Bemidji reaches Paul Bunyan champ bracket
The Bemidji Coca Cola Pee Wee A hockey team reached the final four of its 18th annual Paul Bunyan Invitational Saturday, closing pool play unbeaten with a 6-2 win over Sioux Falls, S.D.
It was joined by Rogers, Crookston and Grand Forks to begin bracket play Saturday night.
The title games in the four brackets will be played at BSU today starting at 9 with the Championship bracket final at 2:30.
The consolation finals for third place will be at the same times at the BCA.
Hermantown, Ft. Frances, Keweenaw and Cloquet will meet in the Lumberjack bracket for second place pool finishers.
Hastings, Grand Rapids, Armstrong and St. Cloud go in the Blue Ox bracket for third place pool finishers.
Sioux Falls, Detroit Lakes, Virginia and Baudette are in the Headwaters bracket for fourth place pool finishers.
St. Cloud beat Cloquet for last year's title.
Bemidji opened play Friday with a comeback victory over Hermantown 4-3, scoring the tying and winning goals in the final minute of play.
Bemidji tied the game with 32 seconds left in relation play hand won it seven seconds later.
It was a fitting victory for the Pee Wees who outshot Hermantown 42-16.
Matt Gregg scored twice and Jake Leitner and Mikey Sauer once.
Jake Leitner had two assists and Nick Leitner and Josh Lusby one.
Grant Tharaldson made 13 saves in the Bemidji net. Hermantown kicked out 38.
In the late Friday game, Bemidji never trailed in besting Hastings 5-3.
Sauer scored twice and Jake Leitner, Lusby and Gregg once.
Lusby had two feeds and Rocky Copiskey, Gregg and Mike Forseth one.
Kyle Krause had 14 stops for Bemidji. Hastings had 20.
Saturday, Bemidji took control early piling up a 5-1 lead after two periods and coasted home.
Lusby had two goals and Jack Johnson, Forseth, Sauer and Jake Leitner one.
Copiskey and Jake Leitner had two assists and Forseth, Gregg, Tarron Baker and Cody Gumeringer one.
Krause kicked aside 25 shots. Sioux Falls had 43 stops.
Hermantown 1 1 1--3
Pee Wee A 1 1 2---4
- - - - -
Hastings 1 1 1---3
Pee Wee A 2 1 2---5
- - - - -
Sioux Falls 0 1 1--2
Pee Wee A 2 3 1---6
SATURDAY
POOL PLAY
North Division
Bemidji 6, Sioux Falls 2
Hermantown 5, Hastings 1
South Division
Ft. Frances 4, Grand Rapids 3
Rogers 5, Detroit Lakes 5
East Division
Crookston 10, Armstrong 4
Keweenaw 6, Virginia 0
West Division
Cloquet 6, St. Cloud 3
Grand Forks 6, Baudette 4
Friday
St. Cloud 10, Baudette 2
- - - - -
CHAMPIONSHIP
BRACKET
Bemidji vs. Rogers; Crookston vs. Grand Forks
LUMBERJACK
BRACKET
Hermantown vs. Ft. Frances; Keweenaw vs. Clqouet
BLUE OX
BRACKET
Hastings vs. Grand Rapids; Armstrong vs. St. Cloud
HEADWATERS
BRACKET
Sioux Falls vs. Detroit Lakes; Virginia vs. Baudette
Squirts B White
The Squirts B White dropped a 5-2 decision to Crookston last weekend.
Hunter Olson had both Bemidji goals with Tyler Haugen netting two assists and Nick Mannausau one.
The loss dropped Bemidji to 1-4-1 in games reported. A roster and schedule are still needed.
Crookston 2 2 1---5
Squirts B White 0 1 1---2
