GRAND RAPIDS HOCKEY VS ROCK RIDGE-SEC 7AA FINAL-FEB 26 2026-AMSOIL ARENA - RAPIDS GOES TO STATE

Описание: Grand Rapids Thunderhawks defeat the Rock Ridge Wolverines 4 to 1 in Sec 7AA finals. Amsoil Arena Duluth Mn Feb 26th 2026. Move on to State Tournament Thursday as 5th seed versus Rosemount High School.

Grand Rapids returning to State after winning Section 7AA
Jonathan Ryan Herald Review Feb 27, 2026 0
Grand Rapids returning to State after winning Section 7AA
(Photo courtesy Mark Sauer/Mesabi Tribune)

The Thunderhawks enter a STATE of elation after winning Section 7AA with a 4-1 victory over Rock Ridge Thursday at Amsoil Arena in Duluth.

DULUTH — “We didn’t play a perfect game, but it was near it,” Grand Rapids head coach Grant Clafton said after the No.1 seed Thunderhawks beat the No. 2 Rock Ridge Wolverines 4-1 in the Section 7AA Boys Hockey Championship Thursday night at Amsoil Arena.

The Wolverines took an early 1-0 lead when a bouncing puck ricocheted off Rock Ridge leading-scorer Caz Carlson and down below Luke Sherlock’s pads midway through the first period. The sophomore goaltender didn’t give an inch the rest of the game, turning away 33 of 34 shots by the Wolverines. He stood tall and wouldn’t crack under pressure, making quality saves that frustrated Rock Ridge as he stifled multiple dangerous chances throughout the game. Sherlock’s performance in net empowered the Thunderhawks to score two goals in the second period and two more in the third for a 4-1 championship victory that punched their ticket back to the MSHSL Class AA Boys Hockey Tournament in St. Paul at Grand Casino Arena, where they’ll be one of the final eight AA teams left standing in the state.

Rock Ridge is coached by former Stanley Cup Champion Matt Niskanen and has never earned a trip to the state tournament.

The Thunderhawks outshot the Wolverines in each of the first two periods, but it was Sherlock who answered the bell in the third period, saving all 15 shots from a desperate Rock Ridge team on the brink of elimination.

Grand Rapids went down 1-0 at nine minutes in the first period, ending Sherlock’s playoff shutout streak at 111 minutes, but the team never pulled back or appeared shaken. If anything, they looked faster and worked harder the rest of the game.

Senior Seth Carlson had several close chances in on Rock Ridge goaltender Wyatt Jonassen, as did fellow senior Nathan Garski, who caught iron past Jonassen as well. Junior Ander Rajala was a menace for the Wolverines and senior Jameson Duell was active in the offensive zone but they had difficulty getting clean looks at Jonassen with thei Grand Rapids did all they could to solve Jonassen, who was sharp while turning away shot after shot.

Back-to-back penalties in the second period changed Rock Ridge’s fortune. Rapids went to work operating a 5-on-3 with the state’s second-best power play unit for a minute 1:41. It didn’t take them long to prove why that’s the case. Garski immediately hit the post as Rapids threatened and shortly later, it was senior Will Shermoen who received a pass from Garski and fired a shot from the left circle, beating the Rock Ridge goaltender and evening things up. It was a brand new game for Grand Rapids while stress built for the Wolverines, who still remained shorthanded 5-4 following the tying goal. Their worst fears rang true less than a minute later as Carlson scored his 20th goal of the year on Jonassen’s doorstep. Rajala drove the net from a sharp angle and the puck drifted to Carlson’s stick, who buried it to give them a 2-1 lead. In less than 40 seconds, Grand Rapids turned a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 lead after going 2-2 with the advantage.

After the second period Clafton said the team’s adversity this season helped make them for these moments.

“I’ve liked our game the whole time so far. We just have to stick with it and keep getting pucks behind their D. Stick with it. We’ve had adversity all year like any other team and we’ve come through it in the end. These guys believe in themselves and a big kill coming up,” he said
At around seven minutes into the third, senior Dylan Clayton got in behind a tired Rock Ridge defense to beat Jonassen and give Rapids a two-goal lead, 3-1 with 10 minutes to play.


With time ticking away, a Wolverines’ elbow put Grand Rapids back on the power play. Ander Rajala nearly scored early but at the other end, a turnover behind the Rapids’ net put Caz Carlson right out in front of Sherlock with the puck, but Sherlock was ready, making an incredible save and frustrating the Wolverines, who couldn’t find a way to beat the sophomore again after the initial goal.

After the kill, Rock Ridge pulled Jonassen for the extra man but Dylan Clayton gained possession and sent a rink-wide shot into the back of the empty net to ice it

Luke Sherlock was spectacular as he saved 33 of 34 shots while the players in front of him played heavy and fast, with grit and compete. That’s their recipe as they head to St. Paul next week to join the final eight for the MSHSL Class AA Boys State Hockey Tournament.

1