Here's a rundown of today's games to determine who moves on to the semifinals
16 & Under
Olympic Division
The winner of today’s game between Shattuck-St. Mary’s vs Colorado Thunderbirds advances
Liberty Division
Chicago Mission vs Detroit Honeybaked – Mission advances with a win; if Honeybaked wins it goes to a tiebreaker to determine who advances
18 & Under
USA Division
The winner of Shattuck-St. Mary’s vs. Yale Bulldogs advances
Olympic Division
The winner of North Jersey Avalanche vs. Culver Academy advances
NHL Division
The winner of Mid-Fairfield vs. Oakland Jr. Grizzlies advances, if the game is decided in regulation. If Mid-Fairfield wins in overtime, it goes to a tiebreaker to determine who advances
Compuware 4, Anaheim Jr. Ducks 0
Chase Johnson ran his tournament shutout streak to 123 minutes as Compuware wrapped up pool play atop the USA division. After blanking Sioux Falls in the tournament opener, Johnson came on in relief of Blake Pietila to backstop a come-from-behind victory against the Central Connecticut Capitals Selects, Against the Ducks, Johnson was once again on his game, stopping all 14 shots he faced. Second-period goals from Ryan Lautenbach and Arthur Kaliyev provided more than enough offensive support as Johnson stopped all 14 shots the Ducks sent his way. Matthew Kessel added a goal and an assist for Compuware, who will face Honeybaked in the semifinals.
Shattuck-St. Mary's 5, Colorado Thunderbirds 2
With a spot in the semifinals on the line, Shattuck-St. Mary's poured in three goals in the second period to snap a 1-1 tie. The teams traded early goals with Mason Mannek scoring for the Thunderbirds and Drew Helleson responding for Shattuck. McKade Webster added an insurance goal to end the Thunderbirds' hopes of returning the 16 & Under final four for the fourth straight year.
Central Connecticut Capitals Selects 7, Sioux Falls Jr. Stampede 5
Special teams paved the way to victory as the Central Connecticut Capitals Selects scored on both ends of the man advantage to down a Jr. Stampede squad that refused to go quietly. Dylan Pena-Triana opened the scoring with a power-play goal, and Parker Ford added a short-handed tally to stake the Selects to a 2-0 lead. Parker would add goals in each of the final two frames to complete the hat trick. Jack Olson had a goal and two assists for the Stampede.
Westchester Express/NY Apple Core 3, Culver Academy Eagles 0
JaCob Mucitelli and Alex Fowler teamed up to backstop the Westchester Express/NY Apple Core to their first win of the tournament against a winless Culver squad. Jake Willis, Jason Ruszkowski and Tristan Fasig found the back of the net as the New Yorkers peppered Culver goalies Grant Adams and Carson Polish with 21 shots.
North Jersey Avalanche 3, Omaha AAA Hockey Club 2
Adam Robbins' third-period power play broke a 2-2 tie and Jukka Schotter made the lead stand up with several key saves down the stretch for the Avalanche. Dustin Sorensen's goal early in the third period brought Omaha even after a seesaw second period. With a spot in the semifinals already secured, Omaha split its goaltending duties between Jacob Sibell and Kohl Reddy.
Cape Cod Whalers 8, Tampa Scorpions 7, OT
With little to play for but pride and bragging rights, the Cape Cod Whalers ended their tournament on a winning note thanks to Kevin McKay's game winner in overtime. Gunner Fontaine's second goal of the game late in the third period knotted the score after Tampa clawed back to take the lead with five second-period goals. Peter Morgan powered the Scorpions attack with a hat trick, and Connor Reed added a pair of goals.
Pittsburgh Penguins Elite 5, Dallas Stars Elite 4
With their chances of repeating as national champions dashed after a pair of tough losses, the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite gave the home fans something to cheer about in their tournament swansong. The Penguins converted on three of 20 power-play chances to jump out to a 5-2 lead. Benjamin Kuzbass, Aiden Edwards and Austen Swankler lit the lamp early in sloppy first period that featured nine penalties. Ryan O'Reilly scored twice in the first period to keep the Stars close. After a scoreless second, the Pens padded their lead as the frustrated Stars found themselves shorthanded for most of the final frame. William Christie and Matthew Weber added to the Pens' lead before a pair of Dallas goals in the final 22 seconds made the game appear closer than it was.
