It’s mid-September in Minnesota and that means Junior Hockey season is underway! All four USA Hockey Tier II teams based in the state have kicked off their season while one of the six Tier III teams began the regular season.
North American Hockey League
Minnesota Wilderness, who finished as NAHL Robertson Cup runner up last season, traveled to Brookfield, Wisconsin on September 11-12 and swept the two-game series against the Wisconsin WIndigo winning 10-5 and 7-2.
Jakeb Lynch led the Wilderness offense with four goals and two assists. The Nebraska native has committed to Miami University (NCAA Division I). Max Edwards and Kevin Lysohir each chipped in with a goal and three assists.
Second-year club Minnesota Mallards are off to a 3-1-0-0 start. After sweeping two games against Kenai River Brown Bears the Forest Lake team split last weekend with the visiting Anchorage Wolverines.
Ryan Lucarelli leads all Mallards scorers with 11 points (three goals, eight assists). Ty Gordon is first in goals scored with five and has chipped in with five helpers. Jack Fang and Pete Moore both have scored twice with three assists.
2026 Robertson Cup semifinalist Austin Bruins are off to a solid start, sweeping their opening series against the visiting Watertown Shamrocks in a pair of one-goal games.
Kyle Sorenson (two goals, two assists) led a balanced attack for Austin who had 12 players register a point in the two games. Hudson Weber-Stewart also scored a pair of goals and one helper. Blueliner Gus Elbert had three assists to begin his second season with the team.
St. Cloud Norsemen were not as successful in their opening weekend, falling on home ice to the Bismarck Bobcats. Bloomington Jefferson grad Blake Dosan is the lone skater with more than a point after the Norsemen lost 7-1 and 6-3.
North American 3 Hockey League
Rochester Grizzlies (3-0-0) are unbeaten after two weeks of play in the NA3HL. The Grizz defeated West Bend Power 3-2 in their opener before sweeping a two-game set against Wausau Cyclones.
Leading the offense is Jace Jordan with two goals and three assists. Connor Goclan has three goals and an assist while Conrad Edlund and Sawyer Aruba each have a goal and two assists.
The NA3HL West Division begins its season this upcoming weekend. Most of the five Minnesota teams (Alexandria Blizzard, Granite City Lumberjacks, Minnesota Vulcans, Minnesota Wilderness and Willmar WarHawks) are scheduled to play.
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