File photo  

From front to back, Rasmussen Logging’s Nick Nagle (30) stops the puck while Chris Denardo (39) and the Hopper’s Bruins’ Rustin Dolyny (5) look on in the 2014 Jim Thompson Division championship game for players age 40 and older.

The 15th Annual Kerry Park Men’s Hockey Tournament, which serves as a fund-raiser for the International Falls Recreation Hockey program and for capital improvements at Kerry Park Arena and Bronco Arena, will take place this Friday through Sunday at both arenas in the Falls.

Tournament Committee member Paul Nevanen said 26 teams in four divisions will be participating in the no-check, no-slap shot tournament, in which there will be six teams in the open division, six teams in the 30-plus age division, eight teams in the 40-plus age division and six teams in the 50-plus age division.

“In the open division, there’s going to be some very competitive hockey,” he said. “The level of talent is really strong.”

Nevanen said each team in all the divisions is guaranteed at least three games in the tournament, which begins Friday at 4 p.m. at Bronco Arena and at 5 p.m. at Kerry Park with the teams having some sort of connection with the Falls.

He said the 26 teams include all of last year’s division champions – Nagurski Transportation in the open division, Rasmussen Logging in the 30-plus age division, the Metro Mallards in the 40-plus age division and Frank’s Taxidermy in the 50-plus age division.

Nevanen said the tournament has raised more than $165,000 over the past 14 years.

He said admission is free to attend the tournament at both arenas, which will have concession stands operating along with a beer garden being set up at Kerry Park.

No prize money is awarded to the winning teams in the three-day tournament, which Nevanen noted also functions as a reunion for former Bronco hockey players to get together as the tournament continues to attract its maximum-allowed number of 26 teams.

The annual men’s hockey tournament is scheduled on the weekend after the boys state hockey tournament. This year marks the 20th anniversary of when the Bronco boys hockey team last won a state championship.

Because of declining interest in having a shootout with goalies and shooters, Nevanen said this weekend will mark the second year in a row the tournament will not feature a shootout competition.

On Saturday night of the tournament, Nevanen said there will once again be a banquet taking place at the AmericInn when no games are scheduled.

He said the tournament is set up for each game to have 50 minutes of running time as the clock is only stopped in the final minute in the event a game is within two goals or less.

Nevanen said each division’s championship game will be held Sunday at Kerry Park starting with the 50-plus age division facing off at 11:20 a.m., followed by the 40-plus age division at 12:30 p.m., the 30-plus age division at 1:40 p.m. and the open division at 2:50 p.m.

Contributed photo  

Mighty Mustang wrestler Hudson Mann stands on the podium after placing second at last weekend’s MN/USA State Wrestling Tournament held in Rochester.

Mighty Mustangs

Hudson Mann 2nd at MN/USA state tourney

B2

Willie

Corrin

University of Minnesota Duluth men's hockey junior defenseman Willie Corrin of International Falls recorded a goal and an assist Friday night when the Bulldogs won at Western Michigan, 6-3.

Corrin scored the first goal of the game and his third of the season at 4:36 of the second period assisted by Austin Farley and Tony Cameranesi.

At 17:46 of the second period, Corrin added an assist – his fourth of the season – on a goal from Karson Kuhlman.

UMD, which closed out last weekend's two-game series Saturday after being shut out 3-0 by the Broncos, ended up in fifth place in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference regular-season standings and will open the NCHC playoffs this coming Friday at Denver in a best-of-three series.

Today’s games

Women’s softball

RRCC vs. Rowen College/Kishwaukee in Titusville, Fla., 9 a.m./2 p.m.

Men’s baseball

RRCC vs. Hannibal LaGrange JV in St. Petersburg, Fla. (DH), noon

Thursday’s games

Girls basketball

I. Falls vs. Rush City in Section 7AA semifinals at UMD, 5:45 p.m.

Friday’s games

Men’s baseball

RRCC vs. Macomb CC in St. Petersburg, Fla. (DH), noon

Saturday’s games

Men’s baseball

RRCC vs. Sussex County CC in St. Petersburg, Fla. (DH), noon

Girls basketball

I. Falls/Rush City winner vs. Esko/Eveleth-Gilbert winner in Section 7AA finals at UMD, 7 p.m.