The Mid-State Mustangs are headed back to the national tournament.

Again.

Altoona, Pa.-based Mid-State clinched its fourth consecutive trip to the Toyota-USA Hockey Youth Tier II National Championships by winning all three of its games during the Mid-American Tier II 18U district tournament at Blade Runners Ice Complex in Harmarville.

“I thought the team played hard all weekend,” ninth-year coach Dave Weaver said. “Obviously, we faced three very good teams. This team is incredibly balanced. It’s built different from the other teams I had in the past. I don’t have a first line or a fourth line.

“They accept their roles and know they’re all incredibly important.”

Mid-State, the defending Tier II 18U national champions, is going back to the tournament, this year from Mach 26-30 in Troy, Michigan, looking for a second straight title.

“Half these guys already won a national title,” Weaver said. “When we go to Troy, they’re going to have visions of another.”

Mid-State made four consecutive trips to the national tournament and won six of the last eight district championships at the 18U level. The program is not only looking for back-to-back national titles at the 18U level, but a third in history, joining a previous 16U title.

“It would be unbelievable,” Weaver said. “For a team from Altoona, based in a small town, to win one national title let alone another … to have a shot at a third would be incredible.

“We’ve had some pretty good success.”

It continued this weekend as Mid-State picked up a two-goal win against North Pittsburgh and a lopsided shutout versus Butler Valley.

“The North Pittsburgh game, that team played us really strong,” Weaver said. “They’re a feisty team. I’m proud of the guys for grinding it out. It was 2-2 after two periods, so we played a really good third.”

Mid-State punched its ticket to the national tournament with a 3-1 victory against the Pittsburgh Huskies, a team it was 2-2-2 against heading into Sunday’s game.

“We knew it would be a great game,” Weaver said. “It was as tight as they come. They have great players on their team and we were fortunate enough to come out on top.

“As the games got bigger, I thought our guys played better. Hopefully we can go out and do as well as we did a year ago.”

The Game Winner

Wyatt Glover didn’t play for with Mid-State when it captured the Tier II 18U national championship last season, but he made sure to send his teammates back to the dance this year.

Glover scored what proved to be the game-winning goal with 2:13 to play during a 3-1 victory against the Pittsburgh Huskies on Sunday.

“I wasn’t there last year with the team, but from what I heard, it’s a great experience,” Glover said. “I’m just glad I could help us out to get back there again. It’s great to give these guys another shot at it. It’s going to be fun.”

Glover, in his first year with the program, added an empty-netter for insurance, finishing with two goals on Sunday. Nico Gricco had the primary assist on the game-winner.

“Nico got me the puck just inside the blue line,” Glover said. “I tipped it between two defensemen, went through them, beat them, held them off, the goalie tried to pokecheck it, but I went backhand and slid it through his five hole.”

Game-Tying Goal

Glover couldn’t win it for Mid-State in the waning moments without a game-tying goal.

That’s where Noah Moody came in.

Dustin Davis gave the Pittsburgh Huskies a 1-0 lead in the second period, but Moody tied it, setting up Glover’s late-game heroics.

“The puck came out, I stepped up, took a shot, and we got the right bounce,” Moody said.

This is Moody’s third trip to the national tournament and second with Mid-State. This is the sweetest for Moody.

“This is the best feeling I ever experienced because it’s with my best friends,” Moody said. “It’s memories you’ll remember forever. I’ve been there with a select few, but I finally get to go in my last year with all my best friends.”

14U Champs

The Steel City Renegades edged the Pittsburgh Predators 2-1 to capture the Mid-American Tier II Bantam championship Sunday at Blade Runners Ice Complex in Harmarville.

Steel City advances to the USA Hockey Youth Tier II 14U National Championships, March 26-30 in Salt Lake City.

Steel City also defeated North Pittsburgh, Mid-State and the Pittsburgh Vipers during the tournament.

Story from Red Line Editorial, Inc.