NOTE: This story will be updated.
The season came to an end for the Superior High School boys hockey team with a 4-1 loss to the Hudson Raiders in a WIAA sectional championship game Saturday afternoon at the Amery Ice Arena.
Hudson outshot Superior 11-8 in the opening period and seemed to take a 1-0 lead with 8:56 on the clock, but the goal was disallowed because of a hand pass.
The biggest save by Spartan goaltender Caden Welch came with 2:04 remaining when he stopped a Hudson 3-on-1 advantage with a toe save.
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The Raiders won the second period 2-0.
Jordan Halverson scored at 2:21 with assists from Peyton Hanson and Dylan Carr and Cole Danielson scored unassisted with a little less than four minutes remaining.
Superior went on the power play midway through the third period when Hudson goaltender Alex Cohen was called for playing with and illegal helmet.
After a short delay while Cohen found a different helmet, the Spartans capitalized with the man advantage when Cayden Laurvick dumped the puck, it took a funny bounce off the boards and Cohen misplayed it, leaving it in the crease where Laurvick poked it home.
The unassisted goal came with seven minutes remaining.
With 1:13 remaining Superior’s Gunnar Hansen had two or three whacks at the puck near the left post before Cohen was able to cover up the puck.
That was followed by Superior calling its timeout and pulling Welch for an extra attacker.
Hudson sealed its victory with two empty-net goals by Hanson. His first came from his own defensive zone with 36.3 seconds left. The second was with 3.5 seconds on the clock.
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Hudson will take a 25-1-1 record into the state tournament, which begins Thursday at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison.
Superior’s season ends with a record of 14-11-2.
SPARTAN SPIN: The Spartans played without senior captain Max Plunkett, who was given a game DQ in their win over New Richmond. … Superior is 67-3 all-time in home playoff games. Four of the wins were in OT. … Superior also lost to Hudson twice during the regular season -- 2-1 at Hudson on Dec. 2 and 4-1 on Jan. 20 at Wessman Arena. … The Spartans are now 16-13-1 all-time vs. Hudson, including 1-8-1 over the past three seasons. ... Superior’s last win was 2-1 in the 2015 sectional championship (Hudson won both games during the regular season). … Seniors playing their final game for the Spartans were Plunkett, Luke Drougas, Blake Hanson, Ullan, Tucker Stamper, Ty Christianson and Welch.
Superior 0 0 1 -- 1
Hudson 0 2 2 -- 4
First Period -- No scoring.
Penalties -- Kaleb Ullan, SHS (cross checking), 5:08. Tucker Stamper, SHS (hooking), 12:10.
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Second Period -- 1. Jordan Halverson, H (Peyton Hanson, Dylan Carr), 2:21. 2. H, Cole Danielson.
Penalties -- Bennett Schrank, H (tripping), 7:31. Shrank, H (hooking), 10:09.
Third Period -- 3. SHS, Cayden Laurvick, 10:00 (pp). 4. H, Hanson, 16:14 (en). 5. H, Hanson (Ben Lundeen), 16:57 (en).
Penalties -- Alex Cohen, H (illegal equipment - helmet), 8:48.
Saves -- Caden Welch, SHS, 11-7-2--20. Alex Cohen, H, 8-10-9--27.
