ADVANCING TO REGIONAL — Members of the Carlson Dental Bantams hockey team capturing first place in the district tournament to qualify for the regional tournament on March 3 include, front row (left to right): Kaden Olson and Brandon Hector. Middle row: Hunter Thate, Dayton Draper, Macklain Anderson, Gavin Kester, Preston Cepress, Hunter Olson and Brody Deuel. Back row: Head coach Paul Carlson, assistant coach Scott Nuss, Axel Chapman, Klay Beemer, Caleb Meyer, Parker Schwandt, Jase Meade, Logan Madsen, Caden Wickert, Bryce Ihrke, Bryce Roeschen, Noah Bettin, Noah Meixell, assistant coach Brady Meyer and assistant coach Jake Bettin. (Photo courtesy of Nikki Hector of the Fairmont Hockey Association)

FAIRMONT — Three Fairmont Hockey Association club teams posted top-two finishes during last weekend’s districts to qualify for their respective regional tournaments starting on Friday, March 3.

The Carlson Dental Bantams of Fairmont compiled a 4-0 record to win the District 4 tournament crown, the Fairmont 12U girls lineup captured second-place honors in District 4 playoff action, while the Fairmont PeeWee ‘B’ squad netted runner-up district postseason accolades to extend their respective seasons.

Noah Meixell produced two goals, while Jase Meade generated one goal and one assist to help pace the Fairmont Bantams’ 5-1 victory over Windom during the fourth and final game of the district event last Sunday.

Dayton Draper and Gavin Kester each collected one goal, Preston Cepress and Parker Schwandt doled out one assist apiece, while netminder Kaden Olson recorded 35 saves between the pipes in the win.

Carlson Dental opened district action by flattening Marshall by an 11-3 first-round decision last Friday.

Draper erupted for a game-best four goals and distributed two assists, Cepress collected two goals and two helpers, while Kester chipped in one goal and a game-high five assists.

Meixell and Mack Anderson each collected one goal and one assist for Fairmont, Axel Chapman dished out two helpers, while Bryce Ihrke and Schwandt added one goal apiece.

Logan Madsen, Caleb Meyer and Meade supplied one helper each, while goalie Brandon Hector turned away 15 shots on net to earn the win for Fairmont, which had 29 shots on goal.

Kester delivered two goals and one assist and Draper contributed two goals to Carlson Dental’s 8-6 second-round triumph over Redwood Falls last Saturday.

Cepress tallied one goal and earned a playmaker with three assists, while Klay Beemer, Ihrke and Meyer generated one net-finding shot apiece.

Hunter Olson and Chapman each doled out an assist, while Kaden Olson chalked up 12 saves between the pipes to net the win for Fairmont, which unloaded 46 shots on net.

Kester collected both a hat trick and a playmaker with three goals and three assists to propel Fairmont to an 8-3 semifinal win over Worthington last Sunday.

Cepress hammered out three goals to complement one helper, while Draper added offensive punch via one goal and two assists.

Meixell chipped in one goal, Meyer and Chapman passed out assist each, while Hector made 34 saves to garner the win for Fairmont, which made 29 shots on goal.

The Carlson Dental Bantams (17-13) open the regional tournament against Rochester at 4 p.m. Friday, March 3, in Waseca.

PeeWee ‘B’

The Fairmont PeeWee ‘B’ hockey team went 2-1 during district play to earn a spot in next week’s regional tournament.

Preston Geerdes produced seven points on the strength of a game-best four goals and a co-game-high three assists to ignite Fairmont’s 9-3 opening triumph over Windom last weekend.

Kane Wohlhuter netted a hat trick and added an assist, Tyler Pankow generated two goals and three helpers, Logan Droegemueller chipped in one assist, while netminder Kolton Hinz made eight saves for the win.

Geerdes tallied two goals and one assist, while Wohlhuter produced one net-finding shot and two helpers to pace a 5-3 semifinal win over Worthington.

Pankow generated one goal and one assist, Lucas Kotewa contributed a goal, while Droegemueller added an assist. Hinz turned away 15 shots on net for the victory.

New Ulm/Sleepy Eye edged Fairmont by a 6-5 decision for the district championship.

Wohlhuter and Geerdes each delivered two goals and one assist for Fairmont, Pankow scored a goal and Hinz recorded 13 saves in net.

The Fairmont PeeWee ‘B’ team opens regional tournament play on Friday, March 3, in Marshall.

12U Girls

The Fairmont 12U girls hockey team claimed second-place honors by combining a first-round bye with a 5-0 semifinal win over Redwood Falls before losing a 4-2 decision to Marshall in the district finale.

Lexi Haycraft generated a pair of goals, Mariel Parish collected one goal and two assists, while Lexi Sundeen pitched a shutout to trigger Fairmont’s five-goal semifinal win over Redwood Falls last Saturday.

Halyn Haycraft produced one goal and one assist, while Kylie Flanagan chipped in a goal for Fairmont, which unloaded 61 shots on goal.

Marshall doubled the score on Fairmont in the district final last Sunday.

Halyn Haycraft and Lexi Haycraft netted Fairmont’s goals, while Kennedy Murphy and Lauren Bettin doled out the assists. Sundeen made 13 saves between the pipes for Fairmont, which had 18 shots on goal.

The Fairmont 12U girls hockey squad (30-5-1) opens regional tournament play on Friday, March 3, in Worthington.