MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. — Kalie Kizanis took the advice Vegas Jr. Golden Knights (NV) coach Gordie Mark gave her.

“He’s always telling me to shoot it,” Kizanis said.

So, she did.

One of Kizanis’ shots turned out to be the only goal in Sunday’s 2026 Chipotle-USA Hockey Girls Tier II 16U 1A National Championship game at Centene Community Ice Center.

The Golden Knights earned a hard-fought 1-0 win over the Lady Cyclones (MO).

“I just found the puck, and I turned around and shot the puck,” Kizanis said. “I was ecstatic it went in the net. Gordie’s always telling me to shoot the puck. It’s good advice. I never thought I’d be the one to put the puck in the net.”

Mark disagreed.

“The kid just has a knack for scoring,” Mark said. “The puck just seems to find her. I’ve seen her hit that shot so many times. She doesn’t even need to look.”

She scored 4:18 into the second period, with Lizabeth Smith picking up the assist.

Goaltender Ruby Olde stopped 23 shots for the Golden Knights. She was in net for all six games in the tournament for Vegas. She allowed just two goals and earned four shutouts. Olde led the tournament with a 0.33 goals- -against-average and a .983 save percentage.

“I had one thought before the game and that was no goals,” Olde said. “That was pretty much it. I felt good. The team was really hyped for this game. It was really fun.”

Despite the loss, Cyclones forward Magdalyn Robinson enjoyed the experience of playing in the high-stakes game.

“We’ve played well all season and lifted each other up,” Robinson said. “We played a really good team. It was a one-goal game. It was an amazing battle.”

The Golden Knights are happy to head back to the desert as national champions.

“It’s great to represent Las Vegas,” Kizanis said. “It’s amazing. The team and the girls around me are all amazing. This win just feels great. There’s not another feeling like it.”

Most of this same group, Mark said, won the 14U national tournament title two years ago in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

The Golden Knights finished this year’s tournament a perfect 6-0.

“I’m feeling on top of the world,” Mark said. “I’ve moved with them this year. They’re such a great group of kids. This group worked hard. I’ve had coaches all year tell me that we’re a pain to play against. These girls are relentless. They work just as hard on the back check as they do chasing the puck.

“Winning this is the great feeling of all. It scratches my itch for the competitive fire I’ve got.”

The Lady Cyclones started 1-2 in the tournament but still made an unlikely run to the championship game.

“This team has been fantastic all year,” Cyclones coach Terry Champaign said. “They never expected to make it this far, but they kept battling and improving. We were the bottom seed to make it into the playoff round.

“We showed what we could do. These championship games are always attrition. It’s survival of the fittest.”

Photo/USA Hockey

— Warren Mayes/Red Line Editorial for USA Hockey

(March 29, 2026)