In a Saturday morning showdown Wisconsin U18 in gray jerseys plays North Dakota in green jerseys with a trip to the championship game on the line. North Dakota is big, physical, and has ASU commit Bryce Mattern. Mattern had 99 points in 27 games for Fargo West this season.

Wisconsin got on the scoreboard first 41 seconds into the game when Ryker Thomas scored with assists to Cooper Simon and Mack Diggins. Wisconsin scored again two minutes later to take a 2-0 lead when Calvin Lakowske of Black River Falls extended the lead to two, with assists from Henry Steele and Tyler Cook. Wisconsin scored again forty seconds later to push the lead to 3-0 when Superior’s Brayden Severin put the puck in the net from a fabulous Jack McKenna pass.

North Dakota had the game’s first power play. Jonah Dickens was called for roughing when he took down North Dakota’s Bryce Matten. Wisconsin scored a shorthanded goal when Nate Spencer was working low in North Dakota’s zone, and he sent a pass to Somerset’s Marshall Haukom. Haukom lasered the puck past the North Dakota goalie to give Wisconsin a 4-0 lead.

With 5:29 remaining in the first period Brayden Lamer and Jack McKenna worked some magic. The smooth handed Mckenna made a brilliant pass to Lamer, and Lamer gave Wisconsin a 5-0 lead. North Dakota’s coach pulled his goalie after Lamer’s goal.

Nate Spencer got called for hooking with 3:29 remaining in the first period. In the final seconds of the power play North Dakota scored with a rocket shot over Griffen Bunnell’s left shoulder. Wisconsin’s lead is now 5-1. North Dakota scored its second goal with 8 seconds remaining in the period.

The first period ended with Wisconsin leading 5-2. Shots were even at 14.

North Dakota scored five minutes into second period to make it 5-3. One minute later North Dakota converted a three on one into a goal. Wisconsin’s five goal lead late in the first period shrunk to a one goal lead six minutes into the second period. It was all North Dakota for the next five minutes. North Dakota scored its fifth consecutive goal at the mid-point of the second period to tie the game 5-5.

Wisconsin regained the momentum when they scored a fantastic power play goal. University School’s Tyler Cook scored giving Wisconsin a 6-5 lead. Mack Diggins and Cooper Simon were credited with assists. Wisconsin regained a two-goal lead only seconds later when Mack Diggins scored a one-timer goal off a splendid pass from Cooper Simon.

In the final minute North Dakota scored to push the game back to a one goal lead. The second period finished with Wisconsin leading 7-6. North Dakota had a 26-21 shot advantage.

Less than a minute into the third period Wisconsin regained a two-goal lead when Mack Diggins scored a power play with assists to Tyler Cook and Cooper Simon. The two-goal lead lasted until 2:30 remained in the game.

North Dakota’s Bryce Mattern scored two goals in the final two minutes to tie the game. His first goal was five-on-five, and his second goal was a penalty shot to tie the game 8-8. North Dakota won the shootout to advance to the championship.

Wisconsin U18 and North Dakota played a fast paced, wildly entertaining game. No lead was safe. With the shootout loss, Wisconsin finished second in Pool A and will play at 10:30AM on Sunday, April 27.