WILLMAR -- The Willmar Cardinals skated into the championship game today of the eight-team Willmar Bus Cup boys hockey tournament.
The Cardinals (3-5) beat back Pierre, S.D., 5-1 on Tuesday at the Civic Center. They will face Luverne today in the championship at 4 p.m.
Willmar peppered Capitals' goalie Cody bishop with 50 shots. He stopped all but five.
Cam Swenson scored the only goal of the first period for a 1-0 Willmar lead.
Tom Chester and Grant Schow scored powerplay goals in the middle period to stretch the lead to 3-0. Tyler Bredeson made it 4-0 at 11:22 of the third.
ADVERTISEMENT
Ryan Johnson scored 28 seconds later for the Capitals lone goal.
The Capitals, a 17-year-old program, play in the eight-team South Dakota High School League, santion by USA hockey.
Coach Rob Kittay, who grew up in Minnetonka, said his team will play 34 games, including a state tournament.
Varsity teams include Rapid City, Mitchell, Sioux Falls and Aberdeen.
Willmar 4, Pierre, SD, 1
Pierre (10-2-1) 0 0 1 -- 1
Willmar (3-5) 1 2 2 -- 5
FIRST PERIOD - Wil: Cam Swenson (Liam Johnston) 13:40
ADVERTISEMENT
SECOND PERIOD - Wil: Tom Chester (unassisted) pp, 12:00 ... Wil: Grant Schow (Johnston, Zech Streed) pp, 9:52
THIRD PERIOD - Wil: Tyler Bredeson (unassisted) 11:22 ... Pier: Ryan Johnson (unassisted) 11:50 ... Wil: Gabe Amon (Landon Peterson) 13:00
GOALIE SAVES - Pierre: Cody Bishop ... Willmar: Christian Yrttimaa
