South Suburban Wins State Adapted Hockey Title

The South Suburban Jets' victory in the Cognitively Impaired (CI) division was a significant upset, as they entered the tournament as the No. 2 seed from the Southeast. This marks their first state championship since winning back-to-back titles in 1995. Their path to the final included defeating the Northeast's top seed, Maple Grove, and the undefeated defending champion, New Prague/Tri-City United/Le Sueur-Henderson/Belle Plaine/Jordan. Sophomore Easton Anderson was a standout player for the Jets, scoring an impressive seven goals in the 11-2 championship victory over Mankato. This performance followed another seven-goal game earlier in the day when the Jets beat the reigning champions 12-3 in the semifinals. Anderson, along with junior goalie Josh Ruz and senior Prince Yeakehson, Jr., were named to the All-Tournament Team. The South Suburban cooperative team includes students from Bloomington Kennedy, Eden Prairie, Edina, and Richfield high schools. Despite having three losses during the regular season, the team peaked at the right time, outscoring their three state tournament opponents by a combined score of 34-7. In the Physically Impaired (PI) division, the Brainerd Warriors secured their third consecutive state title, capping off a second straight undefeated season. Their dominance was evident in the championship game, where they defeated Maple Grove 7-0. The Warriors' offense was a formidable force throughout the tournament, outscoring their opponents 25-1 across three games. Freshman Josh Pence scored a hat trick in the final, while sophomore Aiden Olsen added two goals. Goalie Andrew Kargel, a senior, ended his final season with a shutout in the championship match. The Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) was the first state athletic association in the country to sponsor adapted athletic programs, starting in 1992. The adapted hockey tournament is split into two divisions: the PI division for students with physical impairments and the CI division for those with cognitive impairments.