Sioux Falls Flyers Claim South Dakota Girls Hockey Championship, Defeating Brookings Rangers
Mitchell, SD – The Sioux Falls Flyers secured the South Dakota Amateur Hockey Association’s varsity girls tournament championship on Saturday night, completing a dominant run through the state tournament with a 5-0 victory over the Brookings Rangers. The Flyers finished the tournament having outscored opponents 21-0 and completed their season with a 23-1 record.
Flyers’ Championship Run: A Tournament of Dominance
The Sioux Falls Flyers entered the tournament as the top seed and defending champions, showcasing an impressive offensive prowess throughout. Their journey included a decisive 9-0 quarterfinal win against Sioux Center and a 7-0 semifinal victory over Watertown.
Championship Game Recap
Ragyn Peska opened the scoring just 26 seconds into the championship game, setting the tone for the remainder of the contest. Isabella Rigolizzo added another goal before the end of the first period, extending the Flyers’ lead. Peska scored again in the second period, alongside goals from Lucy Nelson and Raegan Pfeifer, solidifying their victory.
Moriah Lincoln was instrumental in the Flyers’ success, recording 20 saves and earning the win in net. The Flyers’ offensive pressure was relentless, with 36 shots on goal compared to Brookings’ 20. Rorii Quam, the Rangers’ goaltender, made an impressive 31 saves despite the Flyers’ constant attack.
Brookings’ Tournament Journey
The Brookings Rangers similarly had a strong showing in the tournament, reaching the championship game after a successful run through the earlier rounds. They began their campaign with a 2-0 quarterfinal win over Rushmore, led by goals from Anna Rasmussen and Miyah Foerster. Brookings then topped Pierre Oahe 7-1 in the semifinals.
Quarterfinal Win Over Rushmore
The Rangers defeated Rushmore 2-0 in the quarterfinals. Anna Rasmussen scored the first goal with 8:11 left in the second period, assisted by Miyah Foerster and Kinzey Grendler. Miyah Foerster scored a goal of her own with 8:20 left in the third, assisted by Grace DeVries. Brookings outshot Rushmore 36-10, with Rorii Quam earning the shutout.
Semifinal Victory Against Pierre Oahe
In the semifinals, the Rangers defeated Pierre Oahe 7-1. Kinzey Grendler scored the only goal of the first period on the power play. Grendler scored again 15 seconds into the second period, followed by goals from Jordyn Anderson and Grendler again. Sawyer Triplett scored the final goal of the period. Miyah Foerster scored two power play goals in the third period. Rorii Quam made 16 saves.
While Brookings managed to defeat Sioux Falls once during the regular season, the Flyers proved to be the stronger team when it mattered most. The Rangers finished the season with a record of 20-4.