Brookings Rangers capture third-straight SDAHA state varsity boys hockey title

Roger Merriam, Watertown Public Opinion
·2 min read

BROOKINGS — The second-seeded Brookings Rangers won the South Dakota Amateur Hockey Association's varsity boys state tournament for the third-straight year on Sunday.

The second-seeded Rangers (22-2-1 in SDAHA play) defeated the top-seeded Sioux Falls Flyers (22-1-2) 5-2 in the championship game.

In other games, the third-seeded Oahe Capitals (20-4) notched a 6-3 win over the No. 4 Rushmore Thunder (18-6-1) and the sixth-seeded Sioux Falls Flyers II (11-13) topped the fifth-seeded Mitchell Marlins (12-12-1). The Watertown Lakers and Aberdeen Cougars were eliminated on Saturday.

Five players scored goals for Brookings including Trenton Pederson, who finished with a goal and an assist. Breck Hirrschoff and Ren Jacobsen each recorded two assists and Addison Ronning 24 saves. Ian Pattison made 23 saves for Sioux Falls.

Six players scored goals for Oahe in the third-place game. Andre Carbonneau had two assists and Colin Lee 31 saves. Carter Kirk finished with a goal and an assist for Rushmore.

Nick Gergen's two goals and two assists and Drayton Decourcey's one goal and two assists led Sioux Falls II, which also got 38 saves from Trey Salonen. Drake Jerke stopped 28 shots for Mitchell.

SDAHA Scholarships

Thirteen senior boys and girls hockey players have been chosen to receive 2022-23 Friends of South Dakota Hockey Scholarships. They all participated in SDAHA hockey for at least three season, have a grade-point average of 3.3 or higher and were selected based on their resume of achievements, community service and volunteer work along with a written essay to the selection committee.

Marshall Retzer of Rapid City ($2,500), Ethan Fergel of Aberdeen ($2,000) and Samuel Vermer of Sioux Falls ($1,500) received scholarships along with $1,000 scholarships to Mason Berens, Adam Boyens, Cade Edwards and John Mathison of Sioux Falls; Sara Bierne and Johnathan Lyons of Oahe; Aiden DeJager of Sioux Center (Iowa); Devin Hunter of Huron; Jackson Wartenbee of Brandon Valley; and Jacksyn Wirkus of Watertown.

Follow Watertown Public Opinion sports reporter Roger Merriam on Twitter @PO_Sports.

This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: Second-seeded Rangers beat top-seeded Sioux Falls I 5-2 in final.