Minnesota youth hockey playoff game spans 3 days, 12 overtimes - ESPN

ESPN

by J.J. Post

February 19, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

A Minnesota youth hockey playoff game between the Cottage Grove Wolfpack and St. Paul Saints became an unprecedented endurance test, lasting three days and requiring 12 overtimes before concluding in a shootout. The game, which began on Monday night with the score tied at 1-1 after regulation, saw both teams battle through six overtimes on the first day before being forced to pause due to another event scheduled on the ice. On Tuesday, they played four more overtimes without resolution, leaving the outcome undecided and pushing the conclusion to Wednesday. By Wednesday, the game had reached its climax with an 11th overtime in a traditional 5-on-5 format and a 12th overtime in a 3-on-3 setup, both of which remained unresolved. With no winner after these periods, the teams moved to a shootout, where Cottage Grove’s Ashlyn Anderson scored the decisive goal against St. Paul’s Ellen Weiberg, who had made an impressive 55 saves throughout the game. Lydia Pettey of Cottage Grove stopped five shots in the shootout, including the final attempt by St. Paul. The game, which spanned nearly 96 combined saves and over six hours of play, set a new standard for length in youth hockey. Coaches and players expressed

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Originally published on ESPN on 2/19/2026