State varsity boys hockey tournament opens in Brookings with four games
BROOKINGS — The top-seeded Brookings Rangers kicked off their quest for a fourth-straight South Dakota Amateur Hockey Association varsity boys tournament championship with an 11-0 win over the eighth-seeded Watertown Lakers on Friday.
The Rangers grabbed control with a five-goal first period in the final first-round game of the tournament's opening day.
Talon Hyde and Jack Merritt each scored two goals for the Rangers, who also got goals from Luke Honkomp, Jay Harris, Ren Jacobsen, Riley Linstad, Cooper Deatherage, David Brink and Owen Schneider.
Harris, Linstad, Deatherage, Schneider and Jacob Kahle had two assists each and Honkomp, Hyde, Jacobsen, Jackson Heller and Chase Karch one each.
Brookings held a 32-9 advantage in shots. Kohl Nygaard finished with 21 saves for Watertown and Addison Ronning eight for the Rangers.
Saturday's games include Mitchell vs. Aberdeen at 11:30 a.m. and Watertown vs. Sioux Falls East at 2 p.m. in consolation semifinal games. Rushmore faces Sioux Falls West at 4:30 p.m. and Oahe takes on Brookings at 7 p.m. in semifinal games.
The tourney concludes with three games on Sunday.
Sioux Falls West 3, Aberdeen 2 (OT)
Nathan Renken's goal with 3:17 remaining in overtime lifted the third-seeded Flyers to the victory. Carson Sarahan assisted on the goal.
Alex Carlson and Sarahan each added goals for SFW. Jack Campbell, Keegan Clancy, Ashton Eining and Carson Edwards added assists. Cole Langston made 17 saves in goal.
The sixth-seeded Cougars received goals from Brady Huff and Micah Kranzler. Lleyton Kleffman added an assist and goalie Colton Townsend 35 saves.
Rushmore 7, Mitchell 2
The second-seeded Thunder took control with four goals in the first period.
Wyatt Reeder and Alexander Dietrich each scored two goals and Damien Pongkub, Cameron Ritter and Carter Kirk one each for Rushmore. Reeder made four assists, William Simmons two and Ritter, Andrew Welling, Wyatt Balliew, Mason Mcgregor and Colton Merchen one.
Levi Loken and Coy Olson each found the back on the net for Mitchell. Parker Denne had an assists.
Mitchell's Ian Vaughn tallied 39 saves. Brody Lee made 14 for Rushmore.
Oahe 4, Sioux Falls East 2
Aidan Dozark's hat trick lifted Oahe to the victory.
Devin Dodson also scored for the Capitals and Luke Miller, Jayce Anderson, Barret Schweitzer and Ayden Behm recorded assists. Spencer Anderson made 29 saves.
Ben Vermeer and Max Mohr each found the net for the Flyers. Goalie Trey Salonen notched 24 saves.
Follow Watertown Public Opinion sports reporter Roger Merriam on X (formerly known as Twitter) @PO_Sports or email: rmerriam@thepublicopinion.com
This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: The SDAHA state varsity boys hockey tournament taking place in Brookings
