The Minutemen Flames opened their USA Hockey 15U National Championship Tournament with a dramatic 3-2 overtime win over the LA Jr. Kings in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Brayden Erickson was the star of the show, finishing with a goal and two assists for a 3-point night to lead Massachusetts to the victory.
Erickson, the St. George's forward from Longmeadow, was involved in all three Flames goals. The 2010-born winger had his fingerprints all over this one, creating chances and finishing when it mattered most in overtime to send the Flames to 1-0 at Nationals.
But Erickson didn't do it alone. Sam Lee (#11, Belmont Hill) and Owen Frick (#88, Cushing Academy) each scored a goal, while the assists were spread across the lineup with contributions from the blueline and the forward group alike.
Six different Flames players registered at least a point in the win, showing the kind of balanced attack that can make a deep run at Nationals. The defensive pairings contributed with assists from Alex Guo (#4, Belmont Hill) and Ryan Porter (#14, Dexter Southfield), while Ethan Machado (#82, Cushing Academy) added a helper up front.
The Flames are representing Massachusetts as one of two Bay State teams at the tournament alongside the Neponset Valley River Rats. An overtime win in the opener is exactly the kind of statement game this team needed to set the tone for the week.
Stay tuned to State of Hockey for continued coverage of both Massachusetts teams at USA Hockey 15U Nationals in Green Bay.