GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The Aberdeen Cougars recorded a pair of shutouts to advance to the championship game of the Junior Gold Tournament in Grand Forks.

Aberdeen opened the day with an 8-0 win over Dickinson, highlighted by a hat trick from Jaxon Danielson.

“It was a good team effort,” said Cougars coach Jeremey Backous. “I thought we moved the puck really well all game.”

Aberdeen also got a pair of goals from Quincy Madsen and one each from Kayden Wika, Micah Kranzler and Aiden Posthumus.

Sam Casper got the shutout in goal.

The Cougars rounded out the day with a 3-0 win over Estevan, with goals from Madsen, Seth Malsom and Devon Fischbach.

“The kids elevated their play from our first two games and played really well,” Backous said. “We were quick to pucks and made some really nice plays in our offensive zone. Estevan is a good team and they moved the puck really well. We defended well and our forwards created a lot of turnovers by coming back hard into our zone. It was a fun game with a great pace.”

Fischbach’s goal in the third period was an empty-net goal that sealed the win for Aberdeen.

Backous said the two teams went shot-for-shot in the contest with Colton Townsend stopping all 30 in net for the Cougars.

Aberdeen’s second shutout propels the Cougars into the championship contest, which is set for 1:30 this afternoon.

Aberdeen Cougars 3 3 2 – 8

Dickinson 0 0 0 – 0

First period: 1, AC, Quincy Madsen, 15:21; 2, AC, Kayden Wika (Lance Siefken, Devon Fischbach), 9:35; 3, AC, Jaxon Danielson (Madsen, Brady Huff), 6:32.

Second period: 4, AC, Madsen (Fischbach), 15:51; 5, AC, Micah Kranzler (Madsen), 12:19; 6, AC, Danielson (Siefken), 2:52.

Third period: 7, AC, Aiden Posthumus, 1:03; 8, AC, Danielson (Siefken), :06.

Aberdeen Cougars 1 1 1 – 3

Estevan 0 0 0 – 0

First period: 1, AC, Quincy Madsen, 15:58.

Second period: 2, AC, Seth Malson (Levi Little), 16:20.

Third period: 3, AC, Devon Fischbach, :37.