Indy Jr Fuel 16 & Under has officially concluded the 2024-2025 season, accomplishing something truly remarkable as they finished second in the USA Hockey 16 & Under Tier II National Championship tournament in Wayne, New Jersey, on Sunday, April 6th, 2025.
Although the week started with a disappointing loss to the Alaska Wolves, Coach Oliver Wenck’s group quickly rebounded with wins over Team Wyoming and a thriller against the Carolina Rage (SC). Max Pelton had an incredible performance in net, with a tournament leading save percentage of 96%. While Ethan Lehtinen collected the shootout winner against the Rage to give his team the second-seed in their pool during round-robin play and advance to elimination rounds.
The Jr Fuel faced Team South Dakota in the semi-final, during which Ryan Mattio carried the team offensively with two goals of his own and an assist on a Michael Downey tap in. Max Pelton continued his impressive run of play with help from experienced defensemen in Charlie Holdridge and Ben Gettum, warding off eight South Dakota power-plays on their way to the Championship game.
They ultimately came up just one goal short in the championship game against the Portland Jr. Winterhawks (OR). A slow first period had the Jr Fuel down 3-0 when team captain Thomas Dugan took charge with the first Jr Fuel goal. Ethan Lehtinen would bury another marker for the Jr Fuel on a 5-on-3 powerplay. With the Jr Fuel goalie pulled for an extra skater, Brady Lemieux netted one more with two minutes left in the game. The Jr Fuel offense could produce no more, and finished second in the tournament with a final score of 4-3.
“These young men worked extremely hard all season, they did everything we asked and went above and beyond in one of the most important moments of their athletic careers,” said 16U Gold Head Coach Oliver Wenck. “This group has so much to be proud of, and all of them have so much to look forward to on and off the ice. I’m honored to have worked with each and every one of them.”
Between games of their own, members of the Jr Fuel 16 & Under team were able to attend a New York Rangers game at Madison Square Garden and explore New York City. Team building events like this were part and parcel to their overall success. This group started the season with a kayaking tour of Lake Erie, explored Niagara Falls during a tournament in Buffalo, and hiked in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains while in Colorado for league games.
The Indy Jr Fuel 16 & Under team was made up of players from across central Indiana, Kentucky, even a player from New Jersey. Selected in May of 2024, the team trained together all summer and formally began their season in late August. Finishing with a record of 33-23-1, they are the first IYHA team since 2011 to reach the final game of the USA Hockey National Championship tournament.
Congratulations to the Indy Jr Fuel 16U Gold team for an incredible run on youth hockey’s biggest stage.