Bloomington Jefferson’s Kyle Wendorf didn’t play in the Class 2A state tournament during the first week of March, but the senior forward did win a championship trophy in the month's final week - and he did so by providing a little assistance to a Metro West Conference rival. 

Wendorf earned an assist after setting up Chaska forward Derek Annett on the game-winning goal that lifted Section 2A/2AA over Section 8A/8AA 4-3 in the championship game of the Ted Brill Great 8 Invitational on Sunday at Wakota Arena in South St. Paul.

Wendorf, who also had a goal in the final to finish with two in the tournament, said winning the Great 8 title was a satisfying substitute for missing out on a state championship.

“It feels great,” Wendorf said. “This was a second chance.”

Bloomington Jefferson never reached the state tournament, ending its season with a 7-2 loss to Edina in the Section 2 semifinals. The Hornets reached the Class 2A state tournament and were considered one of the favorites to win the championship, but lost to Duluth East 3-1 in the state semifinals.

It was a loss that gave Wendorf some pleasure.

"They are big rivals," Wendorf said. "I was pretty happy they didn't win." 

Wendorf played a big role in the Jaguars’ success this season. He was the team’s third-leading scorer with 11 goals and had 10 assists, helping Bloomington Jefferson post a 13-10-2 regular-season record. 

He also ranked as the 14th-best goal scorer in the Metro West, where the Jaguars also finished second with a 4-2-1 record and placing ahead of such rivals as Bloomington Kennedy, Chanhassen and, of course, Chaska. 

The skaters forming the Section 2 team may have been rivals during the regular season, but they had to put aside their allegiances for the Great 8, providing some interesting team dynamics, Wendorf said. 

“It’s fun,” he added. “It’s weird at first, but we bonded and as the tournament went on, we got better.” The team won all three of its games and was the second-highest scoring team in the tournament with 16 goals.

The Great 8 event allows seniors who have yet to earn an offer from a college program the chance to showcase their skills for scouts and coaches.

It’s a process that created some anxiety for Wendorf, who hopes his performance gets him noticed.

“It’s always nerve-racking,” Wendorf said. “[I] just got to keep playing hard and giving it my all.

“If I don’t get picked up, I’ll do camps and hopefully get on a team,” Wendorf added. “For me, hockey is what I base my life around. I love the game.”

Chaska forward Derek Annett scored the game-winning goal with four minutes remaining in the game as Section 2A/2AA defeated Section 8A/8AA 4-3 in the championship game of the Ted Brill Great 8 Invitational at Wakota Arena in South St. Paul on Sunday.

Annett also had an assist, while forward Kyle Wendorf of Bloomington Jefferson finished with a goal and an assist for Section 2.

Wendorf’s goal - a shot high into the back of the net - pulled his team into a 1-1 tie with 2 minutes, 17 seconds to play in the first period.

The teams played even until Moorhead forward Jacob Odegard notched the first of his two goals, scoring on the power play a little more than seven minutes into the second period to give Section 8 a 2-1 lead.

Twenty seconds later, Section 8 found itself shorthanded after East Grand Forks forward Jace Pesch picked up a five-minute major for kneeing. The team held Section 2 scoreless on the power play to preserve the lead, however, the success on the penalty kill didn’t last for Section 8.

Patrick Gazich, a defenseman from the Academy of Holy Angels, tallied a power-play goal with less than 30 seconds to play in the second period, and Orono forward Joseph Luedtke converted on the power play 3:30 into the third to propel Section 2 to a 3-2 lead.

Odegard’s second goal tied the game 3-3 nearly six minutes into the third, and Annett sealed the victory with his goal eight minutes later. 

Thief River Falls forward Keaton Huot had two assists, and Bemidji goalie Grant Tharaldson finished with 22 saves in 27 minutes of play for Section 8. Moorhead goalie Jacob Dittmer had an assist and seven saves in more than 25 minutes of play. 

Shakopee’s Alex Geyen had 20 saves and Orono’s Jonathon Flanke made nine in splitting time for Section 2.

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