Ice Hawks earn nationals berth
Minnesota, Dubuque series wins get Ice Hawks to Syracuse

March 21, 2004

Shaun Meinke

The Minnesota Ice Hawks secured the Minnesota Junior Hockey League’s second berth to next month’s national tournament with a 2 games to 0 semifinals series sweep over the St. Paul Lakers.

Minnesota’s triumph, coupled with the Dubuque ThunderBirds’ series sweep over the Twin Cities Northern Lights, guarantees the Ice Hawks a trip to nationals.

The Ice Hawks took Game 1 on Friday, 5-2, as Shawn Meinke supplied much of the offense with a hat trick. League MVP Brad Wiechmann scored a goal and two assists, while Joe Gaulrapp pitched in three helpers. In goal, Joey Spracklen turned aside 32 shots.

Minnesota got the brooms out on Saturday with an 8-4 victory over St. Paul. Meinke scored another two goals, and Mike Christensen chipped in two tallies of his own. Gaulrapp and Wiechmann each had two assists. Justin Sgro got the ‘W’ between the pipes, stopping 30 shots.

Dubuque, which is headed to nationals because of its regular-season championship, won the first game of its semifinals series on Thursday, 4-0, behind a 26-save performance by MJHL Goaltender of the Year Chris Gardeski. Four different players scored for the T-Birds (Andy Ockuly had a goal and two assists).

The T-Birds turned out the Lights on Saturday with a 5-1 victory. The balanced scoring continued, as five different ‘Birds lit the lamp. Ockuly and Reed Lally each had a goal and an assist. Between the posts, Josh Skinner made 24 saves.

The MJHL best-of-three championship series commences on Friday in Rochester.