The Red River Valley represented well at this year’s state tournament, with East Grand Forks taking the Class 1A title and Moorhead winning Class 2A. The two towns are separated by 85 miles along the North Dakota-Minnesota border.

“Both groups were extremely successful throughout youth hockey,” said Moorhead head coach Jon Ammerman. “It tells you that hockey is alive and well in greater Minnesota, not just the metro, especially the west side.”

Ammerman said “a number of kids in Moorhead had opportunity to go other places” and compete outside of high school hockey, which left them “wrestling through some of those decisions” a year ago.

“Every year, the noise outside is that high school hockey is under attack, or that kids are leaving,” Ammerman said. “[These kids] came back, and they had outstanding years.”

“I hope the kids in youth hockey see what these guys have done and the choices they made and stick around and get to experience something that these guys did today,” he added.

Mason Kraft, who scored four goals in the 7-6 win and led the state in points this year (95), told reporters after the game, “If you ever have the option to stay or leave [high school hockey], I think you should always come back and play high school hockey, play one more year with your buddies. You never get this time back, ever.”

The No. 1 seed Moorhead Spuds make history by bucking history, winning their first state title over No. 2 Stillwater, 7-6. The Spuds, one of the state's strongest programs, had made the state tournament 21 times and finished runnerup on eight trips, but never won a title — until now. Minnesota State Mankato commit Mason Kraft scored four goals in the first period as Moorhead jumped to a 5-1 lead, but Stillwater made it a thriller with a three-goal surge in the third period, with two goals from Matthew Volkman. But Moorhead held its one-goal lead for the final three minutes to roll on victorious and send the Ponies packing.

Matthew Volkman gets his second goal of the third period, and the biggest one of night for the Ponies. This one makes it a one-goal game with three to play. He deflected Jonas Kohn's shot at the top of the crease, past a Moorhead defender and in with just over three minutes to play. One-goal game.

Down three, and Stillwater refuses to rattle. For the third time, the Ponies cut it back to a two-goal Moorhead lead, with Matthew Volkman collecting the puck from behind the net and tucking an near-post shot in from the goal line. Six minutes left for Stillwater to search for a miracle.

Semifinal game-winner Zac Zimmerman scores his first of the championship game on the Moorhead power play, tucking his rising shot near post past Cal Conway from the right faceoff circle. Nine minutes left to play.

In the third, Stillwater strikes first. The Ponies, again, cut Moorhead's lead to two with 13:06 left to play. Trey Fredenberg's shot deflects off a Spuds defender and in for his second goal tonight.

Attendance for Class 2A Saturday was reported at 20,491, breaking the record set last year, when 20,346 attended. 

Moorhead answers! The Spuds score their first goal of the second period, 20 seconds after Stillwater cut it to a two-goal lead. Brooks Cullen finds Brandon Mickelson in the left faceoff circle, and Mickelson zips it in for his eighth goal of the season.

Sorry, Spuds fans. It’s, suddenly, definitely, not over. Ninety seconds after their second goal, the Ponies get a third goal to cut it to 5-3 with 8:21 left to play in the second period. Luca Jarvis gets his second of the game, assisted by Trey Fredenberg.

Ponies cut it to a three-goal Spuds lead with 9:51 left to play in the second period. Coming out of a timeout, Stillwater scores seven seconds later, right in front of its student section, which erupts. Junior defender Cal Grilz sends the puck sailing toward the goal from the neutral zone. His chance is blocked, but senior forward Trey Fredenberg puts it away from outside the crease. “It’s not over,” Stillwater students chant. “Yes, it is,” reply Moorhead fans.