VIRGINIA — Hibbing/Chisholm lost 4-0 last week when they faced Rock Ridge at Eveleth Raceway in their regular-season finale, but the Bluejackets’ fortunes changed drastically when the teams met at Rock Ridge’s other home.
Sixth-seeded Hibbing/Chisholm scored the first three goals and held on for a surprise 4-2 win over No. 3 Rock Ridge on Wednesday in a Section 7A men’s hockey quarter-final. at the Iron Trail Motors Event Center.
Beau Frider, Peyton Taylor and Christian Dickson put Hibbing/Chisholm (13-13) in the lead. The Wolverines retired a goal in the last minute of the second period, but Broden Fawcett had an insurance goal in the third period.
The Bluejackets advance to face Duluth Denfeld in a Section 7A semifinal on Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Amsoil Arena. Rock Ridge ends its inaugural season 14-11-1.
Denfeld earned a 9-2 win over International Falls at the Essentia Duluth Heritage Center. Cooper McCure and Shane Redenbaugh had a hat trick and two assists. Connor McClure had four assists and Whittaker Heart three.
The Raiders took the lead early, outscoring host Rails 17-9, 15-8 in the first two periods to grab a berth in the Section 7A semi-finals with a win at St. Luke’s Sports and Event Center.
Goals from Carter Cline and Ezra Carlson gave Greenway the lead in the second period. Carson Pavlowich and Kennan Reyelts scored power-play goals for the Rails, but they couldn’t find an equalizer in the final 7 1/2 minutes before Coleman Groshong’s empty net locked it in for Greenway ( 13-11).
The fifth-seeded Raiders will face Hermantown in a Section 7A semi-final on Friday at 5:30 p.m. at Amsoil Arena. The proctor finishes 16-9-1.
The Hawks defeated North Shore 13-0 at Hermantown Arena. Dominic Thomas, Max Plante, Sam Swenson and Wyatt Carlson each scored two goals.
Grand Rapids 6, East Duluth 1
Easton Young scored two second-period power-play goals to go with two assists earlier in the game as Grand Rapids progressed from a Division 7AA quarterfinal at the IRA Civic Center in Grand Rapids on Wednesday.
The Greyhounds’ Thomas Gunderson scored first, at 4:50, but the Thunderhawks scored the last six unanswered. Rapids scored all three of their second-period goals on the power play with the help of two major penalties and a minor in the frame.
Garrett Drotts added a goal and two assists for the Thunderhawks (19-6-1), who advance to a 7AA semi-final at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Amsoil Arena against third-seeded Blaine, who rallied to defeat Coon Rapids 6-4.
On the other side of the table, Kyle Law and Cooper Conway scored two goals each and Cayden Casey had one goal and five assists as top seed Andover eliminated Cloquet-Esko-Carlton 7-0. The Huskies will face Forest Lake in Saturday’s game at 5:30 p.m.
Superior 4, Chippewa Falls 3
The Spartans’ Cinderella run through the WIAA Men’s Division 1 Hockey Tournament continued as first-period goals from Carter Pettit and Trevor Anderson propelled the seventh-seeded visitors to victory on the sixth-seeded Cardinals on their home ice.
The Cardinals went within a goal three times, but Carter Kalin and Lucas Williams helped the Spartans (10-16-1) stay on top throughout.
Trevor Soderlund made 21 saves for Superior, which will face Wisconsin’s No. 1 Division 1 team Hudson on Friday in a sectional final in Chippewa Falls.
- The tournament trail ended for the Spartans women’s hockey team on Wednesday in a 7-5 loss to Hayward in the second round of the sectional tournament.
Esko 79, Crosby-Ironton 56
Sophomore Koi Perich’s 27-point night helped Esko earn a victory over Section 7AA foe Crosby-Ironton on Wednesday at Esko High School. The Eskomos remain the only undefeated team in Section 7AA with an 8-0, 17-3 record on aggregate for the season.
Moose Lake/Willow River 92, Cloquet 80
The Rebels’ Phillip Sheetz had a huge night, making six 3-pointers and scoring 32 points, including the 1,000th of his career. ML-WR led 47-34 at halftime and maintained their lead.
Caleb Hanson scored 31 and Conner Barney 26 for the Lumberjacks.
Jed Carlson / Upper Telegram
Solon Springs 61, Winter 53
It was a big night for Kyra Latvala and her teammates as the Eagles eliminated Winter from the WIAA Division 5 Women’s Basketball Tournament on Wednesday.
Latvala, who scored 26 points, reached 1,000 for his career in the contest.
The seventh-seeded Eagles trailed 24-22 at halftime but pulled away down the stretch. Bailey Monson added 15 points for Solon (15-8), who will travel to No. 2 Hurley for a regional semifinal Friday night. The 15th victory marks a school record for wins in a season.
Hailey Cross led 10th-seeded Winter with 16 points.
PREPARATION DASHBOARD
BOYS BASKETBALL
East Duluth 55, Grand Rapids 47
Mountain Iron-Buhl 100, Cromwell-Wright 58
Moose Lake-Willow River 92, Cloquet 80
Esko 79, Crosby-Ironton 56
Hibbing 82, Virginia 58
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Cook County 60, Duluth Denfeld 50
Mountain Iron-Buhl 85, Cromwell-Wright 38
East Duluth 59, Hermantown 48
WIAA Division 5 Regionals
Solon Springs 61, Winter 53
HOCKEY BOYS
Section 7AA Quarter-finals
Grand Rapids 6, East Duluth 1
Andover 7, Cloquet-Esko-Carlton 0
Section 7A Quarter-finals
Hibbing/Chisholm 4, Rock Ridge 2
Greenway 5, Proctor 3
Duluth Denfeld 9, International Falls 2
Hermantown 13, North Shore 0
WIAA Section Semi-Finals
Superior 4, Chippewa Falls 3
GIRLS HOCKEY
Second round of the WIAA section
Hayward 7, Superior 5
MSHSL State Tournament
Proctor-Hermantown 6, Albert Lea 2
