Home of the Two-Time USA Hockey National Champions
USA Hockey 2025 High School Hockey National Championships
Irvine, CA / March 26th-30th, 2025
A collection of Championship teams from all over the country, converge in Irvine to compete in the High School National
Championships. The tournament is split between the Great Park and the FivePoint Ice Arenas. This is one of the the largest ice
facilities in the United States. Consisting of three NHL & one Olympic sized rinks, it is also home to the Anaheim Ducks practice
facility. In addition, the campus hosts a full complement of entertainment and leisure amenities including dining, shopping,
arcades, lodging, exercise opportunities and public & private ice.
Sioux City arrives this week in Irvine, excited for the rare opportunity to defend a National Championship. This will be the
Metros third USA Hockey National Tournament appearance in the last eight years, having won in 2018 and 2024. The team is
loaded with experience; both players and coaching staff all have tournament experience. The usually high-scoring and always
fast-paced Metros enter the tournament as one of the favorites and most teams know a National Championship win, is gonna
have to go through Sioux City.
2025 National Championships
Back Row: Chris Hedquist, Andy Pinney, Ben Deck, Spencer Elsea, Tegan Doleman, Demetri Tsiobanos, Blake Bunagan,
Hunter Echter, Brody Herman, Karson Fitch, Jesse Monell, Scott Patrick
Front Row: Cam Patrick, Jackson Pinney, Kaden Netley, Brayden Ownby, Jax Trosper, Logan Cherkas, Ryan Hedquist,
Noah Graham, Noah Dirkschneider, Cooper Bunce
USA Hockey 2025 National Championships Top Scorers
Sioux City places five players among the National Tournament’s top ten scorers. Four of these players are the individual
Pool’s top scorers.
Ryan Hedquist Tegan Doleman Hunter Echter Noah Dirkschneider
Metros 2022-25 Metros 2022-25 Metros 2022-25 Metros 2022-25
Ryan Hedquist finishes the National Tournament as the second leading scorer; recording a goal and a tournament leading
nine assists. Tegan Doleman is third with five goals and four assists. Hunter Echter grabbed a Pool leading six goals and
an assist. Noah Dirkschneider records a goal and five assists.
Karson Fitch Brody Herman Blake Dunagan
Metros 2021-25 Metros 2022-25 Metros 2022-25
Karson Fitch tallys two goals and three helpers. Brody Herman and Blake Dunagan also record points in the
National Tournament; Brody with a goal and two assists and Blake with a red-lighter and an assist.
Between the Pipes
Cam Patrick
Goaltender Cameron Patrick carries the mail for the Metros this weekend playing in all five games. Despite posting a
pair of losses, Cam ends the weekend as one of the National Tournament’s top goaltenders. He faces a tournament high
of 128 shots, but surrenders just eight goals. His save percentage of .930 is tops and his goals against average of 1.75 is
second best. Cam also posted a tournament leading two shut-outs.
Assistant Coach Head Coach Assistant Coach Assistant Coach
Scott Patrick Jesse Monell Chris Hedquist Andy Pinney
2025 USA Hockey Division I, II & III Participants
This year’s tournament format has been changed; dropping the participating team’s Pure or Combined status and adding
another division. This third division, allows for the addition of eight high-profile Prep-Schools to also compete in the tournament.
Forty high school teams, divided into Divisions I, II & III, will now compete for a USA Hockey National Championship.
As Midwest League (MHSHL) regular Season and State Tournament Champions, the Metros arrive ready to represent
the State of Iowa. Joining the Metros in the USA Pool (Division II) are teams from Arizona, Indiana and Pheonix.
Divided into four different pools, each team plays their opponents once. Only the first two teams advance to Saturday’s
semi-final play-off round; pitting the winner of one pool taking on the second place finisher of a different pool. Later that
day, the winners of both contests play for an opportunity to advance to the National Championship game the following day.
Division II Pool Groups
Pool-Liberty
McKinney Texas (TX) * Omaha Jr. Lancers (NE) * Erie Cathedral Ramblers, (PA) * Rushmore Thunder (SD)
Pool- NHL
North Broward Eagles (FL) * Miami Jr. Redhawks (OH) * Illinois TBA (IL) * Colorado Bruins (CO)
Pool-Olympic
Sreaming Eagles (CO) * Canton-Akron Jets (OH) * Long Beach (NY) * California TBA (CA)
Pool-USA
Pinnacle Pioneers (AZ) * Keller Texas (TX) * Sioux City Metros (IA) * St. Joseph (IN)
National Tournament Player Recap
Karson Fitch Jackson Pinney
Team Captain Karson Fitch is another one of the pool’s top scorers, recording a pair of goals and three helpers. He opens
the tournament with a game-winner against St. Joseph. Senior Jackson Pinny sees time in all five games and is held
scorelss in this very defensive tournament games.
