Milwaukee, WI--Hartland Arrowhead, the area’s top ranked team, was led by their junior class as they defeated University School of Milwaukee 5-2 to win the inaugural RBC Dain Rauscher High School Hockey Showdown at the Bradley Center Friday evening. Despite having 12 seniors on the roster, juniors scored four of the Warhawk’s five tallies.

It was hard to tell early on how long the crowd would have to wait for the first goal. The play went from end to end with each team having multiple odd-man rushes. They wouldn’t have to wait long however, and once it began, it came in a flurry with the first four goals all coming in a span of 3:22.

Arrowhead got on the board first at 7:18 into the first period as senior Jordan Johnson picked up a rebound in front of the net and let go of a backhand that bounced off USM goalie Charlie Mitch’s glove and into the net.

USM would answer back just 1:32 later as senior Billy Crimmins took a two-on-one pass from defenseman Patrick McMinn and fired it short side as Arrowhead netminder Nick Kohn couldn’t get over in time.

Arrowhead wouldn’t stand for the tie and broke open the game scoring a pair of goals just 19 seconds apart that seemed to look exactly alike. The first came at 10:21 as junior forward David Clark fired a wrist shot from the top of the left circle that found its way between Mitch’s legs. The Warhawks would increase the lead to 3-1 by junior Connor McBride that on a wrist shot from the top of the left circle would snuck through the 5-hole yet again.

Arrowhead head coach Carl Valimont said it is the Warhawk’s explosive offensive firepower that helped win the game. “You get a lot of goals and it takes the pressure off of you. We scored 13 goals in two games and that really helps the guys relax and settle the nerves to play better defense too.”

The scoring slowed down afterwards with only one goal coming in the second period. Arrowhead made it a three goal lead 5:46 into the frame when Clark notched his second goal of the night by firing a wrist shot from the slot that would eventually roll up the chest of Mitch and down the back before crossing the line.

USM tried to mount some momentum as they scored 5:05 into the third period when senior Read Servis picked up a loose rebound off of a shot by winger Simon Leahy and poked it into the open net closing Arrowhead’s lead to two.

Arrowhead shut down any comeback as McBride scored his second goal of the night at the 11:14 mark of the third. McBride intercepted a clearing pass by a USM defender and then let go of a wrist shot that sailed over Mitch’s extended glove hand putting Arrowhead up 5-2 where the score would eventually stand.

Johnson led Arrowhead scoring, picking up three points on the night with a goal and two assists. Kohn stopped 18 of the 20 shots he faced in the victory.

Valimont believes the tournament will be a large boost to the Warhawk players. “A lot of good stuff happened this weekend. The ultimate goal is to make it to the state tournament in February. We’ll take a look at the tape in practice and the positives and negatives to help us get better.”

For his two goals on the evening, including the eventual game-winner, Connor McBride was awarded the tournament MVP. McBride had three goals and two assists in the weekend’s action.

Earlier in the afternoon, Kettle Moraine/Mukwonago won the consolation game by defeating Homestead 3-0 on the strengths of goaltender Colin Robinson’s 22-save shutout.