AAA Blue Jackets Snatch the 18U Championships in OT Win
DETROIT, MI – In a championship battle that needed extra time to decide it, the Ohio Jr. Blue Jackets defeated the St. Louis AAA Blues 3-2 in overtime to capture the 2026 Blaine 18U Championship at NSC Super Rink Rink #6. The scoring followed a back-and-forth rhythm all afternoon—Jackets, Blues, Jackets, Blues—before Ohio delivered the final strike in sudden death.
Ohio opened the scoring early in the first period. With 15:24 remaining, Alexander Popov (#9) finished a play set up by Luke Bricker (#19) and Keaton Hodges (#43) to give the Blue Jackets a 1-0 lead. St. Louis answered midway through the frame at 6:36 remaining, when Samuel Tudor (#88) found the net off an assist from Chase Blanchard (#7) to even the game at 1-1.
The Jackets regained control late in the first period. At 6:16 remaining, Nicklas Radich (#55) buried the go-ahead goal, assisted by Aiden Sinha (#29) and Peyton Wolf (#32), sending Ohio into the intermission up 2-1.
The Blues refused to go quietly. In the third period, with 11:53 remaining, Ryan Cook (#15) capitalized on a setup from Desmond Allman (#22) to tie the contest at 2-2 and force a tense finish. Both teams traded chances down the stretch, but goaltenders stood firm, pushing the championship into overtime.
In sudden death, the moment belonged to Ohio. At 4:30 remaining in overtime, Tyler Wilmoth (#28) finished the play off assists from Aiden Sinha (#29) and Austin Forney (#34), sending the Blue Jackets bench pouring onto the ice in celebration.
Ohio’s defensive structure and timely scoring proved decisive in a tightly contested final. After answering every Blues push and delivering when it mattered most in overtime, the Ohio Jr. Blue Jackets close out the season as 2026 Blaine Champions, earning the title the hard way in dramatic fashion.