Ben Deck Blake Dunagan
Senior Ben Deck would see time in all five of the Metros contests this National Championship week. Another senior Blake
Dunagan records a goal in the opening game against St. Joseph and adds another assist in the Colorado game.
USA Hockey National Tournament Game 1
Wednesday, March 26th
Sioux City (IA) Metros vs. St. Joseph (IN) Huskies
Sioux City Metros
Who They Are: Located in Sioux City, IA, the greater Siouxland area has a population of approximately one hundred
thousand people. The Metros also draw in players in from several surrounding towns as well. They are members of the
Midwest High School Hockey League (MHSHL). They have won the League Championship nine times; the most recent
being this 2025 season. In 2024 they were also the USA Hockey National Champions for the second time.
How They Got There: The Metros dominated the thirty-two game regular season; boasting twenty-seven wins and just
five losses. They would win three more times, securing the team’s ninth Tournament Championship. The League’s
top three scorers and best goaltender are all Metros. Their coach is a two-time MHSHL Coach of the Year.
How They Did: Sioux City would finish second in the USA Pool recording wins against Keller (TX) and St. Joseph (IN).
They would take a disappointing lose to the very beatable Pinnacle Pioneers (AZ). Sioux Ctty would mount a quarter-finals
come-back, recording four straight goals; defeating the favored Valor High Screaming Eagles (CO) in overtime. However,
they would fall short in the semi-final game to the eventual National Champions, the Rushmore Thunder (SD). A game
that was undecided until a Thunder shot found the back of an empty net with just five second remaining.
St. Joseph Catholic Huskies
Who They Are: Located in South Bend, Indiana, the Huskies draw players from the surrounding area with an approximate
population of 300,000 people. They are members of the six team Indiana State High School Hockey League (ISHSHL)
and the Indiana State Independent Hockey League, made up of additional surrounding area teams from Indiana and Michigan.
How They Got There: The Huskies finished the ISHSHL regular season with perfect 15-0 season and win
the post-season City Tournament. The third ranked Huskies are defeated in the State Championship semi-finals game.
They would also play an additional Independent League schedule, finishing the season with an overall 39-8-3 record.
They boast four players among the League’s top ten scorers and the League’s top goaltender.
How They Did: St. Joseph would start out round-robin play with a pair of losses and a single win, finishing in third
place in the USA Pool. Recording losses to the Sioux City Metros (IA) and the Pinnacle Pioneers (AZ) they would grab
their first win of the tournament against the Keller (TX).
Round Robin Game One
Wednesday, March 26th
5-Sioux City (IA) Metros vs. St. Joseph (IN) Huskies-0
The Metros start-out this year’s National Tournament in grand fashion as they beat Indiana State’s second best team. Five
different Metros record goals including Karson Fitch (Hedquist, Doleman) with the eventual game-winner just three minutes
into the game. Brody Herman (Hunter Echter) and Blake Dunagan (Hedquist) would also grab first period tallies.
Karson Fitch Brody Herman Blake Dunagan
The second period is all Metros, with Hunter Echter (Hedquist) and Ryan Hedquist (Fitch, Doleman) giving the Metros
a commanding lead. The Metros defense is stellar and allows just seven shots on goal in the remaining two periods.
Ryan Hedquist Hunter Echter
Ryan Hedquist grabs a goals and a pair of assists. Hunter Echter and Karson Fitch both record a goal and an assist.
Brody Herman and Blake Dunagan grab goals. Tegan Doleman records a pair of helpers.
Tegan Doleman Cam Patrick
Goaltender Cam Patrick is his usual stingy-self, allowing the visitors from Indiana no chance to get on the score sheet.
He stops seventeen shots and records one of the first two shut-outs of the tournament. This is also Cam’s first National
Championship shut-out.
National Tournament Player Recap
Ryan Hedquist Tegan Doleman
Team Captain Ryan Hedquist leads all scorers in the USA Pool with ten points; recording goal and a National Tournament
leading nine assists. He grabs his single tally in the opeing game against St. Joseph and records assists on all five of the
Metros goals in a win over Keller. Tegan Doleman is also a top scorer with nine points;five goals and four assists. He would
record a hat trick against Keller and grad two more goals in win over Colorado, including the game-winner in overtime.
