Dineen Cup Day 1 Recap | River Hawks Outlast, Spud Kings Hold On
The 2026 NCDC Dineen Cup Championship opened Friday at the Mountain America Center with a pair of tightly contested matchups, setting the tone for a high-stakes, double-elimination tournament. Grand Junction needed double overtime to get past P.A.L. in a battle of division champions, while host Idaho Falls rode a fast start to hold off a late rally from South Shore, sending the Spud Kings to the winner’s bracket on home ice.
Game 1: Grand Junction River Hawks 2, P.A.L. Junior Islanders 1 (2OT)
Grand Junction outlasted P.A.L. in a marathon to open the tournament, earning a 2-1 win in double overtime. After a scoreless first, Isaiah Yates broke through in the second to give the River Hawks the lead. P.A.L. answered in the third with Eric He to force overtime, but Bradley Boniface sealed it late in 2OT to send Grand Junction into the winner’s bracket. River Hawks Goalie Viggo Boston stopped 34 of the 35 shots he faced.
Game 2: Idaho Falls Spud Kings 5, South Shore Kings 4
The host Spud Kings built a cushion early and held off a late surge from South Shore to close out a 5-4 win. Idaho Falls struck for five goals across the first two periods, including markers from Hunter Whisenand and Daniel Macleish, while South Shore stormed back with three in the third. Despite the push, the Spud Kings held on to secure the opening-night victory on home ice. Idaho Falls Goaltender Devin Degenstein turned aside 29 of the 33 shot in the win.
Winner’s Bracket: Grand Junction vs. Idaho Falls
Elimination Game: P.A.L. vs. South Shore
2026 Dineen Cup Championships Schedule
Dineen Cup Championship – April 24-28, 2026 (all times MDT)
All Games To Be Played At Mountain America Center, Idaho Falls, ID
Double Elimination Format
April 25
2:00 PM – P.A.L. Jr. Islanders vs South Shore Kings (Elimination)
7:00 PM – Idaho Falls Spud Kings vs Grand Junction River Hawks (Winner advances to Final)
April 26:
7:00 PM – 1-1 vs 1-1 (Elimination / Winner advances to Final)
April 27:
7:00 PM – 2-1 vs 2-0 (Final #1)
April 28:
7:00 PM – 3-1 vs 2-1 (Final #2, if necessary)*
* = The Mountain Division representative in Game 1 will be either the Mountain Division Champion if the Spud Kings do not win the division championship, or the Mountain Division finalists if the host Spud Kings are the division champions.