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Laura Burch’s goal, her third of the game, with just over a minute remaining gave the Chisago Lakes Wildcats U10B girls’ hockey team a 4-3 victory over Sauk Rapids in the District 10 championship game played at Fogarty Arena Sunday, February 26. The Wildcats won four games in a row at the district tournament to earn the first place trophy.

In their first district game, the Wildcats defeated Mora 2-1. Next, Burch and Miranda Krumm had two goals each as they beat Cambridge 4-1. In the semifinal game against Champlin, Delaney Doriott had a hat trick as the Wildcats won in triple overtime, 4-3, to advance to the championship game. “Fortunately, Delaney can raise the puck,” said Wildcat head coach Tom Wilson, and that helped her score goals. She’s got a hard shot to begin with. Goalies were flinching on some of her shots.”

The Wildcats and Champlin were knotted up 3-3 after three periods and through the second overtime. At that point, a tiebreaker of shots on goal in the second overtime is used to determine a winner. The two teams tied in shots, however, necessitating a third overtime. Neither team scored, but the Wildcats outshot Champlin Park 5-0 in the third overtime to claim the victory and advance to the championship game.

The score was tied 2-2 going into the third period of the championship game, with Wildcat goals scored by Burch and Krumm. Sauk Rapids scored less than a minute into the third period to take a 3-2 lead. Burch scored, assisted by Jade Wilson and Ali Menne, with 5:42 left to tie the game at 3-3. And with just over a minute left in the game, Burch completed the hat trick, assisted by Wilson and Allison Ives. Pandemonium erupted on the Chisago Lakes side of the arena, and the excitement continued after the last minute ticked off the clock and the Wildcats became the 2006 District 10 champions.

“Every single player improved over the course of the year,” said Wilson. “The girls played well at the very end of the season when they really needed to. And they went as far as they could for their age level, since there are no regional or state playoffs at the 10-year-old level.

“Our goalie, Michelle Christensen, played well the whole tourney. She made some big saves to help keep the scores down and give our girls a chance to score and win some games.”

In addition to their District 10 championship, the Wildcats won the Chisago Lakes tourney and placed third in two other tournaments this season.

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