Tikkanen, Kale HakemSmith, Logan Milczark, Ayden Althaus, Cadence Shoeh, Adi Johansen.
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