North Dakota
Scoreboard for Friday, March 1
Results/schedules
Thursday, Feb. 29
Summit League
St. Thomas 88, Omaha 61
South Dakota 88, North Dakota State 68
South Dakota State 72, North Dakota 62
Kansas City 84, Denver 69
Saturday, March 2
Summit League
South Dakota at North Dakota, 1 p.m.
South Dakota State at North Dakota State, 1 p.m.
Denver at St. Thomas, 7 p.m.
Kansas City at Oral Roberts, 7 p.m.
NSIC Tournament
Wednesday, Feb. 28
First round
At high seed
No. 8 Sioux Falls 68, No. 9 Bemidji 66
No. 5 Southwest Minnesota State 74, No. 12 St. Cloud State 63
No. 6 Winona State 95, No. 11 Northern State 65
No. 7 Augustana 75, No. 10 Wayne State 62
Quarterfinals
At Sanford Pentagon, Sioux Falls, S.D.
Saturday, March 2
5) No. 8 Sioux Falls vs. No. 1 Minnesota State Mankato, 11 a.m.
6) No. 7 Augustana vs. No. 2 Minnesota Duluth, 1:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 3
7) No. 5 Southwest Minnesota State vs. No. 4 Minot State, 11 a.m.
8) No. 6 Winona State vs. No. 3 Minnesota State Moorhead, 1:30 p.m.
Semifinals
At Sanford Pentagon
Monday, March 4
9) Game 5 winner vs. Game 7 winner, 11 a.m.
10) Game 8 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 1:30 p.m.
Championship
At Sanford Pentagon
Tuesday, March 5
11) Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 4 p.m.
Results/schedules
Thursday, Feb. 29
Summit League
Denver 74, Kansas City 60
Omaha 79, St. Thomas 62
South Dakota State 103, North Dakota 47
North Dakota State 63, South Dakota 54
Saturday, March 2
Summit League
North Dakota State at South Dakota State, 2 p.m.
North Dakota at South Dakota, 2 p.m.
Oral Roberts at Kansas City, 2 p.m.
St. Thomas at Denver, 4 p.m.
NSIC Tournament
Wednesday, Feb. 28
First round
At high seed
No. 8 Minnesota State Moorhead 72, No. 9 Winona State 67
No. 5 Southwest Minnesota State 93, No. 12 Augustana 85
No. 6 Minnesota Duluth 73, No. 11 Sioux Falls 69
No. 7 St. Cloud State 78, No. 10 Minot State 61
Quarterfinals
At Sanford Pentagon, Sioux Falls, S.D.
Saturday, March 2
5) No. 8 Minnesota State Moorhead vs. No. 1 Minnesota State Mankato, 4:30 p.m.
6) No. 7 St. Cloud State vs. No. 2 UMary, 7 p.m.
Sunday, March 3
7) No. 5 Southwest Minnesota State vs. No. 4 Northern State, 4:30 p.m.
8) No. 6 Minnesota Duluth vs. No. 3 Concordia-St. Paul, 7 p.m.
Semifinals
At Sanford Pentagon
Monday, March 4
9) Game 5 winner vs. Game 7 winner, 4:30 p.m.
10) Game 8 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 7 p.m.
Championship
At Sanford Pentagon
Tuesday, March 5
11) Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 7 p.m.
NCAA Division III Tournament
Friday, March 1
First round
At Wartburg, Waverly, Iowa
Illinois Wesleyan 75, Concordia 62
Wartburg 72, Wisconsin Lutheran 65
Saturday, March 2
Second round
At Wartburg, Waverly, Iowa
Illinois Wesleyan vs. Wartburg, 7:30 p.m.
