Warroad Hockey after the overtime breakthrough: Warriors top Hibbing-Chisholm for Class 1A state title
warroad hockey delivered the turning point of the Minnesota boys state tournament when the Warroad Warriors edged Hibbing-Chisholm 5-4 in overtime to claim the MSHSL Class 1A championship at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul, Minnesota.
The victory marked Warroad’s first state title since 2005 and the fifth in school history, sealing a game that swung repeatedly and ultimately required extra time to decide the champion.
What Happens When Warroad Hockey and Hibbing-Chisholm trade late punches?
The Class 1A title game unfolded as a back-and-forth battle between two northern programs, with momentum shifting late in regulation. Hibbing’s Whitaker Rewertz, a sophomore, tied the game with 4: 36 remaining in regulation on a wrist shot for his second goal of the game and fourth of the tournament. Hibbing then moved ahead when Benny Galli finished a rebound goal with 3: 45 remaining.
Warroad responded in the closing minute. With 46 seconds remaining in regulation, Gavin Andersen scored the tying goal by deflecting a shot from the point by Broden Hontvet and redirecting it into the net, forcing overtime with the score level at 4-4.
In overtime, Mooney Shaugabay ended it quickly, knocking in the game-winner one minute into the extra session to secure the 5-4 win and the Class 1A title for the Warriors.
What If the championship is decided by early execution and special teams pressure?
Warroad struck first in the championship game when Conner Lund scored to make it 1-0 with 15: 46 on the clock. Lund gathered the puck and fired a shot past Hibbing goalie Gavin Lamphere’s glove from above the right face-off circle; the puck bounced off the right post and went in. Casey Hendrickson assisted on the opening goal.
Hibbing generated pressure and chances at multiple points, including a 1-on-1 opportunity when Kelin Elsner intercepted a puck at the Warroad blue line, and a scramble in front of Warroad goalie Patrick Kennedy that saw the puck move from the crease out to the blue line and back again without a goal. As play continued, Hibbing controlled possession and outshot Warroad for stretches, but Warroad remained difficult to break down for clean chances.
Special teams also entered the picture in the second period when Hibbing’s Cole Swanson went to the penalty box for interference, giving Warroad a power play with 12: 38 remaining in the period.
What Happens When the tournament atmosphere reaches record levels?
The championship arrived amid a tournament environment described as “remarkable” by fans in attendance, reflecting the scale of the moment for players and families. The Class 1A semifinals drew a record 14, 422 fans at Grand Casino Arena, setting the stage for a high-attention title Saturday.
For some families, the day involved significant travel to see Warroad compete in St. Paul. Tracy Atkinson drove more than six hours to watch her nephew play for Warroad, attending alongside Kelly Biondi and more than 25 family members. Biondi described the tournament experience as rare for players, calling it a moment few get to reach and one they will remember for years.
What If Warroad Hockey’s path to the title is defined by rallying?
The Warriors’ championship was preceded by a semifinal comeback that sent them into the Class A final. In the Class 1A semifinals, No. 3 Warroad defeated No. 2 Delano 6-3, becoming the first lower seed to win a game during the 2026 Boys State Hockey Tournament.
Delano led 2-0 after the first period, but Warroad surged in the second. The Warriors scored three goals in a span of less than a minute and a half, with Gavin Anderson scoring first, Ryan Shaugabay scoring next, and Broden Hontvet adding the third to put Warroad ahead 3-2. After Delano tied the game early in the third period on a Brady Kangas goal, Warroad regained control when Anderson scored his second goal of the game to restore the Warriors’ one-goal lead with 14 minutes remaining. Warroad held on from there to reach the championship.
The title win over Hibbing-Chisholm completed the run, as the Warriors followed their rallying semifinal with an overtime decision in the final.
With the overtime finish, warroad hockey closes the season as the MSHSL Class 1A champion, lifting the program’s first state trophy since 2005 after a 5-4 win over Hibbing-Chisholm at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul.
