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Faribault Squirt A's End Season with a Bang

The Faribault Squirt A team ended their season with a bang last weekend by winning the Championship in the Dodge County Shootout Squirt Tournament. In the first game, the Squirt A’s beat Winona, which came into the contest sporting a record of 21-6-1. As with all three games on the weekend, the Squirt A’s took Winona into overtime before defeating them on a rebound shot by Josh Nawrocki with 20 seconds left in the extra period. Both teams netted a goal in the first period, with Faribault’s goal also coming off the stick of Josh Nawrocki. Jake Murray put Faribault up in the second period, only to have Winona knot the score in the third. After a mostly back and forth contest, Faribault put on the final rush and tallied the winning goal as time was getting close to expiring in overtime. Game Two pitted the A’s against Monticello Annandale Stars. In another down to the wire contest, Riley Marquardt was the first to light the lamp, scoring in the first period. That goal held up until midway through the third, when MAML tied the contest with a nifty goal of their own. Off to overtime went the contest. Midway through overtime, Tyler Becker intercepted a pass and headed towards the MAML goal, only to be brought down from behind. Tyler was awarded a penalty shot on the play. He took the puck into the zone, faked a shot to commit the goalie, and buried the game winner for a 2 to 1 overtime victory and championships match up against Red Wing. Red Wing, which came into the final with a record of 17 – 9, including two victories against Faribault early in the season, provided another stiff challenge for Faribault. Red Wing tickled the twine in first period, only to be matched in the second period on play in which Tanner Billmeyer passed through the slot to his brother Travis Billmeyer, who tucked the puck into a wide-open net. A scoreless third period led to overtime, for the third time in three games. Behind two solid goaltenders, the teams traded scoring chances and shots throughout a scoreless overtime. In the second overtime, in which the teams played 4 vs 4 hockey, Faribault finally ended the contest on a blistering shot off the stick of Christian VonRuden, from the corner, that hit the goalie, deflected into the air, and landed behind the netminder before rolling into the goal. Championship won!

The Squirt A’s ended their season on an 8 game winning streak, including winning their District Championship and the Dodge County Shootout. The team really came together over the last month, with solid defense, opportune offense, and outstanding goaltending. This led to a “can do” attitude that the team carried with them throughout. They never gave up, no matter what the score. Congratulations Squirt A’s!

Courtesy - Faribault Daily News

2/27/2008 12:30:00 AM

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Local youth hockey roundup
The Faribault Squirt A and Squirt B hockey teams participated in the District 4 Tournament this past weekend, and both teams came away with championship trophies.

The Squirt A team defeated Marshall 7-4 in its first game, played in Fairmont. After scoring one goal in the first period, Faribault exploded for three goals in both the second and third periods to post the opening round victory. Game two matched Faribault against rival New Ulm.

With the score tied at three late in the third period, Faribault netted the game winner with less than 10 seconds left in the game to pull out the victory and earn a matchup with New Prague, who defeated Faribault in their previous two meetings this season. New Prague led 2-0 in the second period of the championship game before Faribault notched its first goal of the season against New Prague in the final minute of the period. Faribault came out in the third on fire and evened the score early. After battling back and forth throughout the final period, Faribault scored the game winner with less than two minutes to play. Holding off the charging New Prague team, the Faribault Squirt A's became District Champions.

The Squirt B's were enjoying similar success in Windom. The Squirt B team also went 3-0 on the way to a district title. Faribault beat Mankato 4-0 in the first game, and held on for a 3-2 win over Luverne in the second game. The championship game was another close battle, with Faribault earning the championship win over Sleepy Eye with another 3-2 victory.

Both the Squirt A's and Squirt B's end their seasons next weekend at the Dodge County Shootout Tournament in Kasson.

One weekend earlier, the Faribault Bantam A team finished second in the District 4 Tournament in Marshall. Faribault entered the tournament as the No. 1 seed, and dominated Waseca in the first game in a 10-3 victory. Faribault finished with 43 shots compared to 12 from Waseca.

Faribault sealed the second game against Albert Lea with four goals in the third period on the way to a 7-1 win.

The championship game pitted No. 1 against second-seeded New Ulm. Faribault trailed 4-1 after two period, but despite scoring three times in the third, came away with a 5-4 loss.

Faribault then beat New Prague 4-1 in the playback game to determine the No. 2 seed in the South Regional Tournament, which will be played in Albert Lea beginning Friday. Faribault (35-7-5) will open the tournament against Eden Prairie, currently ranked first in the state.

In order to prepare for Friday's game, the Bantam A team practiced with members of the Faribault boys high school team Tuesday evening.

Squirt A's Win Two Over the Weekend

The Faribault Hockey Association “Squirt A” heads into their District Tournament at Fairmont next weekend on a winning roll. The team won a pair of games this past weekend, upending Albert Lea 4 – 3 Friday night amidst a dramatic comeback. Behind by a score of 3 to 1 heading into the last minute of play, Faribault tickled the twine 3 times to pull out the come from behind win. Faribault scored with one minute, 30 seconds, and 9 seconds left to steal the victory from Albert Lea. Although it took a total team effort, the final three tallies were scored by Chase Batchelder, Riley Marquardt, and Jake Murray. The team won it second straight game the next morning, traveling to Owatonna and coming away with the shut-out victory by a score of 5 to 0. Christian VonRuden and Josh Nawrocki led the way against Owatonna, with Christian recording a goal and two assists while Josh put the puck in the net twice to lead Faribault. Goalie Adam Johannsen stopped 19 shots to record the shutout. Faribault currently has a 13-13-1 record and has a chance to improve that record with tournaments the next two weekends in Fairmont and Kasson. The Fairmont tournament is the District 4 Squirt A End of the Year tournament.

Courtesy - Faribault Daily News

1/2/2008 5:00:00 AM

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Squirt 'A' team gets revenge
By Marc Zarefsky

mzarefsky@faribault.com

FARIBAULT - It was a Saturday of redemption for the Faribault Squirt "A" hockey team this past weekend against Mason City (IA).

The two teams faced off in November, and Faribault finished on the short end of an 8-2 loss. On Saturday, it was Mason City on the short end after falling to Faribault, 2-1.

Faribault got on the board first with a goal by Grant Selly midway through the opening period. The lead was short-lived, though, with Mason City scoring a goal of its own, and tying the game, 1-1, late in the first period.

Tanner Billmeyer put Faribault ahead for good in the second period with the team's second goal of the day. Mason City had its chances at the end of the game. With Faribault skating shorthanded late in the game because of a penalty, Mason City pulled its goalie to have a six-on-four advantage, but Faribault's defense held its own, and skated away with the victory.

Goalie Adam Johannsen stopped 16 shots for Faribault. The Squirt "A" team plays at home Monday at 6:45 p.m. against New Prague.