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Eero Makela has an ice pack on his hand, another taped to his shin, and a third behind his neck. He's leaning against his stall in the locker room, eyes closed. A slight upward curve of his lips is as good as a maniacal cackle on another man. His preternatural hockey sense, particularly in the defensive zone, are on display as he begins talking to the small handful of reporters without opening his eyes.

"That was quite the contest," Makela says, letting the smile reform. "The Vets are out there for a reason, every single one of those guys. They all earned their place in this tournament. It's not every day that you can expect to win with a single goal, but we shut them down shift after shift after shift."

Makela, credited with three takeaways, four hits, and an incredible seven blocked shots, was a big part of the effort to stop the Vets' offense from clicking, leading to the Up and Comers earning a 1-0 win and advancement in the tournament.