Dodge County looked like a newcomer at times to the Section One, Class AA title game.

Red Wing's experience and sheer talent won out, while a couple of injuries and some missed opportunities proved costly for Dodge County.

Red Wing rolled past New Prague, 9-1, at the Four Seasons Centre to capture the Section 1A championship and earn a third consecutive trip to the Class A state tournament. The Wingers begin state tournament play on Wednesday at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. Their opponent and game time will be determined this weekend.

Dodge County, in its first-ever section championship game appearance, had top-seeded Lakeville North on the ropes for more than two periods, but the Wildcats surrendered a pair of power-play goals in the third and lost, 3-2, to the Panthers.

North will begin play in the Class AA state tournament next Thursday at the Xcel Center.

The usual suspects led the way for Red Wing (25-2-0). Nicole Schammel had a hat trick less than 11 minutes into the game and finished with four goals and three assists. Reagan Haley had a goal and five assists, Emily Stegora had a hat trick and two assists, and senior defenseman Paige Haley had a goal and two assists.

Haley learned earlier in the day Thursday that she is one of five finalists for the Minnesota Miss Hockey award, which will be handed out at a banquet on Feb. 24 in St. Paul.

For Dodge County, its first trip to a section final was a learning experience. The Wildcats have just two seniors, so the door is open to make another run at a state tournament berth.

The Wildcats led 1-0 after one period and 2-0 at one point in the second. Emily Gunderson scored both of the Wildcats' goals. But Megan Skelly scored at the 9:50 mark of the third and Heidi Winiecki scored on a power play with 2:39 remaining to lift North back into the state tournament.