Polls
North Dakota Class AA – Feb. 23 – Final
Team (first-place votes) Record Points
1. Minot (12) 20-1 67
2. Fargo Davies (2) 17-4 51
3. Bismarck 16-5 50
T4. Bismarck Century 16-5 20
T4. Fargo North 14-7 14
Received votes: West Fargo Sheyenne (15-6)
North Dakota Class A – Feb. 25 – Final
Team (first-place votes) Record Points
1. Kindred (16) 20-0 80
2. Grafton 17-3 56
3. Four Winds-Minnewaukan 16-4 46
4. Devils Lake 18-2 42
5. Beulah 17-3 8
Received votes: Des Lacs-Burlington (18-3); Stanley (16-4); Wahpeton (14-6)
North Dakota Class B – Feb. 25 – Final
Team (first-place votes) Record Points
1. North Star (10) 19-1 145
2. Glen Ullin-Hebron (4) 19-1 133
3. Minot Bishop Ryan (2) 18-2 126
4. Bowman County 18-1 117
5. Westhope-Newburg 19-1 113
6. Wilton-Wing 18-2 72
7. Edgeley-KM 17-3 55
8. Hankinson 16-3 46
9. Linton-HMB 17-3 29
10. Sargent County 15-5 22
Received votes: Williston Trinity (16-3); Cavalier (16-4); Alexander (15-3); Our Redeemer’s (14-6)
Results/schedules
Wednesday, Feb. 28
North Dakota
Grafton 71, Hillsboro/CV 43
Four Winds-Minnewaukan 68, Thompson 52
Division B District 1
Barnes County North 59, Oakes 58 (OT)
Wyndmere-Lidgerwood 60, Tri-State 58 (OT)
Hankinson 52, Sargent County 43
Division B District 3
North Border 65, Cavalier 52
North Star 70, Midway-Minto 54
Division B District 4
Warwick 57, Griggs-Midkota 55 (OT)
New Rockford-Sheyenne 75, Hatton-Northwood 50
May-Port-CG 59, Nelson County 49
Thursday, Feb. 29
Minnesota
All times at 7:30 unless noted
Wadena-Deer Creek 58, Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton 57
Goodridge-Grygla-Gatzke 89, Warroad 74
Coon Rapids 74, Sartell 41
Pequot Lakes 65, Aitkin 33
Detroit Lakes 81, Crosby-Ironton 55
Bagley 66, Crookston 58
Friday, March 1
Minnesota
All times at 7:30 unless noted
Southwest Christian 80, Moorhead 67
Moorhead Park Christian 79, Rothsay 45
Fergus Falls 72, Willmar 46
Sauk Rapids-Rice 82, Rocori 58
Sartell 65, St. Cloud Apollo 56
Brainerd 93, St. Cloud Tech 81
Alexandria 74, Bemidji 30
Hawley 54, NCE/UH 41
Staples-Motley 66, Aitkin 46
Mahnomen/Waubun 53, Breckenridge 46
Barnesville 78, East Grand Forks 70
Frazee 61, Lake Park-Audubon 59
Hillcrest Lutheran 65, Pelican Rapids 52
Kittson County Central 88, Crookston 64
Thief River Falls 70, Warroad 68
Fosston 79, Clearbrook-Gonvick 56
North Dakota
East Region tournament
Saturday, Feb. 24
Play-in
No. 9 West Fargo Horace 81, No. 8 Grand Forks Red River 61
Tuesday, Feb. 27
Quarterfinals
No. 1 Fargo Davies 93, No. 9 West Fargo Horace 77
No. 5 Grand Forks Central at No. 4 Fargo South, postponed to Wednesday, Feb. 28
No. 2 West Fargo Sheyenne 76, No. 7 Fargo Shanley 62
No. 3 Fargo North 88, No. 6 West Fargo 80
Wednesday, Feb. 28
Quarterfinals
No. 5 Grand Forks Central 79, No. 4 Fargo South 67
Friday, March 1
Loser-out
At West Fargo Sheyenne
No. 4 Fargo South 74, No. 9 West Fargo Horace 67
No. 6 West Fargo 68, No. 7 Fargo Shanley 67
Semifinals
At West Fargo
No. 1 Fargo Davies 71, No. 5 Grand Forks Central 59
No. 3 Fargo North 72, No. 2 West Fargo Sheyenne 66
Saturday, March 2
State qualifier games
At West Fargo
10) No. 4 Fargo South vs. No. 2 West Fargo Sheyenne, 3 p.m.
At West Fargo Sheyenne
11) No. 6 West Fargo vs. No. 5 Grand Forks Central, 2 p.m.
Championship
At West Fargo
12) No. 1 Fargo Davies vs. No. 3 Fargo North, 7 p.m.
