Dallas Stars Elite Edge St. Louis AAA Blues in 13O Larkin Division Championship
In an intense Larkin Division championship battle at Belle Tire Arena on December 8, the Dallas Stars Elite triumphed over the St. Louis AAA Blues 2-1 in a dramatic overtime shootout, capping off the Tier 1 Elite Hockey League playoffs with flair.
The AAA Blues struck first, with Mason Planchard (#21) finding the back of the net midway through the second period. The Blues dominated offensively, outshooting the Stars 33-20, but Dallas goaltender Donovan Knapp (#33) stood strong, making critical saves to keep his team within striking distance.
Late in the third period, the Dallas Stars Elite equalized when Easton Scott (#16) buried a goal assisted by Farhan Haq (#4), leveling the score at 1-1. Despite relentless pressure from both sides, regulation and overtime ended without further goals, forcing a shootout to decide the championship.
The shootout showcased stellar goaltending from both sides. St. Louis’s Max Stutzer (#30) denied four of five Dallas attempts, with Payne Deloach (#13) scoring the lone goal for the Stars. Donovan Knapp was equally impressive, shutting down all five Blues shooters, including a critical save on Linus Brooks (#12) to secure the victory.
The Dallas Stars Elite’s resilience and clutch performance under pressure earned them the 13O Larkin Division title in a game that exemplified the intensity and skill of the Tier 1 Elite Hockey League.
