Grand Rapids advances with a win over Rock Ridge on Saturday

With a 6-2 win in game one of the Section 7AA Semifinals, Grand Rapids is in good position for their first state tournament appearance since 2017.

Kicking off Super Saturday at the Amsoil Arena, No. 1 seed Grand Rapids Thunderhawks faced off against No. 4 Rock Ridge Wolverines. Senior goalie Ryan Rothfork took to the net for the Wolverines and Sophomore Carter Casey for Grand Rapids.

Grand Rapids got on the board at 8:52 with a goal from Sophmore Nathan Garski on an assist from Seth Carlson and Bauer Murphy. Nearly five minutes later, Senior Kyler Miller scored assisted by Murphy and Gavin Forrest. Score was 0-2, then with less than a minute remaining, Forrest scores on an assist from William Shermoen and Jameson Duell.

Three more goals came in the 2nd period for the Thunderhawks from Duell, Jacob Garski and Forrest. Score at the end of 2 periods is Rock Ridge 0 – Grand Rapids 6.

The game went into running time at the start of the 3rd period, until Rock Ridge took over scoring two goals, the first from Sophomore Caz Carlson and a power play goal from Senior Brant Tiedeman. Carlson was assisted by Kasey Lamppa and the Tiedeman goal from Sam Troutwine and Grady Dimberio.

To get to the Semifinal game, Grand Rapids defeated No. 9 Cambridge-Isanti 9-0 in the Quarterfinals on February 20. The Wolverines pulled off a miracle marathon victory over No. 5 Forest Lake winning 4-3 in 4 overtimes.