North Suburban Captures State Title

North Suburban Captures State Title

After being runners-up in 2015, the North Suburban Cougars captured the 2016 CI (Cognitively Impaired) Adapted State Floor Hockey championship by defeating the Anoka-Hennepin Mustangs 6-5. Cougars Sophomore Josh Hamann led all Cougars in scoring throughout state as he tallied a total of 13 goals.

In the state quarterfinals the Cougars faced off against the co-op team of the Brunsville/Farmington/Lakeville. Hamann took over with six goals cruising the Cougars to a 10-2 victory.

In the semi-finals of the state tournament the North Suburban Cougars faced a bit tougher challenge in the form of the St. Cloud Area Slaphshots. But the Cougars again came out firing on all cylinders on offense running away with this game 11-5. Anthony Bengston who was a big player in last years run to the state finals re-emerged with six goals of his own in this one. Hamann scored four goals while goalie Jonathan Caliendo stopped 19-of-24 shots he faced. Proving how dominant the Cougars were, Slapshots goalie David Neumann stopped 50-of-the-61 shots he faced.

The championship game against Anoka-Hennepin was the Cougars biggest challenge of the state tournament. It took all hands on deck to get by Anoka-Hennepin. Hamann scored a hat trick, while Bengston added two goals. It was a goal by Austin Motzko that proved to be the difference maker as he netted the sixth goal for the Cougars, the margin they needed to overcome the Mustangs. Caliendo stopped 30-of-35 shots he faced for the Cougars as they marched on to the state championship.

by Ryan Schleicher

Adapted Floor Hockey All-Tournament Team

• Anthony Bengtson
• Josh Hamann
• Nick Reichenbacher

NorthMetro TV State Championship Game Coverage
Adapted Floor Hockey CI Championship: North Suburban v Anoka-Hennepin

Photo Credit: David Bank Studio