Henderson, NV – The 12th seeded Sioux Falls Power hockey team defeated the 13th seeded Chicago Mission on Thursday 5-2 in the final pool play game in the 2024 Tier I 16U USA Hockey national tournament, but they failed to receive the help they needed from other teams, and their tournament run came to an end.
The Power entered the game needing two things to reach the quarterfinals: to beat Chicago in regulation and for the Dallas Stars Elite, which had already advanced to the quarterfinal round, to beat the Mid-Fairfield Jr. Rangers.
Head Coach Noelle Needham noted that the Power took care of their end, but Mid-Fairfield topped Dallas 5-2, ending the tournament for Sioux Falls…
Sioux Falls opened the game on the attack, firing 17 shots in the first period. They finally got on the board when Pierre native Carter Sanderson scored a short-handed goal with less than a second left in the period…
The second period seesawed back and forth. Chicago tied the game with 13:41 left, but the Power answered a minute later to lead 2-1. Sioux Falls scored again to lead 3-1, but the Mission fired in two goals in 31 seconds and the second period ended in a 3-3 tie. In the third, Sioux Falls scored the game-winner with 2:31 remaining, then knocked in an empty-net goal to seal the bittersweet victory.
Although Sanderson’s tournament ended, he’s not done playing hockey. He shares a few insights on what might be in store next season…
Coach Needham describes Sanderson’s hockey future…
The 16U Tier 1 USA Hockey national tournament will run through Sunday, April 7.
Story Written by Nathan Sanderson
Picture from Tiffany Sanderson (Photo: Sioux Falls forward Sam Spehar celebrates a short-handed goal by Pierre native Carter Sanderson in the 16U Tier 1 2024 USA Hockey national tournament. Sioux Falls won 5-3.)
