BROOKINGS It sure doesnt seem to get old.
Outshot for the first time all tournament, the Brookings Rangers rode another standout performance from senior goalie Addison Ronning, a pair of goals by senior Jacob Kahle off assists from senior Owen Schneider and a total team effort in wearing down a fast and game Rushmore Thunder team to a 2-1 overtime victory and a fourth consecutive South Dakota Amateur Hockey Association State Championship.
Despite Brookings playing its second overtime game in less than 24 hours, it was all Rangers in the extra session. After a pair of goal mouth scrambles did not go in, Rushmore had their first rush of overtime on a 2-2. Ronning easily handled a low shot from outside and appeared to be ready to cover the puck. But junior Luke Honkomp quickly swooped in and took the puck around the net up ice and put a rink-wide pass on Schneiders tape.
Schneider gained a head of steam and drew the lone defender to him, then feathered a pass into the slot. Kahle didnt miss, beating Rushmore goaltender Wyatt Simmons high on the glove side and causing Larson Ice Center to explode as the ice was littered with Brookings gear and the team joined the student section in celebration.
We were sure led by Addison, Brookings coach Garrett Gerstner said. He was unbelievable again. And then the OT winner, senior from a senior, man, our best players were our best players today.
As befits a state title game, it was tight throughout. Both teams fought off some jitters early. Brookings used its home-ice advantage to match their top two lines largely in the first, and both teams took short shifts skating mostly two lines.
But Gerstner deftly worked his third line into action from the second period on, and they gave Brookings a needed boost with a steady forecheck while Rushmore skated mostly their top six forwards.
Everyone on our team takes pride in that, we had some matchups we liked but when we needed everyone, they played their roles really well, Gerstner said. They didnt try to do too much and everyone is really happy to be a Brookings Ranger.
The Rangers finally broke the scoreless tie deep into the second when Kahle banged one home in tight off a short pass from Schneider. And that goal looked like it might stand, as Brookings clamped down in the neutral zone and kept Rushmore to the outside, where Ronning had a good view and looked in complete command.
But the Thunder brought their crowd to life with the equalizer with less than four minutes to play in the game.
Rushmore standout Wyatt Reeder took an innocuous-looking loose puck off the halfwall and fired a low shot hard off the far post and in. That gave the Thunder legs again, but it was all they could muster past Ronning, who made 31 saves and made nearly all of them look easy.
And after a couple near misses, the Rangers found a way in overtime and for the second straight year were able to celebrate on the Larson ice with their friends and family as state champions. Brookings has now won 11 SDAHA boys varsity state titles since 1998, and the four-peat was not lost on the standing-room only home crowd, nearly all of whom put up four fingers on each hand after Kahles game winner found twine.
Asked if this years champs really understood the enormity of being the team to capture a fourth consecutive state title for Brookings and cement the Rangers as a hockey dynasty in South Dakota, Gerstner was thoughtful.
Honestly, probably not. Its a great feeling and I am sure theyre in the moment right now and enjoying this, ending the season with everyone on the ice like this, he said. But when they get older, when they take a little time away from the game, when they do that, after theyre done, thats when you realize how special it is to be a Brookings Ranger.
Linehan is the Registers managing editor and welcomes comments at [email protected].
Leave a Reply