Watertown, Aberdeen face top seeds in SDAHA varsity boys' hockey tourney
The eighth-seeded Watertown Lakers and seventh-seeded Aberdeen Cougars wouldn't mind pulling a surprise or two this weekend in the 2023 South Dakota Amateur Hockey Association's varsity boys' tournament.
The tourney runs Friday through Sunday at Brookings.
Four games each are scheduled for Friday and Saturday. The tourney is slated to conclude with three games on Sunday.
Tourney Schedule
The tourney opens at 9 a.m. Friday with the third-seeded Oahe Capitals (18-3-0 in the SDAHA) meeting the sixth-seeded Sioux Falls Flyers II (9-13) at 9 a.m., followed by the second-seeded Brookings Rangers (19-2-1) against Aberdeen (8-13-1) at 11:30 a.m., fourth-seeded Rushmore Thunder (17-4-1) vs. fifth-seeded Mitchell Marlins (11-10-1) at 2 p.m. and the top-seeded Sioux Falls Flyers I (20-0-2) vs. Watertown (7-18 overall and 7-15 in the SDAHA).
Consolation semifinals are scheduled for 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday, followed by semifinals at 4:30 and 7 p.m. Sunday's games include the consolation championship at 9 a.m., third place at noon and the championship at 3 p.m.
It appears to be a four-team race
Three teams (Brookings, Sioux Falls and Rushmore) have dominated the tourney since 2013. Brookings has won five titles, Rushmore three and Sioux Falls I one. The other tourney wasn't completed because of COVID-19. No other team has even reached the finals.
So it's not surprise that Sioux Falls, Brookings and Rushmore could again be in the running this year along with an Oahe team that has also been very formidable. Brookings defeated Rushmore for the second-straight year in the championship game last winter.
Sioux Falls went undefeated in league play, but tied with Brookings and Rushmore and won the fourth other matches with the other top teams all by one goal. Oahe split with both Rushmore and Brookings. Brookings did go 2-0 against Rushmore, but one game was a one-goal affair.
"Sioux Falls is on top in the standings, but I think Brookings, Rapid City and Oahe can give them a run for their money," said first-year Watertown head coach Devon McMullen. "The top four teams in our league are all even. It just going to come down to whoever shows up and plays the best game."
What about Watertown and Aberdeen?
The Lakers and the Cougars will each be trying to avoid two regular-season losses to their first-round foes on Friday. Aberdeen fell 5-1 and 7-0 to Brookings. Watertown lost 8-1 to Sioux Falls I on Dec. 30 but played closer in a 5-0 loss on Feb. 24 in Watertown.
"Yes, that actually was a big sign for us," McMullen said of the Lakers' improved play in the second meet with Sioux Falls I. "Honestly, it just takes one game to play you're best and you never know what can happen. We know what to expect from them and what we need to do to put our best foot forward."
Leaders for the Lakers include Jake Bramer (nine goals, 12 assists), Mylan Evans (8-11), Tommy Foley (9-6), Austin McBride (4-9), Brayson Bohling (11-1) and Jacob Rieffenberger (5-6). Caleb Schmaltz has recorded 476 saves in net.
"The kids have worked hard and haven't given up," said McMullen. "It's just been on of those years where we just needed a bounce here or a bounce there to go our way, but overall it's been very good."
Watertown has played competitively with a number or teams for one or two periods, but has struggled at times to play well for a complete game. McMullen says the Lakers will need to do that to have any success at state.
Aberdeen leaders include Devon Fischbach (16 goals, 15 assists), Brady Huff (7-15), Quincy Madsen (3-13), Lleyton Kleffman (9-6), Austin Dabney (7-5) and Lance Siefken (7-4). Sam Casper (329 saves) and Colton Townsend (212 saves) have split time in the net.
Other top players to watch
Brookings' quest for a third-straight title will likely be spearheaded the league's top three scorers Breck Hirrschoff (30 goals, 42 assists), Owen Schneider (40-26) and Zach Struck (34-32).
Mason Schramm (16-25), Cory Perdaems (17-11) and Maxwell Mohr (20-15) lead Sioux Falls. Oahe's scoring leaders include Ashton Griese (21-32), Barret Schweitzer (23-25) and Jarron Beck (24-27).
Rushmore's cast includes Alexander Dietrich (20-19), Cameron Ritter (20-18), Hayden Holec (20-15) and Wyatt Reeder (17-16).
Parker Denne has tallied 29 goals and 11 assists and Levi Loken 16 and 27 for Mitchell. Nick Gergen has 14 goals and eight assists for Sioux Falls II.
Mitchell goaltender Drake Jerke has recorded 602 saves and Oahe's Colin Lee 484 this season. Lee has allowed only 2.32 goals per game.
Brookings (Kade Brecher 0.87 goals per game and Addison Ronning, 1.23), Sioux Falls I (Ian Pattison, 0.89 and Cole Langston, 0.98) and Rushmore (Tanner Kopec, 2.0 and Jackson Habrock, 2.18) have each rotated two goalies throughout the season.
Follow Watertown Public Opinion sports reporter Roger Merriam on Twitter @PO_Sports.
This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: Sioux Falls, Brookings, Oahe and Rushmore are teams to beat.
