The Minneapolis Bandolier club assembled by Captain Andrew Knutson had dominated their way to a 3-0 record in pool play, and the number one seed in the championship match. A rematch with the Dinkytown Dukes would decide the 2014 North American Cup of Rink Bandy Champion. The teams squared off at the Plymouth Ice Center in a back and forth battle, which ultimately saw the Dukes hang on to a 9-7 Cup victory.

Back on September 3rd the four captains picked their teams for this year’s tournament. Johnny Arundel was randomly dealt the 4th and final pick in the first round. However, as it was a ‘snake’ draft procedure, he also had the 5th overall pick. Arundel cleverly split up the Knutson brothers by taking Peter Knutson with his first round pick, and then came right back and took another speedy goal scoring forward in Andy Hogan with the first pick in the second round. From there he built a championship club that had the perfect mix of speed, scoring, defense, and of course cagy veterans.

The Dinkytown Dukes featured players from seven of the ten different teams in the summer league, the most diverse of any of the four teams drafted. The Dukes seemed to get better and more comfortable with each other every match together, saving their best for last by playing an excellent Championship game.

John Arundel got the Dukes off and running quickly, both scoring and setting up several of the teams seven first half goals. Goalkeeper Danny Bly, a constant for the Dukes all tournament, was very impressive as he backstopped the squad and gave them confidence to attack and take chances. A goal by Arundel in the last thirty seconds of the first half put the score 7-3 in favor of the Dukes at the interval. 

A wild second half started with a flurry of scoring. The Dukes put home two more quick goals, increasing the score to 9-3. Just when it looked like the Bandolier were out of steam, they turned up the intensity several notches and pushed back. Four very quick goals in under six minutes moved the game back to a 9-7 Dukes lead. Incredibly, six goals had been scored in the first seven minutes of the second half.

The final minutes ticked off the clock and the intensity mounted. Several close calls for both teams brought the crowd to its feet, but the 9-7 score remained. The Dukes banded together and played a collapsing style of team defense, displaying the poise usually seen by a club who have been playing together for years. The final three minutes saw yet another surge by the Bandolier club, but this was to be the Dukes night. Keeping the ball out of their own net, the Dinkytown Dukes finished with a 9-7 victory and raised the 2014 North American Cup of Rink Bandy in celebration.