No, Rugby didn’t reach its goal of playing in the hockey program’s first-ever N.D. Junior Gold state championship game.

Yet the fourth-seeded Ice Hawks did accomplish plenty. The squad skated to a third place finish in the tournament, downing No. 3 Langdon-Park River 6-1 on March 8 in Moorehead, Minn. It equals the best finish the squad has ever attained at the tournament. Rugby was third in 1998 and 1999.

Senior forward Derek Jaeger and Leo Hoffert each scored twice in the win. Leif Selland and Kyle Volk also recorded goals. Rugby led 2-0 after one period and never were threatened.

The victory was Rugby’s second over the Warriors in a week, and ensure the squad would end the tournament one seed higher than they entered. Rugby ended its season with an 18-10-3 record – the program’s best.

After defeating No. 5 Richland in the quarterfinals, Rugby lost to the top-seeded Fargo Flyers in the semifinals.