Episodes – Page 53 – WDAY Radio

Spuds vs Stillwater (Full Game) Broadcast

(ST. PAUL, MINN) – For the first time in school history, the Moorhead Spuds are state boys hockey champions.

The Spuds held off a late charge by Stillwater Area to win the Class AA championship 7-6 at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn. KSTP TV reported that more than 20,000 fans were in attendance to watch the game.

“I’m incredibly proud of their resilience,” head coach Jon Ammerman said in the postgame press conference. “That’s maybe been the word of the week this week, a group that, the highs and lows of the game, found ways to win.”

Brooks Cullen was named the Herb Brooks Award winner. In the championship game.

“It’s unbelievable,” he said. “Especially to get the first championship for Moorhead.”

Cullen notched the game’s – and Moorhead’s – third goal in the first period. Brooks, the son of former NHL’er Matt Cullen, an assistant coach on the Moorhead squad, added an assist in the contest.

Brooks remarked on having his dad on the bench.

“It’s awesome,” he said. “Just his hockey IQ and his hockey knowledge is unbelievable.”

Mason Kraft continued to have a banner tournament, scoring four goals for the Spuds – and tallied an assist.

Kraft was one of several players who made the decision to return to the team – a decision he doesn’t regret.

“It obviously paid off,” he said. “Even if it didn’t end in a state championship, I was so glad I returned. Just to be with this group, it was so special. We’re just so close, I’m so happy.”

Spuds vs Edina (Full Game) Broadcast

There will be a new 2A boys hockey state champion in Minnesota. The Moorhead Spuds edged the Edina Hornets 4-3 to punch their ticket to Saturday night’s title game.

Moorhead goaltender Charlie Stenehjem struggled giving up three goals in the first period on Edina’s 11 shots. Zac Zimmerman and Mason Kraft scored for Moorhead, while Edina’s Mason West recorded a hat trick. The Spuds trailed 3-2 after the opening period.

In the second period Moorhead’s defense picked up the intensity and only allowed three shots on net. Brooks Cullen scored a goal midway through the period assisted by Max Cullen. The rest of the period was a stalemate as the game was tied 3-3 after the second period.

In the third period the Hornets record nine shots on net. but Stenehjem held strong, not allowing a goal. Late in the third period Moorhead ended up on the power play, and with 59 seconds remaining in regulation, Zac Zimmerman found the puck on his stick after a re-directed shot… He buried the puck in the back of the net… 4-3 Moorhead.

The final 59 seconds Edina made a push, but Moorhead held on to survive 4-3.

The No. 1 seeded Spuds will now square off with No. 2 seeded Stillwater in the state championship game on Saturday night at 7 p.m. All the game coverage will be available on WDAY Radio, beginning with the pregame at 6:30 p.m. with Steve Hallstrom. Larry Knutson will be on the play-by-play call.

Knutson has broadcast all eight Moorhead Spud boys hockey state championship games, but they have yet to win the elusive title entering tonight’s game.

Spuds vs Lakeville South (Full Game) Broadcast)

The Top seeded Moorhead Spuds found themselves down early in Thursday evenings state quarterfinals game at the Xcel Energy Center. Moorhead gave up three first period goals, plus a fourth on the first shot of the second period.

Moorhead was trailing 4-2 in the second, before eventually scoring the games final five goals to defeat South 7-4. Spuds senior forward Mason Kraft led the way with four goals. Zac Zimmerman, Brooks Cullen, and Tyden Bergeson all added a goal apiece in the win.

Goaltender Charlie Stenejhem struggles early giving up four goals on Lakesville’s first 14 shots. Stenejhem would stand on his head for the rest of the night though, saving the final 13 shots he faced to end the night.

No. 1 Moorhead will now square off with defending state championship in No. 5 seeded Edina at 8 p.m. on Friday night. Game coverage will be available on WDAY Radio with a half hour pregame show with Steve Hallstrom followed by the play-by-play call with Larry Knutson.