Polls
North Dakota Class AA – Feb. 23 – Final
Team (first-place votes) Record Points
1. Minot (14) 19-2 70
2. GF Red River 19-2 56
3. Fargo Davies 18-3 42
4. WF Horace 17-4 21
5. Bismarck Legacy 16-5 14
Received votes: Bismarck (15-6); Mandan (14-7)
North Dakota Class A – Feb. 18 – Final
Team (first-place votes) Record Points
1. Thompson (17) 20-0 85
2. Bottineau 19-2 65
3. South Prairie 19-2 51
4. Devils Lakes 16-5 27
5. Nedrose 18-3 17
Received votes: Kindred (16-5); Bismarck Shiloh (17-4)
North Dakota Class B – Feb. 18 – Final
Team (first-place votes) Record Points
1. Langdon-EM (10) 21-1 148
2. May-Port-CG (4) 20-2 142
3. Bowman County (2) 20-2 132
4. Central McLean 21-1 122
5. Sargent County 19-3 85
6. Edgeley-KM 18-4 82
7. Maple River 18-4 58
8. Kenmare-Bowbells 16-6 40
9. TGU 18-4 34
10. St. John 18-4 29
Received votes: Washburn (18-4)
Results/schedules
North Dakota
East Region Tournament
Saturday, Feb. 24
Play-in
No. 8 Grand Forks Central 77, No. 9 Fargo South 70
Tuesday, Feb. 27
Quarterfinals
No. 1 Grand Forks Red River 85, No. 8 Grand Forks Central 24
No. 4 West Fargo Sheyenne 83, No. 5 Fargo North 55
No. 2 Fargo Davies 89, No. 7 West Fargo 40
No. 3 West Fargo Horace 92, No. 6 Fargo Shanley 55
Thursday, Feb. 29
Loser-out
At West Fargo Sheyenne
No. 5 Fargo North 59, No. 8 Grand Forks Central 26
No. 6 Fargo Shanley 61, No. 7 West Fargo 53
Semifinals
At West Fargo
8) No. 1 Grand Forks Red River 70, No. 4 West Fargo Sheyenne 45
No. 3 West Fargo Horace 86, No. 2 Fargo Davies 79
Saturday, March 2
State qualifier games
At West Fargo Sheyenne
10) No. 5 Fargo North vs. No. 2 Fargo Davies, noon
11) No. 6 Fargo Shanley vs. No. 4 West Fargo Sheyenne, 10 a.m.
Championship
At West Fargo
12) No. 1 Grand Forks Red River vs. No. 3 West Fargo Horace, 5 p.m.
Division A Girls State Tournament
At Minot State Dome, Minot
Thursday, Feb. 29
Quarterfinals
No. 7 Valley City 64, No. 2 Bottineau 61
No. 3 Devils Lake 64, No. 6 Northern Cass 42
No. 1 Thompson 69, No. 8 Watford City 53
No. 5 South Prairie-Max 75, No. 4 Bismarck Shiloh 64
Friday, March 1
Consolation semifinals
No. 2 Bottineau 57, No. 6 Northern Cass 56
No. 4 Bismarck Shiloh 66, No. 8 Watford City 59
Semifinals
No. 3 Devils Lake 59, No. 7 Valley City 57
No.5 South Prairie-Max 53, No. 1 Thompson 52
Saturday, March 2
7th place
No. 6 Northern Cass vs. No. 8 Watford City, 9:30 a.m.
5th place
No. 2 Bottineau vs. No. 4 Bismarck Shiloh, 11:15 a.m.
3rd place
No. 7 Valley City vs. No. 1 Thompson, 3 p.m.
Championship
No. 3 Devils Lake vs. No. 5 South Prairie-Max, 5 p.m.
Division B Girls State Tournament
At Jamestown Civic Center, Jamestown
Thursday, Feb. 29
Quarterfinals
No. 2 Bowman County 69, No. 7 Maple River 43
No. 6 Edgeley/Kulm/Montpelier 43, No. 3 Central McLean 42
No. 1 May-Port-CG 64, No. 8 Kenmare/Bowbells 43
No. 4 Sargent County 54, No. 5 Our Redeemer’s 52
Friday, March 1
Consolation semifinals
No. 3 Central McLean 66, No. 7 Maple River 43
No. 5 Our Redeemer’s 42, No. 8 Kenmare/Bowbells 41
Semifinals
No. 6 Edgeley/Kulm/Montpelier 53, No. 2 Bowman County 36
No. 1 May-Port-CG 62, No. 4 Sargent County 35
Saturday, March 2
7th place
No. 7 Maple River vs. No. 8 Kenmare-Bowbells, 1 p.m.
5th place
No. 3 Central McLean vs. No. 5 Our Redeemer’s, 2:45 p.m.
3rd place
No. 2 Bowman County vs. No. 4 Sargent County, 6 p.m.