18 & Under
Shattuck-St. Mary's 5, Yale Bulldogs 4
Bobby Trivigno's unassisted power-play goal with 58 seconds remaining in overtime capped a dramatic comeback and earned Shattuck a spot in the semifinals against the Omaha AAA Hockey Club. Trivigno's overtime heroics were made possible by Philippe Lapointe's tying goal in the final three minutes regulation as he took a pass from Samuel Stevens and beat Yale goaltender Peter Negron. Third-period goals from Joseph Cipollone, his second of the game, and Nicholas Hale staked the Bulldogs to a third-period lead. John Madden also scored for Yale, while Niko Esposito, Stevens and Andy Stoneman found the back of the net for Shattuck.
Team Wisconsin 5, Ohio Blue Jackets 1
Sam Dunn kicked aside 21 of the 22 shots he faced, and Ian Malcolmson added a pair of goals and an assist as Team Wisconsin notched its third victory of the tournament to set up a semifinal showdown with Shattuck-St. Mary's. The Blue Jackets opened the scoring on a goal from Alex Barber, but the boys from Wisconsin stormed back with a pair of goals in the second period and three more in the third. Brady Bjorne, Logan Geisness and Jadon Motquin all scored for Wisconsin, who out scored their opponents, 15-5 in the preliminary round.
Neponset Valley River Rat 5, Sioux Falls Jr. Stampede 2
Austin Magera scored 15 seconds into the game, his first of two, and Teddy Wooding closed out the first period with a goal to give the River Rat a lead it would never relinquish. Benjamin Pirko and Matthew Allen added goals to help hold off a charge from the Stampede triggered by goals from Chase Wesen and Dylan Giorgio. Brandon Domfeld turned in a 34-save effort in a losing cause.
Little Caesars 8, PAL Jr. Islanders 3
Matt Stoia and Hugh Larkin scored two goals apiece to lift Little Caesar past the PAL Jr. Islanders in the tournament finale for both teams. A five-goal third period, triggered by a pair of power-play goals broke open a close game, and Jacob Gregor and Carter McPhail teamed up in net to shutdown the Islanders attack, which was led by a pair of goals from Michael Sacco and a solo tally from John Olson.
Culver Academy Eagles 4, North Jersey Avalanche 3
Connor Merrill scored a pair of third-period goals, and Nolan Walker added a goal and an assist as Culver Academy punched its ticket to a semifinal showdown with the winner of the Mid-Fairfield/Oakland Jr. Grizzlies game. John Spetz’s goal with 11 seconds left in the opening frame snapped a 1-1 tie and gave the Avalanche a lead they protected until the Eagles opened the third period with a three-goal barrage. Cole Edgerton and Patrick Cozzi also scored for North Jersey.
Anaheim Jr. Ducks 5, Tampa Scorpions 4
Michael Boutoussov’s four-point effort (two goals, two assists) powered the Jr. Ducks to their first win of the tournament in a contest that featured 35 total penalties. Connor Galloway and Brian Seybold each had power-play goals for Tampa, which headed back to the Sunshine State winless.
Mid-Fairfield Chiefs 4, Oakland Jr. Grizzlies 1
With a spot in the semifinals up for grabs, Chiefs goaltender Strauss Mann stepped up with a 25-save effort to carry his team to a showdown against Culver Academy. The only blemish on what was otherwise a flawless night was a first-period goal off the stick of Trevor Bishop. Brett Willits netted the game winner, and Ryan Verrier also scored in the middle frame. A pair of empty net goals from Matt Koopman and Tommy Tanner put the game on ice.
Colorado Thunderbirds 3, Pittsburgh Penguins Elite 0
The Pittsburgh Penguins Elite’s home woes continued as Jonah Glem stopped all 26 shots sent his way as Colorado Thunderbirds won a chippy battle of the winless teams. Jacob Adkins’ first-period goal was more than enough offense to support Glem’s efforts. Aidan Kirby and Nathan Hodges added insurance goals in a game marred by a constant parade to the penalty box.