**Willmar Girls Hockey Team Set for Section 2A Tournament**
WILLMAR – The Willmar girls hockey team learned its placement for the Section 2A tournament on Sunday. Willmar was named the seventh seed in the tournament, which was seeded by the coaches. The Cardinals will face second-seeded Minnesota River at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Le Sueur Indoor Ice Arena.
In a recent non-conference game on Saturday, Willmar fell 6-0 to Westonka/Southwest Christian at the Willmar Civic Center Ice Arena.
Mankato East secured the top seed in the tournament and will receive a first-round bye. Other quarterfinal matchups in Section 2A include:
– No. 6 Litchfield/Dassel-Cokato vs. No. 3 River Lakes, 7 p.m. Thursday at River Lakes Civic Center in Richmond
– No. 5 Mankato West vs. No. 4 Hutchinson, 7 p.m. Thursday at Burich Arena in Hutchinson
The semifinals are scheduled for Saturday, with the 2A championship game set for Wednesday, Feb. 11, at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter.
Willmar will close out its regular season against the St. Cloud Crush at 7:15 p.m. Monday at the Municipal Athletic Complex in St. Cloud.
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**Litchfield/Dassel-Cokato Earns Overtime Tie Against Mankato West**
Litchfield/Dassel-Cokato played Mankato West to an overtime tie at the Dassel-Cokato Civic Arena in Cokato. Both goals came during the second period.
Mankato West’s Elsa Anderson scored on the power play at 7:23, while the Dragons’ Elaine Niemela, assisted by Brynn Weinardt and Elly Woelfel, scored at 16:56.
Goaltender Gwen Aho made 43 saves for Litchfield/Dassel-Cokato, while Mankato West’s Lucy Schaefer recorded 27 saves.
Litchfield/Dassel-Cokato, now with a 7-16-2 record, earned the sixth seed in the Section 2A playoffs and will face No. 3 River Lakes at 7 p.m. Thursday at the River Lakes Civic Center in Richmond.
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**Willmar’s Big Win Over Wadena-Deer Creek**
Luke Larson led Willmar with two goals in their victory over Wadena-Deer Creek at the Wadena Ice Arena. Additional goals were scored by Gibson Horzya, Max Garberding, Cooper Thole, Aden Jacobson, and Blake Grimsley.
Willmar outshot Wadena-Deer Creek 43-26 during the game.
The Cardinals will host Fergus Falls for a Central Lakes Conference matchup at 7 p.m. Monday at the Willmar Civic Center Arena.
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**Hutchinson Tops Litchfield/Dassel-Cokato in Overtime**
Austin Carter scored at 6:53 in overtime to lift Hutchinson past Litchfield/Dassel-Cokato at Burich Arena in Hutchinson.
Hudson Lien opened the scoring for Hutchinson at 6:54 in the second period. Tripp McCann then scored with an assist from Ryan Raisenen at 16:37 of the second period for Litchfield/Dassel-Cokato.
Despite outshooting Hutchinson 19-13, Litchfield/Dassel-Cokato could not secure the win.
The Dragons will face Southwest Christian at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7, at the Cokato arena.
https://www.wctrib.com/sports/prep/hockey-roundup-willmar-girls-get-7th-seed-in-section-2a