Championship
No. 6 Edgeley/Kulm/Montpelier vs. No. 1 May-Port-CG, 8 p.m.
Minnesota
Section 8-4A Tournament
Monday, Feb. 26
First round
No. 8 Bemidji 72, No. 9 Rogers
Wednesday, Feb. 28
Quarterfinals
No. 1 St. Michael-Albertville 90, No. 8 Bemidji 27
No. 4 Sartell 62, No. 5 Moorhead 44
No. 2 Elk River 73, No. 7 Buffalo 37
No. 3 Brainerd 79, No. 6 Sauk Rapids-Rice 56
Saturday, March 2
Semifinals
At high seed
5) No. 1 St. Michael-Albertville vs. No. 4 Sartell, 2 p.m.
6) No. 2 Elk River vs. No. 3 Brainerd, 1 p.m.
Thursday, March 7
At neutral site
Championship
Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 7 p.m.
Section 8-3A Tournament
Thursday, Feb. 29
Quarterfinals
No. 5 Little Falls 45, Detroit Lakes 44
No. 2 Fergus Falls 59, St. Cloud 48
No. 3 Willmar 47, No. 6 Rocori 37
Saturday, March 2
Semifinals
At high seed
4) No. 5 Little Falls at No. 1 Alexandria, 1 p.m.
5) No. 3 Willmar at No. 2 Fergus Falls, 7 p.m.
Thursday, March 7
At neutral site
Championship
Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 7 p.m.
Section 8-2A Tournament
Thursday, Feb. 29
First round
No. 8 Park Rapids 48, No. 9 Wadena-Deer Creek 44
No. 4 Barnesville 71, No. 13 Crookston 45
No. 5 East Grand Forks 74, No. 12 Thief River Falls 61
No. 7 Frazee 57, No. 10 Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton 43
No. 3 Menahga 80, No. 14 Warroad 20
No. 6 Hawley 80, No. 11 Roseau 35
Saturday, March 2
Quarterfinals
At high seed
7) No. 8 Park Rapids at No. 1 Perham, 7 p.m.
8) No. 5 East Grand Forks at No. 4 Barnesville, 7 p.m.
9) No. 7 Frazee at No. 2 Pelican Rapids, 7 p.m.
10) No. 6 Hawley at No. 3 Menahga, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, March 6
Semifinals
At Concordia, Moorhead
11) Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner, 6 p.m.
12) Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 7:45 p.m.
Friday, March 8
At Concordia, Moorhead
Championship
Game 11 winner vs. Game 12 winner, 7 p.m.
Standings
United States Hockey League
Eastern Conference
Record Points
Dubuque 31-10-6 68
Green Bay 27-11-7 61
Youngstown 26-14-7 59
Muskegon 28-17-2 58
Madison 21-19-6 48
Chicago 20-20-7 47
Cedar Rapids 19-22-7 45
USA Hockey 14-26-2 30
Western Conference
Record Points
x Fargo 39-6-2 80
Sioux City 27-16-6 60
Waterloo 29-17-1 59
Tri-City 23-15-8 54
Sioux Falls 22-22-5 49
Lincoln 20-21-4 44
Des Moines 19-24-4 42
Omaha 7-35-3 17
x Clinched playoffs
y Clinched conference
Results/schedules
Thursday, Feb. 29
Youngstown 10, Waterloo 4
Friday, March 1
Waterloo 7, USA Hockey 4
Dubuque 6, Youngstown 4
Madison 4, Muskegon 3
Des Moines 6, Sioux City 1
Cedar Rapids 6, USA Hockey 3
Chicago 5, Green Bay 4 (OT)
Sioux Falls 5, Fargo 2
Tri-City 4, Lincoln 3 (OT)
Saturday, March 2
Madison at USA Hockey, 6 p.m.
Dubuque at Youngstown, 6:05 p.m.
Des Moines at Sioux City, 6:05 p.m.
Sioux Falls at Fargo, 6:05 p.m.
Lincoln at Tri-City, 6:05 p.m.
Waterloo at Muskegon, 6:10 p.m.
USA Hockey at Cedar Rapids, 7:05 p.m.
Omaha at Chicago, 7:05 p.m.
Sunday, March 3
Green Bay at USA Hockey, 3 p.m.
USA Hockey at Des Moines, 3 p.m.
Omaha at Chicago, 3:05 p.m.
Lincoln at Tri-City, 4:05 p.m.
