Appleton defeats Superior in third-place shootout

Appleton United defeated the Superior High School boys hockey team in a shootout to capture third-place in the Duluth Marshall Hilltopper Holiday Classic Saturday afternoon at Mars Lakeview Arena in Duluth.

The teams skated to a 3-3 tie during regulation and a scoreless eight-minute overtime period. Appleton outscored Superior 2-1 in a 3-on-3 shootout.

The Spartans led 3-2 until Appleton tied the game up on Devon Blob’s goal with 41.8 seconds remaining. Cooper Watson assisted on the goal that came 40 seconds after Appleton pulled its goalie for an extra attacker.

Superior had an excellent chance to win the game in overtime when Appleton was called for too many men on the ice.

The Spartans thought they won the game, and actually were lined up to shake hands, after Dane Sislo’s shot from the left circle went off Beau Reder’s skate and got past Appleton goaltender Dylan Phinney. But after a brief discussion, the referees ruled Reder kicked at the puck and disallowed the goal.

During the shootout, Watson hit the left post and Superior’s Aaron Miller hit the right post.

Both teams scored in the second round, starting with Appleton’s Matthew McKeever, who scored on a back-hander. Superior’s Daniel Burger tied it up at 1-1 when he shoveled a back-hander just under the cross bar.

Trenton Bliss then beat SHS goaltender Paxton Paine with a high wrist shot, and Appleton completed the win when Phinney made a pad save on Aaron Wakefield-Zubiate’s attempt.

Superior outshot Appleton 40-19, with Paine stopping 16 shots and Phinney 37.

Appleton’s Tyler Tumey scored the only goal in the first period during a 5-on-3 power play.

Superior tied it up 3:36 into the second period when Miller sent a lead pass up ice, Wakefield-Zubiate beat an Appleton player to the puck and then beat Phinney with a back-hander.

Appleton tied it up 1:03 later when Keon Schmidt put home his own rebound with help from Blob.

Superior tied it up six seconds into a power play when Miller won a draw to Wakefield-Zubiate, who scored on a wrist shot from the right circle.

During a Superior flurry of around five shots on goal, the Spartans finally took a 3-2 lead when Tyler Nystrom picked up a loose puck in the slot, spun around and scored on a high wrist shot. The unassisted goal came with 10:14 remaining in the third period.

SPARTAN SPIN: Green Bay Notre Dame defeated Duluth Marshall 6-3 in the championship game. … The Spartans played Friday and Saturday without senior captain Trent Olson, who suffered an injury late in Thursday’s win over Delano. … Superior’s back in action at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Proctor.

Appleton 1-1-1-0—3

Superior 0-2-1-0—3

First Period: 1. A, Tyler Tumey (Keon Schmidt, Cooper Watson), 14:29 (5-on-3).

Second Period: 2. SHS, Aaron Wakefield-Zubiate 8 (Aaron Miller 18), 3:36. 3. A, Schmidt (Devon Blob), 4:39. 4. SHS, Wakefield-Zubiate 9 (Miller 19), 11:25 (pp).

Third Period: SHS, Tyler Nystrom 12, 6:46. 6. A, Blob (Watson), 16:19 (6-on-4).

Overtime: No scoring.

Shootout: Appleton, Watson, no; Matthew McKeever, yes; Trenton Bliss, yes. Superior, Miller, no; Daniel Burger, yes; Wakefield-Zubiate, no.

No. 1 ranked Tritons blank Spartans

After defeating Delano (Minn.) 3-2 on Thursday, the Spartans lost to Green Bay Notre Dame 3-0 in the semifinals on Friday night.

The Tritons, 9-0 and ranked No. 1 in the state of Wisconsin, scored all three of their goals in the second period.

Paine finished with 25 saves for the Spartans, who had 22 shots on goal.

GBND 0-3-0—3

Superior 0-0-0—0

First period — No scoring.

Second period — 1. Will Pavek (Tony Stillwell), :11; 2. Jason Reynolds (Steven Phillips, Stillwell), 3:23; 3. Phillips (Jason Reynolds, Pavek), 15;40.

Third period — No scoring.

Saves — Eli Hicks, NDA, 23; Paxton Paine, S, 25.

Duluth Marshall Hilltopper Holiday Classic

Boys Hockey Tournament

Thursday, Dec. 27

Superior 4, Delano (Minn.) 3

Green Bay Notre Dame 2, Mankato West 1

Duluth Marshall 7, Madison Edgewood 1

Appleton 12, Proctor 2

Friday, Dec. 28

Consolation Semifinals

Mankato West 9, Delano 4

Madison Edgewood 9, Proctor 1

Semifinals

Green Bay Notre Dame 3, Superior 0

Duluth Marshall 9, Appleton 0, late in 3rd period

Saturday, Dec. 28

Seventh-place

Delano 7, Proctor 0

Cons. Championship

Mankato 5, Madison Edgewood 3

Third-place

Appleton 3, Superior 3 (Appleton wins shootout 2-1)

Championship

G.B. Notre Dame 6, Duluth Marshall 3

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