Two Timers
Regular-season champs take postseason title

March 29, 2004

Ryan Evenson

The Dubuque ThunderBirds are champions, again. The kings of the Minnesota Junior Hockey League’s regular season knocked off the Minnesota Ice Hawks, 2 games to 1, in the league finals, keeping the nationals-bound team’s hopes alive for a Triple Crown season.

Unlike the regular-seaon crown, the playoff title didn't come easy. It took Ryan Evenson’s overtime goal in the decisive Game 3 to seal the deal for the T-Birds.

Dubuque opened a 1-0 series lead on Friday, when they doubled up the Ice Hawks, 8-4. Evenson scored two goals and an assist in the win, while MJHL Goaltender of the Year Chris Gardeski turned aside 27 shots.

The Ice Hawks got even the next night, knocking off the T-Birds, 4-2. Four different players tallied for Minnesota (League MVP Brad Wiechmann had a goal and an assist). Between the pipes, Joey Spracklen made 34 saves.

The T-Birds’ series-clincher came on Sunday, as Evenson put home the game-winning goal in the extra session (He also had two assists.). Josh Krob also came through in the clutch, recording a hat trick. Gardeski stopped 31 shots en route to the title.

Both the T-Birds and Ice Hawks will represent the MJHL at the national tournament April 2-6 in Syracuse, N.Y.