The boys 16U Team South Dakota had a third period scare but were able to hold on for a 6-4 win over the Bozeman Icedogs to start their National Tournament in Troy, Michigan 1-0.
Team SD had three second period goals to lead 5-2 after two periods. Sioux Falls’ Max Mohr and Cory Perdaems scored the first two goals of the game to give Team SD a quick 2-0 lead before it was answered by Bozeman’s Alex Steckelberg with two minutes remaining in the period. In the second period Rushmore’s Alex Petrotto scored the first two goals to give Team SD its first three goal lead. Cade Holland pulled the Icedogs within two again before Mohr netted his second of the morning.
In the third period the Icedogs pulled within one as Sawyer Rogers and Daniel Chumbler both scored, but it was Rushmore’s Dawson Wirth scoring the empty net goal with four seconds remaining in the game to seal the win to begin the tournament at 1-0.
Cole Langston of Sioux Falls made 15 saves on 19 shots for the win for Team SD who will now face the Tri-Cities Jr. Americans at 5:15 on Friday in the second game of pool play. Tri-Cities beat Providence 9-1 in its first game.