National Tournament Player Recap
Logan Cherkas Jax Trosper
Two new juniors players, Logan Cherkas and Jax Trospermake their first appearance at the USA Hockey National
Tournament. Both players have a busy week playing in all five of the Metros games.
Round Robin Game Two
Thursday, March 27th
Sioux City (IA) Metros vs. Keller ISD (TX) 
Keller (TX) Independent School District
Who They Are: A suburb of the Dallas-Fort Worth area, Keller draws players from city population of around
50,000 residents. They are members of the eight team AT & T Metroplex High School Hockey League. They also
play a shortened schedule of additional surrounding non-league teams.
How They Got There: Keller finishes the regular season with a mediocre 8-8 record, but shine at the League’s State
Tournament. They beat the state’s top team in round robin play, but fall a tally short of defeating them in championship
game, losing in overtime. Keller’s most recent State Championship was in 2022. They place a pair of players
among the League’s top leaders in total points.
How They Did: Keller would struggle with offence this week with none of their top scorers are able to find the back
of the net. Recording three round-robin losses to the Pinnacle Pioneers (AZ), the Sioux City Metros (IA) and the
St. Joseph Huskies (TX).
Round Robin Game Two
Thursday, March 27th
5-Sioux City (IA) Metros vs. Keller ISD (TX)-0
It’s another five goal win for the Metros, as they defeat one of Texas’ top teams in the Metroplex League. The Sioux City
jumps out to a two goal lead after the first period. Noah Dirkschneider (Doleman, Hedquist) and Tegan Doleman (Hedquist)
both record their first goals of the tournament; Noah’s a game winner and Tegan’s the first of his eventual hat trick.
Noah Dirkschneider Tegan Doleman
The second period sees Keller apply a bit more pressure and appear to have adjusted to the Metros’ game, however, with
just thirty-eight seconds remaining, Tegan Doleman (Dirkschneider, Hedquist) finds the back of the net giving the Metros a
three goal lead and some much needed momentum.
Karson Fitch Tegan Doleman
The third period is all Metros. They launch fifteen shots on goal and two more are successful; Tegan Doleman (Fitch,
Hedquist) grabs his third of the night and Karson Fitch (Hedquist) seals the deal with just over two minutes remaining.
Ryan Hedquist Cam Patrick
Ryan Hedquist records assists on all five of the Metros goals; He is the only National Tournament player to record five
assist in a single game. Cam Patrick is still on fire. He stops all twelve shots, records his second shut-out in as many days
and is on track to be one of the tournament’s best goaltenders.
National Tournament Player Recap
Brody Herman Demetri Tsiobanos
Senior Brody Herman starts the week with a goal in the opening game of round-robin play against the St. Joseph
Huskies. He would also grab a couple of helpers against Pinnacle and Colorado. Just a junior this season, Demetri Tsiobanos
sees tons of ice time playing in all five games. Brody and Demetri are both USA Hockey National Championship winners
having won the tournament last season.
Round Robin Game Three
Friday, March 28th
0-Sioux City (IA) Metros vs. Pinnacle (AZ) Pioneers-0 
Pinnacle Pioneers (AZ)
Who They Are: Located in the Phoenix, Arizona area, The Pioneers draw players from all over the area’s 1.5 million
people. They are members of the twelve team Arizona High School Hockey League (AHSHL) and field teams in three
different varsity level divisions.
How They Got There: Pinnacle finishes the regular season in second place with a 15-2-3 record. They win all four
tournament games, upsetting the top team in the League and securing their seventh State Title. They boast the
League’s top goal scorer and place two players among the top seven overall scorers. Both goaltenders are among
the top seven in the League.
How They Did: The Pioneers would win the USA Pool with wins over Keller (TX) 3-1, St. Joseph (IN) 3-2 and Sioux
City (IA) 3-1. They would advance to the quarter-finals against San Diego Central Cathedral (CA). In a match-up that found
the Pioneers the favored team, none of their top scorers could find the net and they would fall to the Jets 4-0.
Round Robin Game Three
Friday, March 28th
1-Sioux City (IA) Metros vs. Pinnacle (AZ) Pioneers-3
Game three pits the pool’s two remaining undefeated teams. Sioux City looks like the favorite on paper, but ya still
gotta play the games and the Arizona State Champs were not going down without a fight. Like the last two games,
it’s the Metros that strike first on a tally from Hunter Echter (Brody Herman), his second of the tournament. The Metros put
ten shots on goal and hold the Pioneers to just five during thr opening period – Sioux City looks to be in control of this one.
