Hepp’s Salt Captures Dangle Cup Championship with 4–2 Win Over Trash Panda

Braemar Arena – August 14, 2025

The 2025 Dangle League season came to a thrilling conclusion Thursday night at Braemar Arena as Hepp’s Salt, the league’s regular season champion, claimed its first-ever Dangle Cup title with a 4–2 victory over Trash Panda. The championship game capped a season marked by parity, elite skill, high hockey IQ, and exceptional goaltending from some of Minnesota’s top high school girls’ players.

From the opening faceoff, both teams played with urgency befitting a winner-take-all final. The pace exceeded even the fastest regular-season matchups, with both sides showcasing speed, precision, and relentless pursuit of the puck.

It took more than 12 minutes for the ice to break. Hepp’s defender Adeline Wethington (Blake) stepped up in the neutral zone, intercepted a pass, and carried the puck across the Trash Panda blue line before rifling a shot past goaltender Grace Kemp (Cretin-Derham Hall) for a 1–0 lead.

The goal energized Hepp’s Salt, and momentum swung firmly their way. On the game’s first power play, Laina Peterson (Mankato East) struck from the slot off a feed from Taryn Richter (Holy Family) and Libby Moe (Edina)to double the lead. Less than a minute later, Richter crashed the net and buried a rebound, giving Hepp’s a commanding 3–0 edge.

Trash Panda responded with their own push, earning a power play late in the first half, but Kemp kept her team within striking distance. Kemp made a remarkable sequence of three left-pad saves in the butterfly—first on a point-blank chance, then on a quick rebound, and finally sliding across to her far post to rob another shot.

Hepp’s extended their lead early in the second half when Brooklyn Mauch (Marshall) scored off a setup from Grace Bendickson (BSM) and Ella Nonweiler, (Holy Family) making it 4–0. But the game was far from over.

With 8:37 remaining, Sydney Burnevik (Champlin Park/Coon Rapid) finished off a passing play with Madeline Wolter and Sophie Olson (Hill-Murray)to get Trash Panda on the board. Less than two minutes later, Callie Arthur (Blake) the deficit to 4–2, sending a surge of energy through the Trash Panda bench. Despite the late push, Hepp’s Salt’s defensive structure held firm, sealing the championship victory.

Hepp’s Salt finishes the season at 9–1, while Trash Panda concludes a strong campaign at 4–4–2.

3 Stars of the Game

1. Adeline Wethington – Game-winning goal, defensive presence

2. Grace Kemp – Trash Panda goalie, sensational first-half saves to keep her team alive

3. Taryn Richter – Goal and assist, driving force in Hepp’s offense