Warroad Wins Instant Classic, Captures First Title Since 2005 in OT

Warroad Wins Instant Classic, Captures First Title Since 2005 in OT

The Class A championship game delivered one of the tournament’s most dramatic finishes, with Warroad earning the title in overtime after a late third-period equalizer.

The biggest day on the Minnesota Boys High School Hockey calendar was Saturday, when the best teams in the state were crowned in the Class A and Class AA championships. 

Two storied programs, Hibbing/Chisholm and Warroad, faced off for Class A supremacy in the early slate of games. While both teams have celebrated state championships before, it’s been a bit for both programs. The Bluejackets were looking for their first title since 1973, and the Warriors haven’t reigned over Class A since 2005.

Warroad and Hibbing/Chisholm were playing their second game against each other of the season, with the Bluejackets earning a 4-2 win on January 24th.

Saturday’s Class A Championship game got off to a blistering start with an early goal from the Warriors. Connor Lund snapped the puck past the Hibbing/Chisholm goaltender from the top of the right faceoff circle to give Warroad the early lead.

The goal gave the Warriors the lead, but it was the Bluejackets who carried play throughout most of the first period. Hibbing/Chisholm held an 11-4 lead in shots on goal with two minutes remaining in the opening frame.

Warroad’s 1-0 lead held throughout the remainder of the first period, leaving the Warriors with just two periods to play towards high school hockey immortality.

The Warriors had the opportunity to extend their lead with a power play early in the second period. The Bluejackets did a good job killing off the man-advantage, keeping the game at just a one-goal difference.

Hibbing/Chisholm got an extra-attacker opportunity of their own shortly after, and the Bluejackets were able to convert. Whitaker Rewertz scored on a rush chance, cutting to the middle and beating the Warriors’ goaltender.

The tie didn’t last long, as Warroad answered immediately. Ayven Hontvet scored from the circle on an unscreened shot that beat Gavin Lamphere low.

The Warriors extended their lead at the end of the period on a goal from Gavin Anderson. Ryan Shaugabay created the opportunity, hustling into the corner to retrieve a puck and firing a pass to the front of the net. The pass connected with Anderson to give the Warriors a two-goal cushion heading into the third period. 

Warroad goaltender Patrick Kennedy was the hero of the second period, weathering a storm by the Bluejackets. Kennedy gave up just one goal on 22 shots against during the second frame.

Hibbing/Chisholm pulled the game back to within one score early in the third period on a net-front scramble. Isaiah Hildenbrand finally put the puck in the net after multiple attempts on the play.

The Bluejackets tied the game with just under five minutes left on another goal from Whitaker Rewertz, who scored after finding some room in the middle of the ice.

Hibbing/Chisholm wasn’t done yet, taking the lead just 51 seconds after they tied the game. Ben Galli scored on the rush after his first shot attempt was blocked. The blocked shot careened to the boards, where Galli collected it and put it past Kennedy.

The Warriors weren’t ready to give up yet, scoring a game-tying goal with 45 seconds remaining. Gavin Anderson tied the game on a fantastic feed from Broden Hontvet. The goal sent the game to overtime, where the next goal would end the 2026 Class A season.

It didn’t take long to find the game winner, with Warroad scoring the game winner just a minute into the extra frame. 

The State Tournament has a way of turning hockey players into community heroes who produce moments that will live on in their school’s memory forever. Mason Kraft became that hero last year, scoring four goals for Moorhead in the Class AA championship. 

Ryan Shaugabay joined that class of high school hockey icons when he scored the game-winning goal to give Warroad its first state championship since 2005.

Box Score:

Scoring Summary: