The 2024-25 Escanaba Hawks 14u hockey team poses for a photo after winning the Michigan Amateur Hockey Association State Championship on March 9, 2025 at the Mountain View Ice Arena in Iron Mountain. (left to right) Back Row: Asst. coach Rick Aird, Everleigh Wilson, Cooper Neidbala, Jayce Braun, Todd Noel Jr., Vincent DeSalvo-Bougie, Jaeger Gartland, Head Coach Trevor Sholten, Asst coach Chris Korpi. Front Row: Oliver Hanna, Garrett Lanaville, Jaxsyn Lancour, Henry Sholten, Chase Korpi, Bryson Bougie, Drew Anderson. (Adam Hinch/Daily Press)

IRON MOUNTAIN — For every youth hockey player going into a season, the dream is to win the state championship. For the Escanaba Hawks that dream was fulfilled Sunday evening as they defeated the Bad Axe Barn Burners 9-3 in the Michigan Amateur Hockey Association (MAHA) State Tournament.

The Hawks scored 51 goals and allowed four over the course of the tournament.

“We had three times where we got here and came up short,” Hawks coach Trevor Sholten said. “We wanted to get that final win. Our gameplan was to be patient, spread the ice out and wait for our opportunities. It took a little longer than we hoped, but we got it done.”

After coasting to the title game the Hawks fell behind early in the title game. The Barn Burners got on the board first on a power play goal by Corbin Lenhard coming off an assist by Bryce Barrigar.

The Hawks quickly answered back as Korpi found the back of the net off the assist from Henry Sholten to tie the game at one. With :42 to go in the first period Jayce Braun scored unassisted on the power play to give the Hawks a 2-1 lead after one period.

With 11:17 to go in the second period, Lenhard found the back of the net for Bad Axe to tie the game a two.

With 6:44 to go in the second, Korpi scored on the power play off an assist by Henry Sholten to put the Hawks back in front 3-2.

With 5:00 to go in the second period, Wyatt Buchholz made a nice pass to Lenhard who found the back of the net for the hat trick and the Barn Burners tied the game at three.

The game remained tied until the third period, when Esky broke the game open. With 14:17 to go in the game Vincent DeSalvo-Bougie scored on a slap shot with assists from Todd Noel and Henry Sholten to give the Hawks a 4-3 lead. The Hawks extended the lead as Henry Sholten found the back of the net with 10:41 to go. Moments later Korpi scored to put the Hawks up 6-3. Oliver Hanna added a goal to make it 7-3 and Korpi scored his fourth goal of the game to put the Hawks up 8-3.

Esky advanced to the championship game, defeating Hawk Purple from Walker Michigan 11-0. Henry Sholten and Korpi each had a hat trick in the victory. Jayce Braun had two goals in the game and Hanna, Drew Anderson and Bryson Bougie all had a goal in the contest.

In pool play the Hawks defeated the Tawas Blackhawks Friday 7-1. Korpi had four goals to lead the way for the Hawks. Henry Sholten added two goals and Jayce Braun scored one goal.

Saturday afternoon the Hawks defeated the Downriver Otters from Southgate 12-0. Korpi and Henry Sholten each had a hat trick. DeSalvo-Bougie had a pair of goals and Cooper Neidbala, Jaeger Gartland, Drew Anderson and Jayce Braun each had one goal.

Saturday night the Hawks faced off against Kensington Valley winning 12-0. Henry Sholten led the way with six goals. Korpi and Garrett Lanaville each had a pair of goals and Neidbala and Anderson each had one goal.

Jaxsyn Lancour was dynamite between the pipes for the Hawks allowing only four goals on 68 shots on goal as a team.

This championship was extra special to Korpi, who won the state championship his first year in the squirt division and in his last season as an Escanaba Hawk he went out a champion. Korpi was a part of four state championship teams.

“I kind of got used to it,” Korpi said. “But it feels great to go out this way.”

It was also a moment that head coach Trevor Sholten stated was an accomplishment that not every player has.

“He has played 30 games in the state tournament in his career,” Sholten said. “It’s pretty amazing that he was here every year at state.”