The Albert Lea A Bantams competed in the District 4 tournament the weekend of Feb. 19 and advanced to Regions after a third place finish.

Faribault got the scoring started early, but Albert Lea (15-13-5) tied it with a power-play goal at 7:53 of the first. Jesse DeLosSantos scored with the assist to Shea Svendsen.

Faribault scored the next four goals to take a 4-1 lead, but with seven seconds left in the second period Albert Lea got a goal from Darik Weigel with the assist to Larry Olson to cut it to a Faribault 4-2 lead.

The final two periods were penalty-filled but Albert Lea got the final tally in the game at 12:34 of the third when Nate Stadheim scored and Svendsen assisted to make it 4-3.

Albert Lea faced sixth-seeded New Ulm in the next game and got off to a fast start. Stadheim scored an unassisted goal at 10:55 of first and it remained 1-1 after the first period.

Albert Lea scored two goals in the second. DeLosSantos scored the first at 3:15 with the assist to Svendsen. Albert Lea’s second goal was scored by Larry Olson with the assist going to defenseman Josh Martin. New Ulm didn’t go away and kept it to a 3-2 game entering the third.

Albert Lea scored two goals to power past New Ulm and took control after a New Ulm power-play goal. Lucas Peterson scored the game-winner with assists going to Larry Olson and Svendsen. Abert Lea finished the scoring at 11:10 with a goal by Svendsen and an assist from Stadheim for the 5-3 final. The victory advanced Albert Lea to the third place game against archrival Owatonna with the winner moving on to Regions.

Owatonna scored first, but Albert Lea countered with a goal from Stadheim with the assist to Svendsen. Albert Lea added another goal in the first from DeLosSantos with Josh Schwarz getting the assist to make it a 2-1 game.

Neither team scored again until the third period. Luke Malimanek faced 39 shots in the game, turning away 37 for Albert Lea.

Owatonna got a power-play goal to tie it 2-2 in the third to push the game to overtime.

The first overtime ended with no scoring and the game went to double overtime, which is played 4 on 4.

At 10:54 Larry Olson picked up a puck on a shot off his skate and he moved in all alone on the goalie. The goalie made the first move and Olson put a deke on him to score the game winner.

With the win Albert Lea got the third seed from District 4. New Prague was the one seed and Faribault the two seed.

Albert Lea will play in Plymouth this weekend in the South Region of the Minnesota Hockey. Its first game is Friday at noon against Faribault. Other teams in the pool include Osseo, Maple Grove and Buffalo.

The team is coached by Mike Carlson and Ed Bellrichard. Team Manager is Lori Herbst.