GF Red River tops GF Central in 2024 NDHSAA boys hockey state title game

By Tom Mix
NDHSAA Media Specialist

FARGO – Grand Forks Red River broke through for its 20th NDHSAA boys hockey state championship on Saturday at Scheels Arena, but in order to do so it needed to get past its crosstown rivals Grand Forks Central – a squad that had been pesky against the Roughriders all season.

After falling behind 2-0 in the title game, the Roughriders scored four unanswered goals to skate to a 4-2 win.

Leading the way for Red River was senior forward Keegan Buckley, who scored two goals in the second period including the go-ahead score at the 12:57 mark of the second.

Central sophomore forward Gavin Wockenfuss scored the game’s first goal just over a minute into the first period and Central senior defensemen Tray Kuntz added a goal at the 8:05 mark of the first period to give the Knights a 2-0 lead.

It looked as though Central might be on its way to another victory against the Roughriders after scoring a 3-2 overtime win in the regular season and a 2-1 win in the East Region Tournament championship.

It wasn’t to be as Red River sophomore defensemen Cullen Rost scored at the 11:50 mark of the first period.  

Junior forward Tyson Ulmer scored with 37 seconds left in the second period to give Red River a 4-2 advantage.

Red River goalie Tucker Hager made 29 saves in net. Central goalie Jaxon Washburn finished the game with 39 saves.

It was the 11th time that Red River and Central had met in the state championship game. The All-Time Championship Series meetings between the Roughriders and Knights is now 6-4-1 in favor of Central.

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM:

Forward: Zach Skarperud, South/Shanley
Forward: Evan Panzer, GF Central
Forward: Keegan Buckley, Red River
Forward: Grant Gardner, Red River
Defense: Mason Ray, Red River
Goalie: Jaxon Washburn, GF Central

Tournament MVP
Keegan Buckley, Red River

RINK WRITER GAME SHEET: GRAND FORKS RED RIVER

RINK WRITER GAME SHEETS: 2024 NDHSAA BOYS HOCKEY STATE TOURNAMENT

2024 NDHSAA BOYS HOCKEY STATE TOURNAMENT BRACKET

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