Results/schedules
Friday, March 1
Big Ten
Penn State 5, Ohio State 2
Minnesota 6, Michigan 2
Michigan State 5, Wisconsin 2
NCHC
Minnesota Duluth 3, Colorado College 2 (SO)
Omaha 4, Miami 3
Denver 6, St. Cloud State 2
North Dakota 5, Western Michigan 3
CCHA
Bemidji State 6, Minnesota State 0
Lake Superior 4, Ferris State 1
St. Thomas 2, Michigan Tech 0
Northern Michigan 4, Bowling Green 1
Saturday, March 2
Big Ten
Penn State at Ohio State, 4 p.m.
Michigan at Minnesota, 7:30 p.m.
Michigan State at Wisconsin, 8 p.m.
NCHC
Minnesota Duluth at Colorado College, 8 p.m.
Omaha at Miami, 6:05 p.m.
Denver at St. Cloud State, 7:30 p.m.
Western Michigan at North Dakota, 7:07 p.m.
CCHA
Minnesota State at Bemidji State, 6:07 p.m.
St. Thomas at Michigan Tech, 5:07 p.m.
Bowling Green at Northern Michigan, 5:07 p.m.
Results/schedules
Friday, March 1
WCHA Tournament
Ohio State 10, Bemidji State 1
Minnesota Duluth 5, St. Cloud State 0
Minnesota State 5, Minnesota 4
Wisconsin 4, St. Thomas 2
Saturday, March 2
WCHA Tournament
Bemidji State at Ohio State, 1 p.m.
St. Cloud State at Minnesota Duluth 3 p.m.
Minnesota State at Minnesota, 3 p.m.
St. Thomas at Wisconsin, 4 p.m.
Results/schedules
Minnesota
Section 8-2A Tournament
Wednesday, Feb. 28
At MAC, St. Cloud
Championship
No. 4 Elk River/Zimmerman 3, No. 6 Buffalo-Annandale 0
Minnesota
Section 8-A Tournament
Thursday, Feb. 29
At Warroad
Championship
No. 2 Warroad 4, No. 1 East Grand Forks 3 (2OT)
Results/schedules
Saturday, March 2
MSU Moorhead at NCAA Super Region 5, 9 a.m.
Concordia at NCAA Upper Midwest Regional, 1 p.m.
Results/schedules
Minnesota State Wrestling Tournament
At Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul
Thursday, Feb. 29
Class A
Quarterfinals
No. 2 Staples-Motley 52, LeSueur-Henderson 9
No. 3 Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa 51, United North Central 18
No. 1 Chatfield 50, Bertha-Hewitt-Verndale-Parkers Prairie 9
No. 5 Jackson County Central 36, No. 4 Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial 33
Consolation semifinals
No. 2 Staples-Motley 38, No. 3 Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa 21
No. 1 Chatfield 49, No. 5 Jackson County Central 12
Semifinals
United North Central 43, LeSueur-Henderson 14
No. 4 Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial 28, Bertha-Hewitt-Verndale-Parkers Prairie 21
5th place
No. 4 Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial 34, United North Central 18
3rd place
No. 3 Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa 36, No. 5 Jackson County Central 34
Championship
No. 1 Chatfield 47, No. 2 Staples-Motley 7
Class 2-A
Quarterfinals
No. 2 Kasson-Mantorville 35, Dawson-Boyd-LQPV-Montevideo 24
No. 3 Totino-Grace 43, Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton 21
No. 1 Simley 46, Little Falls 18
No. 4 Becker 31, No. 5 Watertown-Mayer 21
Consolation semifinals
Dawson-Boyd-LQPV-Montevideo 46, Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton 12
No. 5 Watertown-Mayer 34, Little Falls 24
Semifinals
No. 2 Kasson-Mantorville 38, No. 3 Totino-Grace 24
No. 1 Simley 43, No. 4 Becker 23
5th place
Dawson-Boyd-LQPV-Montevideo 42, No. 5 Watertown-Mayer 18
3rd place
No. 3 Totino-Grace 30, No. 4 Becker 30
Championship
No. 1 Simley 32, No. 2 Kasson-Mantorville 26
Class 3-A
Quarterfinals
No. 2 St. Michael-Albertville 42, Willmar 14
No. 3 Shakopee 45, Apple Valley 11
No. 1 Mounds View 43, Forest Lake 18
No. 5 Albert Lea 33, No. 4 Hastings 32
Consolation semifinals
Willmar 41, Apple Valley 24
Hastings 37, Forest Lake 27
Semifinals
St. Michael-Albertville 45, Shakopee 14
Mounds View 39, Albert Lea 20
5th place
Willmar 35, Hastings 27
3rd place
Shakopee 44, Albert Lea 11
Championship
St. Michael-Albertville 47, Mounds View 10
Results/schedules
Saturday, March 2
N.D. Boys Swimming and Diving State Meet, 9:45 a.m.
