JOURNAL Sports

Thunderbolts drop pair at state tournament

The stay for the South Washington County Thunderbolts in the 2022 Minnesota State CI Adapted Floor Hockey Tournament was a short one. But just getting here was an accomplishment.

The Thunderbolts dropped a 12-1 decision in the first round to eventual champion New Prague/ TCU/LSH/Belle Plaine/ Jordan Friday.

In consolation play Saturday morning at Bloomington Jefferson High School, South Washington lost to the Dakota United Hawks by an 8-5 score. The Hawks went on to win the consolation title with a 12-2 win over the South Suburban Jets.

New Prague, meanwhile, romped to the state title with a 11-0 win in the semifinals and a 12-3 victory in the championship over Burnsville/Farmington/ Lakeville.

South Washington County went just 2-5 during the regular season but caught fire in the section playoffs with a 13-4 win over Stillwater and a 6-3 victory against North/Tartan to qualify for state.

The Thunderbolts were the state runners-up the last two times the tournament was held, in 2018 and 2019. New Prague 12, Thunderbolts 1 The opening round was just about the worst possible draw for the South Washington County Thunderbolts.

Playing in the first round of the adapted floor hockey tournament, the Thunderbolts drew undefeated New Prague/TCU/LSH/ Belle Plaine/Jordan, a team Thunderbolts coach Jeff Figlmiller predicted would be favored to win the state tournament when the two teams met in January.