WAYNE TOWNSHIP, NJ – With 2:56 to go in the second period of the 2A title game of the 2025 Chipotle-USA Hockey Youth Tier II 16U National Championships, Wisconsin Elite Hockey League (WI) forward Cartyr Simonson stared down Hamdon Dragons (CT) goalie Benjamin Schwarz. 

Simonson had just made a nifty backhand move in front of the net to fool Schwarz and sneak it past the goaltender’s left side and into the net. It was a big goal for WEHL, as it ended a 1-1 standstill that lasted exactly 17 seconds. On the bench, WEHL head coach John Kriz was impressed. He thought the goal was worthy of being one of SportsCenter’s Top 10 plays.

“Cartyr’s got some unbelievable skill,” Kriz said.

Simonson’s beauty was a quick answer to the Dragons’ first of the game at the 3:13 mark of the second period, and he felt that his stare down with the goalie almost 20 seconds later was necessary.

“[Schwarz] was kind of chirping some of my teammates for the last goal that they scored,” Simonson said. “I wasn't going to say anything, but I [had to] make sure he knew.”

Simonson got a talking to by the ref before play resumed, but a fire was already lit inside the forward. Just 37 seconds after his first goal, Simonson netted his second to give the WEHL a 3-1 advantage in the title game. 

“It was a little three-on-two coming in, and my teammate, [Brady Rozmarynowski], got one on the net,” Simonson said. “I found a rebound and just put her in.”

Momentum had shifted all the way into the WEHL’s favor. Zachary Verhagen scored the team’s fourth goal on a turnover in front of the net with 57 seconds to go in the second period. In just under two minutes, WEHL lit the lamp three times.

“There was no looking back after that,” Kriz said.

The Dragons attempted a comeback, as Jack Kang scored early in the third, but their push was unsuccessful. With 2:31 to go, Jack O'Brien scored for WEHL. Then, 70 seconds later, Simonson capped off his brilliant day with a hat trick on a breakaway goal. 

“I think a lot of people thought we were a little team from Wisconsin that didn't really have much in it,” Kriz said. “Maybe we surprised some people.”

Simonson beamed with pride while receiving the gold medal in the ceremony after the game, congratulating all of his WEHL teammates when they walked off the ice. He was happy he could contribute in such a big way for the guys skating alongside him.

“Each and every one of us grinded throughout this tournament, and everybody pitched [in],” Simonson said. “That’s why I’m wearing [this medal].”

Story from Red Line Editorial, Inc.