Results/schedules
Saturday, March 9
NCAA Indoor Championships, in Boston, Mass.
NCAA DII Indoor Championships, in Pittsburg, Kan.
Results/schedules
Friday, March 1
Summit League
UIC 4, North Dakota 3
North Dakota State 9, Georgetown 2
Seton Hall 8, North Dakota 4
North Dakota State 8, Lipscomb 1
Saturday, March 2
Summit League
North Dakota State at Murray State, 10 a.m.
North Dakota at Florida International, 11:30 a.m.
North Dakota State vs. Lipscomb, 12:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 3
Summit League
North Dakota State at Georgetown, 10 a.m.
Results/schedules
Thursday, Feb. 29
Oregon State 19, North Dakota State 7 (F/7 inn.)
Friday, March 1
Oregon State 6, North Dakota State 5
Saturday, March 2
North Dakota State at Oregon State, 3:05 p.m.
Concordia vs. Mount Union, 8:15 p.m.
Concordia vs. Sage, 10:30 a.m.
Sunday, March 3
North Dakota State at Oregon State, 2:35 p.m.
Concordia vs. Allegheny, 8:15 p.m.
Concordia vs. Penn State Brandywine, 12:45 p.m.
Monday, March 4
Concordia vs. Neumann, 9:15 a.m.
Concordia vs. Rivier, 11:30 a.m.
Results/schedules
Monday, March 4
Concordia vs. Calvin, 8 a.m.
Concordia vs. Carthage, 2 p.m.
Tuesday, March 5
Concordia vs. Concordia Wisconsin, 6:30 a.m.
Monday, March 4
Concordia vs. Calvin, 8 a.m.
Concordia vs. Carthage, 2 p.m.
Tuesday, March 5
Concordia vs. Concordia Wisconsin, 6:30 a.m.
Email scores and results to
sports@forumcomm.com
FARGO — One season ago, a Cinderella run for the West Fargo United girls hockey team came up just short in the state championship game.
United, the No. 7 seed, fell to Legacy/Bismarck in the 2025 final.
This time around, the team had momentum swaying in its favor, riding nine consecutive wins into Saturday’s title game against Grand Forks at Scheels Arena.
Led by goals from a pair of senior captains, United capped its redemption season with a 10th straight victory, fending off the KnightRiders 2-1 to claim the North Dakota girls hockey state tournament championship.
“It just means everything,” said United’s Payton Stocker, whose goal at the 12:31 mark of the second period gave her team a 1-0 lead. “We’ve worked so hard and throughout the season, it’s just been such a battle. Winning and coming out on top is just such a great feeling.”
Eric Hylden / Grand Forks Herald
Stocker was followed up in scoring by United captain Rachel Spanier. The defenseman fired a slap shot from the left point that beat Grand Forks goaltender Kylie Schmaltz to make it 2-0 with 35 seconds remaining in the middle frame.
Reagan Wilson locked things down in net for United, finishing with 23 saves and picking up an all-tournament team nod.
“This is my first year of high school hockey,” the sophomore goaltender said. “I can’t believe coming in here and winning a state title with all of these girls. I just love them so much.”
While it was the senior duo of Stocker and Spanier finding the net for United on Saturday, contributions were seen across the board.
Sophomore Emma Hassler also put forth an all-tournament campaign with five goals and an assist for six points over the three-day stretch.
Eric Hylden / Grand Forks Herald
Freshman Kaylee Augdahl finished the tournament with four points — including
a double-overtime winner
over Fargo North/South in Friday’s semifinals — and junior Liana Williamson added three assists.
“It wasn’t just us (seniors),” said Stocker, who joined Hassler and Wilson on the all-tourney team. “It was everyone collectively. Being seniors, it feels a lot better. It was a great feeling.”
United, the No. 5 seed this year, capped its season with a record of 17-9-0.
“These girls are awesome,” first-year United head coach Kennedy Blair said. “They’ve worked super, super hard since last April. Wake up early in the mornings, go into off-ice training, on-ice training and all that.
