The Iron Range Miners 12-and-under AA hockey team based out of Negaunee won its district tournament recently and will play in the Michigan Amateur Hockey Association state tournament in Traverse City this weekend. (Photo courtesy Eric Turner)

NEGAUNEE — A youth hockey team based out of Negaunee will be departing for Traverse City later this week to play in its Michigan Amateur Hockey Association state tournament.

The 12-and-under AA Iron Range Miners earned their spot in the states after winning their District 8 tournament held in Calumet from Jan. 30-Feb. 1.

The district tourney played at the Calumet Colosseum ended with the Miners easily scoring the most goals of any of the five teams, along with the being the only team to post multiple shutouts.

The Negaunee-based team knocked off the Houghton-Hancock Portage Lake Flyers 6-0, Escanaba Hawks 12-0, Marquette Junior Wildcats 6-3 and Calumet Junior Kings 4-2.

The state tourney is scheduled for the Centre Ice Arena complex and runs from Friday through Sunday.

A look at the MAHA website shows the schedule, with each of the eight teams playing one game Friday and two games Saturday in pool play, then with the top two teams from each four-team pool advancing to the semifinals on Sunday morning with the state championship game set for Sunday afternoon.

The central-western Upper Peninsula representative will go up against the Soo Lakers of Sault Ste. Marie, Saginaw Junior Spirit and Traverse City North Stars from the host city in their pool.

The other pool includes the Detroit Bulldogs, Belle Tire from the Detroit area, Orchard Lake Bulldogs from near Pontiac, and Kalamazoo K Wings.

The Iron Range team is listed as playing Saginaw at 6:45 p.m. Friday, facing Traverse City at 12:45 p.m. Saturday, and taking on the Soo Lakers at 6:45 p.m. Saturday.

Story contents based on email received from Eric Turner. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee’s email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.