WEST CHESTER, Pa. — The Carolina Jr. Hurricanes (CA) defeated the Greenville Rage (SC) on Sunday to win the 1A title for the 2026 Chipotle-USA Hockey Youth Tier II 18U National Championship at Ice Line Quad Rinks.
A solid collective effort by the Jr. Hurricanes on all fronts allowed the team to capture the title. Goalie Gavin Lowry made 20 saves to anchor the defense, while Alexander Ribar scored the game’s final two goals to secure the win for Carolina.
Jr. Hurricanes coach Derek Mazepa felt this was the perfect way to celebrate this group of kids.
“This win is massive. We have five guys who have been to the nationals three times. It feels good to bring one home for them and the team,” Mazepa said. “We have 12 kids that aren’t coming back and may never play again, to send them off like this, there’s honestly no better way.”
Carolina opened the scoring 4:10 into the matchup when Cooper Macdonell found the back of the net for a finish off a behind-the-net pass from Oliver Cowan.
Greenville answered with 5:21 left in the first period on a power play. Derek Baldassara found the puck in a cluster, broke away from the traffic, and snapped off a shot to tie the game.
The Jr. Hurricanes regained the lead 13:41 into the second. Cowan broke toward the net, weaving through defenders and sending a backhand pass to teammate Bradyn Evans, who made a move on the keeper and snuck it in to put Carolina up 2-1.
The Rage retaliated, tying the game with 8:23 left in the second. Travis Anderson needled his way to the net, cutting past defenders and firing a shot into the net.
The Rage picked up a penalty just 20 seconds later. Cowan took advantage of the open ice. He weaved past defenders to create space for a shot, which Greenville goalie Cameron MacDonald deflected wide. However, Ribar who tapped in the rebounds to give the Jr. Hurricanes the lead only 66 seconds after they conceded.
Cowan continued his stellar playmaking performance in the third period when he picked up his fourth assist of the game. During a five-on-three power play for Carolina, Cowan sent a pass to Riber in front of the net and he netted his second goal of the game to secure the 4-2 win.
Lowry made several key saves, including stopping a breakaway late in the second period.
“I’m happy to have played well and represented the 07’s and my brother who couldn’t be here today,” Lowry said. “I love all the guys apart of the team; we knew that this one was going to be ours.”
Story from Red Line Editorial, Inc.