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!
