MISSISSIPPI MOJO REPEATS AS USA ELITE LEAGUE CHAMPIONS

The Mississippi Mojo won their second straight USA Elite League Championship on March 3rd, sweeping the Flying Sparrows in the best of three series. In both matches, the Mojo came back after being behind. In the Finals Game #1, they were down 3-1 at halftime, but fought back to tie the score and then won the match on a goal by Dave Martinson with only three minutes left. In Game #2, the Mojo were down 3-0 at half, but again managed to battle back and tie the score late in the game, sending it into sudden death overtime. No team was able to score in the overtime, so the game went into a shootout. With the shootout tied, it came down to the last shooter, and Dave Martinson buried the shot, giving the Mojo their second straight Championship and possession of the iconic Gunnar Cup. 

DAVE MARTINSON NAMED ELITE LEAGUE PLAYOFF MVP

For his scoring heroics including the game winner in both matches in the Finals, the Mojo’s Dave Martinson was named 2021-22 Elite League Playoff MVP.

SAINTS UPSET MINNESOTA BLADES TO WIN DIVISION 1 CHAMPIONSHIP

The defending Division 1 champion Minnesota Blades were again favored to win the Division 1 title this season as they won the regular season title with a 8-2-1 record and along the way added some new talent to the large core of Froneks’, including two former Gopher hockey players Ryan Collins and Jack Glover. But the Saints were confident they could compete with the Blades, as they were playing solid bandy down the stretch. After beating a tough East Isles team in the semi-finals, they headed into the best of three series confident and ready to roll. The Saints won Game #1 of the Finals 3-2, setting up an epic Sunday night match. Down a game, the Blades came ready to play in Game #2, beating the Saints 3-1, setting up a deciding Game #3. The third game ended in a tie, setting up shootout to determine the Division 1 Champion for the second straight year. With both teams tied in the shootout, it came down to the last Saint shooter Nick Omodt, who stepped up and buried his shot past Blades keeper Isaak Tjerden to give the Saints the 2021-22 season title. 

PRESS NAMED DIVISION ONE MVP

For her shutout in Game #3 and clutch saves in the deciding shootout, Saints goalkeeper Paige Press was named 2021-22 Playoff MVP. 

MIKAEL LICKTEIG WINS THIRD STRAIGHT ELITE LEAGUE SCORING TITLE 

Tonka Bay Bomber Mikael Lickteig won his third straight Silver Stick Award, leading the Elite League in scoring for the 2021-22 regular season with 15 goals. He also added four more in the playoffs. Coming off last years’ short season, Lickteig was able to regain his scoring touch and outscore several of the league’s top snipers including Mike Hosfield and Mike Carmen if the Mississippi Mojo and the Erickson brothers, Dane and Evan of the Bandoliers. An interesting statistic: Lickteig and Jon Keseley are the only two players to lead the Elite League in scoring the last 13 years. 

ANDREW SWANSON WINS DIVISION ONE SCORING TITLE 

In only his third season, East Isles Bandy Club forward Andrew Swanson exploded for 20 regular season goals, winning his first Silver Stick Award as the Division One scoring champion. The Red Bull Crashed Ice veteran was able take advantage of the reduced Crashed Ice events this season and find time to polish his bandy skills. It clearly paid off, as Swanson had multiple hat tricks and gave the EIBC squad the scoring threat they have lacked in the past two seasons. Even after a late season call-up to the Elite Tonka Bay Bomber squad he continued to score, adding four more goals against much tougher competition. We hope he continues to improve, as the sky is the limit for Swanson. 

  MANGER OF THE YEAR - RICK HANEY

After several seasons at the bottom of the standings, Duluth Dynamo manager Rick Haney was facing another tough season ahead. In the past, many mangers probably would have thrown in the towel.  But when you play in 20 World Championships, you don’t quit that easy. Haney dug in before this season, tracking down and signing several fast, young skaters that allowed them to be able to go head-to-head with the other Elite teams.  Haney’s new speedsters like Jackson Moore, Ross Anderson, Porter Haney and Ryan Kero were great additions to the team and the steady play of Evan Richardson, Ian Petersen and Mikael Sandberg put the team back on track, highlighted by Duluth Dynamo winning the North American Cup this season. It must also be mentioned that Haney lives in Duluth, Minnesota, which is a 2.5 hour drive each way to the John Rose Oval. Imagine driving five hours to play a bandy game! While busy rebuilding his Duluth bandy team, Haney also helped coach the Proctor-Hermantown Mirage girls high School hockey team to a runner-up finish in the recent MN State Hockey Tourney. For his huge efforts, Rick Haney is the easy choice as 2021-22 Manager of the Year. 

 USA BANDY LEAGUE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR – RYAN KERO

Ryan Kero had a relatively slow start to his bandy career this season, as he began playing in the Rec League under the tutelage of Rec League Director John Magnuson. Word travels fast in USA Bandy, and Kero soon moved up to the Division 1 Tsunami Ice team. He soon moved up again to the Elite League to play with Duluth Dynamo, where he helped them win the North American Cup in January. His rise continued as Team USA coach Chris Halden inserted him into the Team USA line-up for training matches as they prepared for the World Championships (now cancelled) in Russia in March. His rise in bandy should not come to too much of a surprise given his outstanding hockey background. Kero played in three straight Minnesota State High School Championships with Hermantown, where he left as one of Hermantown High School’s all-time leading scorers. He moved on to play junior hockey up in Alaska, then landed at St John’s University where he played varsity hockey for four years. Ryan was a great addition to the USA Bandy League and we hope to see home out there for many years to come.