Hunter Echter Brody Herman
Demetri Tsiobanos Noah Dirkschneider
However, the Pioneers are able to tie the game up in the second and the final period looks to be a dandy. Unfortunately,
it’s not…an Arizona goal, just ten seconds into the period, zaps the Metros. They play the remainder of the game drained.
The offence stalls and they muster only five shots in the third. The defense is lax and gives-up ten shots and two goals;
the latter one an empty netter.
Jackson Pinney Cam Patrick
Cam Patrick faces twenty-seven shots and stops twenty-five of them. Despite the loss, he still remains one of the top
goaltenders in the tournament.
Ryan Hedquist Karson Fitch Tegan Doleman
Metros forwards Karson Fitch, Ryan Hedquist and Tegan Doleman are still among the pool’s top scorers. All three
former USA Hockey National Champions and National Championship top scorers. The Metros have a dozen National
Tournament veterans and despite this loss, the Metros still enter double-header Saturday as one of the teams to beat.
National Tournament Player Recap
Hunter Echter Spencer Elsea
Its a good thing Hunter Echter didn’t miss his flight to California, he records several key goals throughout the
National Tournament, including a game tying hat trick against Colorado and the Metros only ally in the semi-finals
against the eventual National Champions from South Dakota. Senior Spencer Elsa sees time in all fine of the Metros
games this National Championship week.
USA Hockey National Tournament Quarter-Finals Game 4
Saturday, March 29th
Sioux City (IA) Metros vs. Valor Christian Screaming Eagles (CO)
Valor Christian High School Screaming Eagles (CO)
Who They Are: Located in Highlands Ranch, this one of the southernmost suburbs of Denver. Recording a local population
of 100,000 it also draws in players form the Denver metro area as well. They are members of the sixteen team Colorado State
5A High School Hockey League. Their most recent State Championship win was in 2023; they also won in 2020 and 2021.
How They Got There: Valor High School finishes the regular season with a 15-7-0 record. They would eventually defeat
the state’s top team in the championship game; giving the Eagles their fourth State Title in six years. They boast the League’s
top three scorers and another among the top ten.
How They Did: Valor would win all three of their pool games against teams from Ohio, California and New York. They
would open pool play with a huge 10-3 win over the Canton-Akron, a 5-4 barn-burner against San Diego Central Cathedral
and another commanding win over Long Beach 5-0. They enter the first round matched-up with Sioux City, but squander a
three goal lead in the third and eventually get beat in overtime.
Quarter-Finals Game 4
March 29th, 2025
5-Sioux City Metros vs. Valor Christian Sreaming Eagles-4 OT
Sioux City starts out Double-Header Saturday down-n-out; fresh off a disappointing loss the prior day and now
matched-up against the Olympic Pool’s top undefeated team. The visitors from Colorado strike first and seem to out-pace the
Metros. However, Hunter Echter finds the back of the net on a Brody Herman set-up, and the first period ends in a deadlock.
Hunter Echter Brody Herman
In the second, the Eagles start to pull-away as the Metros seem to run out of gas. This period is all Eagles, they put ten shots
on net and foil the net minder twice. Sioux City launches nine unsuccessful shots, on a seemingly unbeatable goaltender.
The third period start isn’t much better as the Metros surrender another goal and it looks like the end of the line for the green
shirts. Instead of protecting their 4-1 lead, the Eagles look to take the game more physical direction and take
three consecutive unnecessary penalties. The Metros are able to capitalize on all three, recording power play goals from
Tegan Doleman and two more from Hunter Echter, stunning the Eagles and sending the game into overtime.
Karson Fitch Ryan Hedquist Noah Dirkschneider
Karson Fitch, Ryan Hedquist and Noah Dirkschneider all record assists on the third period’s four straight power
play goals. Karson grabs an assist on Tegan Dolman’s first goals that give the Metros new life. Ryan records assists on both
of Hunter Echter’s second and third goals as the Metros come from behind to tie the game. Noah also adds helpers to
Dolman’s first & Echter’s third goal, as well as the game winning assist on the Doleman overtime game-winner
Tegan Doleman Cam Patrick
Newly invigorated with this last period’s comeback, the Metros are a new team and the Eagles aren’t…they take another
penalty and halfway into the overtime, and the Metros make them pay. Tegan Domeman grabs his second goal of
the day, giving the Metros an unbelievable, come-from-behind overtime win, sending them to the semi-finals. Cam
Patrick stops thirty-one shots on goal.