“This group of girls is really special. They’re a really close-knit group, and they trusted our coaching staff coming in as a first-year group.”
Eric Hylden / Grand Forks Herald
Blair knows a thing or two about winning championships. She was a North Dakota state champion goaltender with the former Bismarck Blizzard co-op and also won an NCAA Division I national title with the Wisconsin women’s program in 2021.
Yet, she never imagined ending her first year as a high school varsity coach with a state championship.
“No, I didn’t,” said Blair, who also won North Dakota High School Coaches Association Coach of the Year honors. “But I had belief in these girls that we could get to the state championship again.”
It’s the United co-op’s first-ever state title — which consists of West Fargo, West Fargo Sheyenne and West Fargo Horace high schools.
Prior to Saturday, the last time a West Fargo girls program won the state title was in 2014 when it was still a standalone program competing as the Packers.
“It’s amazing considering United hockey has never won a championship game,” Wilson said.
Grand Forks, the tournament’s No. 2 seed, ended its campaign with a 21-5-0 record.
Ella Yahna’s fourth goal of the tournament — which came on a 2-on-1 rush with the assist from teammate Reese Meagher, put the KnightRiders within one shot with 8:17 remaining in the third.
Grand Forks, however, was unable to find the equalizer as its bid for a first state championship came up just short.
“I thought we came out in the first and we had a tough time,” Grand Forks head coach Kelly Kilgore said. “I felt we battled some nerves. I really liked our second period … We carried the play and tilted the ice a little bit back in our favor. The shots kind of started to really turn in our favor.”
Stocker said she wouldn’t have wanted to win a state title as a senior with any other group of teammates.
“(They mean) everything,” Stocker said. “We’re so tight and they’re all my friends. Leaving them is going to be hard. But they mean everything to me. We’re all so close and I love them a lot.”
FIRST PERIOD: No scoring.
SECOND PERIOD: 1, WFU, Stocker (Augdahl, Hassler), 12:31. 2, WFU, Spanier (Augdahl, Stocker), 16:25.
THIRD PERIOD: 3, GF, Yahna (R. Meagher), 8:43.
SAVES: WFU, Wilson 7-13-3—23. GF, Schmaltz 7-3-14—24.
Eric Hylden / Grand Forks Herald
GRAND FORKS — The Grand Forks Children’s Museum has revealed the anonymous donor of the $2 million in matching funds that prompted others to step forward and bring the fundraising campaign closer to its goal of $35 million.
“It is with deep gratitude that the Grand Forks Children’s Museum now shares the name behind that bold vision,” said Katie Mayer, executive director of the museum, in naming Pam Laffen of Grand Forks as the anonymous donor.
With this gift and other major contributions, the fundraising campaign “stands at just $1.75 million remaining, bringing the finish line clearly into view,” Mayer said.
The museum “reflects Pam’s passion for learning and her belief in creating meaningful opportunities for children which have guided her life’s work and are deeply reflected in this gift,” she said.
Laffen said, “I am honored to be part of a community that supports a project dedicated to encouraging growth in education and service for future generations.”
Recognizing the impact of Laffen’s gift, Mayer said, “Pam and her late husband, Lonnie, shared a deep appreciation for this community. Being raised in a rural area in North Dakota taught them to be actively engaged in their immediate and surrounding communities across the state.”
Contributed / Grand Forks Children’s Museum
At the start of the “Unlocking Tomorrow, Together Challenge,” the $2 million would be released, or “unlocked,” with the receipt of each of eight $250,000 donations. The challenge actually resulted in “securing nearly 10 leadership-level commitments and accelerating the campaign even further,” Mayer said.
A leadership gift of $250,000 from the Pancratz Family Foundation, based with the Fargo-Moorhead Area Foundation, has helped to “unlock one of the final keys in the challenge,” according to an announcement from the museum. The gift has added “meaningful momentum at a pivotal time in the campaign.”
The foundation’s commitment to the museum “reflects a strong belief in expanding opportunity for children and families, and helped carry the challenge to completion.”
The final keys to the $2 million matching grant were “propelled by an extraordinary wave of generosity from families and businesses across our community,” Mayer said.
A vertical climber, to be named for Pam Laffen, is designed to physically and symbolically connect the land and sky levels of the museum, Mayer said. It will span two stories and include a slide. Designed to face 42nd Street, it will be visible from the road, serving as a signature feature of the building.
The climber will reflect the guiding phrase “In land, we root. Through sky, we rise. Together, we grow.”
