It took double overtime, but for back to back years, Grand Rapids has cashed their ticket to the Minnesota State High School Hockey Tournament. Micah Miller scored the game-winner at 10:19 of the second overtime to send his team to state.

VIDEO OF THE GAME-WINNER:

Grand Rapids started the game out fast, outshooting Duluth East 8-1 to start the game. The Thunderhawks also got on the scoreboard first with Minnesota Gopher commit Blake McLaughlin scoring four minutes and twenty-one seconds into the game. Duluth East tied it up at one four minutes later with a power play goal by Ryder Donovan. Special teams dominated most of the first period with a combined five penalties called in the first frame.

Grand Rapids opened the second period on a power play and Thunderhawks Junior defenseman Michael Heitkamp scored to put Grand Rapids up 2-1. Following the sequence of the first period, Duluth East tied the game at 2 during the middle of the period when Garret Worth took a pass at the goal mouth from Ian Mageau. Grand Rapids outshot Duluth East 18-11 in the 2nd period with only one penalty called on Duluth East.

The third period saw no goals but plenty of chances by both teams and only two penalties called early in the period. The first overtime saw both teams playing things somewhat safe.

Attendance for the Section 7AA final was 7054.

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