Dallas, TX – South Dakota’s team of 14-and-under hockey players continued their fast and physical style in the second round of the 2021 national tournament, defeating the Arizona Junior Coyotes 7-2 this evening at the Children’s Health StarCenter in Dallas, Texas.
Team South Dakota (Team SD) again started strong in a fast-paced game. Aberdeen forward Carson Myhre opened the scoring less than four minutes in with a deft pull-back in front of the Arizona goalie to give Team SD the early lead.
Later in the first, an Arizona boarding penalty put Team SD on the powerplay. Less than a minute later, Mitchell forward Parker Denne ripped a one-time shot on a cross-ice pass from Watertown defenseman Austin McBride to put Team SD up 2-0. Denne on the goal…
A goal from Rapid City forward Colton Merchen with 2:43 remaining in the first gave Team SD a 3-0 lead. Arizona snuck in a goal 90 seconds later, and Team SD ended the period ahead 3-1.
Team SD started the second by killing two penalties, then a tip-in goal by Nathan Renken, with assists from McBride and Yankton forward Hudson Burgeson, put Team SD up 4-1. North Sioux City forward Grant Harder also got into the action with a shorthanded goal and an assist to Brookings defenseman Ren Jacobsen, who give Team SD a 6-1 lead to close out the period.
In the third, Team SD answered an early Arizona goal with a tip-in by Aberdeen forward Brady Huff, again assisted by McBride.
Huff, who celebrated his birthday on gameday, described the game:
McBride’s strong shots from the blue line earned him a Playmaker (three assists) in the contest. McBride on his performance…
Once again, Team SD enjoyed solid goaltending, as netminder Gavin Covrig of Sioux Falls only allowed two goals on 31 shots…
Team SD’s decisive 7-2 win earned them a spot in the tournament’s quarterfinals. Coach Brian Prisbee…
Coach Prisbee…
They will face the Ashburn Virginia Xtreme in the third round of pool play at 2:30 P.M. central time on Saturday, May 1.
