For the last 21 years, Northland Pines has invited three other teams to play in the Pines Classic Tournament. This year, University School of Milwaukee, Hayward, and Mosinee are all participating in the unique tournament yet again. Instead of the visiting teams staying in hotels, the Pines players graciously open up their homes to the different players and provide a team breakfast the following morning, creating unforgettable memories and camaraderie between teams from all over the state of Wisconsin.

The Pines Classic Tournament traditionally starts with a game between Mosinee and Northland Pines that counts towards their Great Northern Conference standings. Mosinee has won the game the last two years, last year in overtime, with Pines not advancing to the championship game in three years. No current member of the Pines squad has won the Pines Classic Tournament. 

Pines dominated the first period, outshooting Mosinee 17-3. The Eagles scored the lone goal in the period after Colton Raymond went one on one with Zach Bednar, slowly slipping the puck into the back of the net. Zeth Pyan of Mosinee tied up the game half way though the second period. 

Mosinee and Pines both got increasingly more aggressive as the game went on. Multiple penalties were assessed in the second period, including a ten minute misconduct.

Nick Dean scored on the power play, launching the puck bar down to give the home team the advantage. Connor Cox scored Pines’ third goal just a minute later, assisted by Noah Wittkopf. 

Mosinee came back to the ice at full speed after the second zamboni break, scoring two goals within the first three minutes. Michael Alfonso got the puck right past Pines’ net minder, Ethan Polich, two minutes in, followed by Landon Stepan tallying the game tying goal a minute later. 

Dylan Bednar scored in the second half of the final period, giving Mosinee a 4-3 advantage that Pines was unable to overcome despite a great effort.

After the game, one of Pines' senior defensemen, Connor Cox, commented "we need to stay disciplined in the defensive zone. We let a couple guys get loose and they scored goals off of us today, which played a big part in why we lost tonight."

Mosinee advances to face the University School of Milwaukee at 2:30 for the championship game while Pines will play Hayward at 12:00 for the consolation title.