“The words echo both the spirit of the community and the belief that learning, curiosity, exploration and opportunity are built step-by-step, grounded in place and lifted by possibility,” Mayer said.
Kalamazoo — There’ll be a new champion in the NCHC.
Will Zellers scored the game-winning goal in the third period as No. 3 North Dakota downed No. 4 Western Michigan, 5-3, Friday night at Lawson Arena. The Broncos never led and trailed all of the third period, though a late push nearly tied the game with the net empty.
“Overall in the game, I thought it was a pretty tightly contested effort. I thought they just scored too easy,” Western Michigan coach Pat Ferschweiler said. “You know, for us, we had a couple breakdowns, and they’re so talented, so good, they took advantage when we broke down.”
The teams finish the regular season Saturday night. Western Michigan came into Friday’s game tied with Denver in standings points and five points behind North Dakota, needing that many to get a share of the Penrose Cup it won last season en route to an NCAA championship, too.
As far as regular season results go, the Broncos will play for second seed in the NCHC Tournament, needing to outpace Denver, which plays Arizona State this weekend.
Western Michigan (23-9-1, 15-7-1 NCHC) goaltender Hampton Slukynsky made 16 saves on 20 shots in the loss while North Dakota’s Jan Spunar stopped 22 of 25 shots. It was a battle of two of the NCHC’s top netminders, and each made key stops in a tight-checking, physical game.
Zellers put North Dakota (25-7-1, 17-5-1) up 4-2 4:42 into the third period off an assist from Detroit Red Wings draft choice Dylan James.
“He kind of made a play out of nothing there,” said North Dakota coach Dane Jackson, who is in his first season as head coach after being on the coaching staff since 2006. “And that was a really nice kind of moment where you go OK, we got a little got a little leeway here, and we can just kind of play a little bit more free.”
North Dakota took a 3-2 lead into the third period with goals from defenseman Sam Laurila alongside forwards Ollie Josephson and Josh Zakreski. Defenseman Zach Bookman and forward Liam Valente scored for Western Michigan.
One too many times in the second frame, Western Michigan’s blue line let a North Dakota forward in all alone to face Slukynsky, who stopped a couple of rushes in the opening minutes of the period.
With four minutes until the intermission, the Broncos finally got burned. On a feed from linemate Anthony Menghini, Lakreski cut to the glove side of a sprawling Slukynsky and beat him with the backhand. The goal gave North Dakota the 3-2 lead, after a seeing-eye shot from Bookman along the right wall had tied it up two apiece 8:10 into the period.
“I actually thought the second period was our best period,” Ferschweiler said. “… We started to take over. We got the goal, tied 2-2, and are kind of just humming along. Four minutes left, we just hand them a goal. Blown coverage. That was inexcusable, honestly, with some of our better players on the ice.”
The opening period played out as a back and forth track meet through the neutral zone as each side settled in. Laurila put North Dakota up 1-0 with his first career goal. After Slukynsky denied him on a trio of tries earlier in the shift, he fired a shot to beat the Western Michigan netminder 4:40 into the game.
It took just a minute and 34 seconds after Laurila’s opener for Western Michigan’s top line to get it right back. A blue-collar shift from captain Owen Michaels fed linemate Will Whitelaw along the left boards, and he sprung Valente for a breakaway goal that evened up the score.
“I thought we gave it to them too easy a couple times tonight,” Whitelaw said. “And I think when you’re playing a team like that, obviously they’re gonna put it in your net. But I think it’ll be a big lesson for our group going forward.”
For the better part of the first period, the Lawson Lunatics peppered North Dakota defenseman Jake Livanavage with jeers, but he got his own licks in with 7:48 left in the first period as he fed Josephson right at the net for the 2-1 goal. That score held through the first period.
With 2:02 remaining and Slukynsky pulled, forward Zaccharya Wisdom pulled Western Michigan within one. He nearly had the equalizer with 40 seconds on the clock on a backdoor try, but he mistimed the shot. Mac Swanson scored an empty-netter with 20.7 seconds on the clock to clinch the win, and with it the Penrose Cup, presented to North Dakota in the locker room and then paraded around the ice.
“It’s the hardest regular season championship to win, in my opinion,” North Dakota forward Ben Strinden said. “So it’s awesome. Obviously, it’s not our end goal, but we’re going to enjoy it for sure.”
cearegood@detroitnews.com
@ConnorEaregood
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