Midgets make state

The mood of the Dickinson girls hockey team should have been one of celebration on Tuesday night.

After all, the Midgets had just secured a thrilling 4-3 win over Williston at the Dickinson Recreation Center and earned a trip to the state tournament in their final home game of the season.

However, the mood was tempered by the absence of junior McKenzie Kinzel, who was checked into the boards in the third period and had to be taken off the ice on a stretcher.

Dickinson coach Chris Coates said it wasn't clear if she was going to fine, but said Kinzel was able to speak to her coach and teammates at the hospital.

"She appeared verbally in good spirits," Coates said.

Coates said Kinzel was able to watch the final seconds of the Midgets' win, which put Dickinson in the state tournament. It will be the first time any player on Dickinson's roster has made it to state.

"I thought we all played pretty well," Dickinson goalie Ashley Ludwig said. "We finally picked it up."

Ludwig allowed three goals on the night, but played her best hockey in a crucial third period that saw Williston fire 14 shots on the senior netminder. She faced 15 in the first two periods and finished with 27 saves to improve Dickinson's win streak to four games.

"Ashley played up to the task and definitely played great for us," Coates said. "We were really hoping that our upperclassmen -- our seniors and juniors -- were going to lead the way and they did. They starred."

Ludwig allowed one goal in the third period, a netter in the final 2 minutes, 7 seconds of the game to bring Williston within one at 4-3.

Three of Dickinson's four goals came on a hat trick by senior Christina Lantz, who scored a goal in each period.

Her final goal proved to be the game winner as freshman Kira Kuntz shot the puck twice and missed, and Lantz was able to clean up. The goal was short handed.

"This is her senior year," Coates said. "She had an opportunity to shine out there. She's a leader, not just our captain. She's a leader on the ice. She knows what's got to be done out there."

Williston senior Rachel Hennessy started the scoring with an unassisted power-play goal in the first period. Lantz came back with goal on assists from Nicole Messer and Madison Kinzel.

The Coyotes took a 2-1 lead in the first period when Sami Monson scored in the final 2 minutes. Williston goalie Kinsey McCaughtry stopped 24 of 27 shots in the game.

The Midgets answered and took the lead with goals from Lantz and Madison Kinzel in the second period. Kinzel's score was on the power play. Lantz' goal in the third gave Dickinson a 4-2 lead and sent the Midgets to the state tournament.

"We put everything out there," Coates said. "They gave 110 percent and never gave up. I'm ecstatic."

Williston 2 0 1 - 3

Dickinson 1 2 1 - 4

FIRST PERIOD: 1, W, Rachel Hennessy (unassisted), 4:35, power play. 2, D, Christina Lantz (Nicole Messer, Madison Kinzel), 12:47. 3, W, Sami Monson (Randi Gustafson), 15:22.

SECOND PERIOD: 4, D, C. Lantz (Brittney Meyer), 3:28. 5, Madison Kinzel (Lynae Messer, Amity Lantz), 9:07, pp.

THIRD PERIOD: 5, D, C. Lantz (Kira Kuntz), 7:13, short-handed. 6, W, Hennessy (unassisted), 14:53.

SAVES: W, 8-9-7--24. D, Ashley Ludwig 7-6-11--27.