National Tournament Player Recap
Noah Dirkschneider Kaden Netely
Returning National Champion Noah Dirkschneider looks for the chance to defend the Metros previous season’s championship.
The senior records five points; recording including a goal and an assist against Keller and three assists in the Colorado game,
including helpers on both the game tying and game winning goals. Dirks also lead the team with fourteen penalty minutes. This
is sophomore Kaden Netley first full varsity season with the Metros and like his regular and post season, he played a full schedule
during the National Tournament.
National Tournament Player Recap
Noah Graham Braden Ownby
Seniors Noah Graham and Brayden Ownby are National Tournament veteans having been apart of the previous year’s
Championship team. Noah and Brayden had busy weekends; both players played in all five of this week’s games.
USA Hockey National Tournament Semi-Finals Game 5
Saturday, March 29th
Sioux City (IA) Metros vs. Rushmore Thunder (SD)
Rushmore Thunder
Who They Are: Located in Rapid City, South Dakota, this team draws players from the surrounding area with an
approximate population of 145,000 residence. They are members of the twelve team South Dakota High
School Hockey League.
How They Got There: The Thunder dominated the South Dakota State Hockey League this season. They would finish
the season with an undefeated record of 22-0-0. They would record a League high of 235 goals scored and surrender just
twenty-six all season. They place six players, including the League’s top scorer, among the top fifteen players in South
Dakota. They would easily capture this year’s State Championship, defeating the Sioux Falls West Flyers and
advancing to the USA Hockey National Championships.
How They Did: Rushmore would eventually win their first ever USA Hockey National Championship, defeating the
Warriors Hockey Club (IL). They would win two pool games against Erie Cathedral (PA) 5-2 & McKinney (TX) 6-1 and
drop a close one to the Omaha Junior Lancers (NE) 3-4. After that they are perfect; limiting their next three opponents
to just three total goals; they defeat The Colorado Bruins (CO) 4-0, Sioux City Metros (IA) 3-1 and the Warriors
Hockey Club (IL) 6-2.
Semi-Finals Game 5
March 29th, 2025
1-Sioux City Metros vs. Rushmore Thunder (SD)-3
Game two finds the Metros paired up with one if the tournament’s highest scoring teams. While the Thunder did lose a
pool-play game, prior to that they had won twenty-six games in a row, along the way recording over 262 red-lighters.
This game look to be a battle between two of the week’s favored high school teams.
The Thunder strike first with the only goal of the period. They pepper the Sioux City net with eighteen shots, while the
Metros can only muster six. The team seems to be running out of gas.
Hunter Echter Hunter Echter, Tegan Doleman, Ryan Hedquist,
Noah Dirkschneider & Karson Fitch
Another Thunder goal in the second, pushes the needle closer to empty. However, a mid-period goal by Hunter Echter,
from Tegan Doleman and Noah Dirkschneider, gives the Metros a small bump, but it’s short-lived, as the Thunder puts
eleven more shots on net and look to be in firm control as the second period ends.
Blake Dunagan Tegan Doleman
For all the bad stuff going the Metros way…they still start the third period needing just a single goal to tie the game and grab
the momentum. This final period sees the Thunder adopt a defensive posture, opening the door for the Metros usually high-
scoring offence to shine.
Noah Dirkschneider Karson Fitch
Most of the game is back and forth with both teams missing ample chances to light the lamp. As time ticks down, Sioux City
mounts several offensive rushes and even with the extra attacker they are unsuccessful. Eventually, the Thunder wrestle the
puck away and send it into an empty net, with just five second remaining. Cam Patrick stops thirty-six total shots.
Cam Patrick
USA Hockey National Championship notes…
…During the regular season the Metros averaged well over six goals a game, they shut out their opponents eleven times and only
lost five games. This was just not the Metros week.
…fresh off a game three loss and a game four come-from-behind and eventual overtime win, seemed the drain the Metros. With a
second do-or-die game just hours away both the physical and mental recovery time just wasn’t there.
…Sophomore defenseman JJ Hope was scheduled to play in the National Tournament, but a late season injury would keep him
off the final roster. Freshman Cooper Bunce serves as the back-up goaltender this week. Coop split time as varsity back-up
and won eight JV games including three shut-outs