Busy night. 45 games on the calendar. Here we go…
TRF at Roseau
TRF has Shelby Breiland and Khloe Lund. Roseau answers with Kayla Santl and Anika Stoskopf. But the difference in this game will be Roseau’s Brooke Zagone, Reese Strand, and Kiana Flag. Roseau has rattled off 4 straight wins to start the year. I think I found some more sisters, by the way. Can someone tell me if Ella, Kate, and Sophie Helgeson are all sisters, please? Roseau simply has more depth than TRF.
TRF is 4-1 on the year and can put the puck in the net. This will be their toughest competition so far this year and they will need whichever goalie plays to step their game up tonight. Will it be Gabby Steele or Faith Porter?
Either goalie the result will be the same. Roseau 4. TRF 1.
Shakopee at Blake
Shakopee is 3-0 despite only averaging 1.67 goals per game. They have 5 goals on the year with Paige McNeil having 3 of them. They do have one of the best 2021 D in the state in uncommitted Mackenzie Bachelor. Paige will need Emily Roder and the rest of the bunch to contribute if they are going to stand a chance. They have been getting goalie time from Brianna Eastman and Sidney Hearn. Whoever plays will eat some rubber tonight.
Blake has had 7 games already. 4 of the players have 13 or more points- Burton and Delianides with 14 and M. Wethington and Daniel with 13 each.
Blake wins this one 4-0.
Andover at Blaine
Andover is the number 1 team in the state and if you look at their pipeline they might hold that top spot for the next 6 years. I am only half joking. Hemp/Nelson/Krause can score at will it seems. The three of them have combined for 32 points in 4 games.
Blaine offensively has the really talented Ramsey Parent. But she doesn’t have to do it all by herself. She has gotten some help from Brityn Fussy and Dani Brunette. Hailey Hansen has a 4-1 record and a 1.60 GAA. Hailey has been really good but she might see 45+ shots tonight. I think Blaine makes it tough for Andover.
Andover 5. Blaine 3.
Cambridge/Isanti at Chisago Lakes
Here are C/I’s win totals over the last 4 years- 2, 11, 13, and 18. New head coach Shannon Skelton has them off to a nice start this season going 3-0 with a really nice win over North Wright County last week. They have a much harder schedule this year vs. previous years. Madelyn Skelton has 9 points, Ashley Schintz has 6, and Rilee Winters has 5 to round out the leaders.
Chisago Lakes has had a tough start going 0-3. They might have to wait a week to get their first W as they see NWC and Rogers immediately following C/I.
C/I wins this one 5-1.
Anoka at Elk River
Anoka’s Maddie Mashuga will face off against Elk River’s Kelsey King. They will be foes tonight but they will be teammates in Mankato starting in the fall of 2020. I could see Coach Harrington making the trek to the game. He is everywhere.
Elk River wins this one 4-2.
Chaska/Chan at Holy Family
CC has won three in a row after starting the year 0-2. They demolished St. Paul United in their last game. Freshman Katelyn Roberts is leading the way with 6 points but the scoring has been very balanced. They have four players at 4 points, two at 3, and 18 players that have registered at least 1 point. That is pretty remarkable.
Holy Family has started the year with 3 straight wins averaging 5 goals per game while giving up only 1 goal per game. They had a nice win over Hibbing/Chisholm last week but this will be their first game against a Class AA team this season.
I think this is a close one but Holy Family will prevail 3-2.
Farmington at Lakeville North
Which Farmington will be see tonight? The one that lost to Rosemount in game one or the one that smoked Prior Lake? My guess is the latter. Carly Lancaster and Claire Enright have found some early season chemistry. That should persist all season.
Lakeville North has been playing much better as of late. Lost a tough one in Roseau and snuck out a gutty W over Lakeville South in what looked more like a UFC match than a hockey game! I suppose there might be a little bit of a rivalry there!
Farmington 4. Lakeville North 2.
Centennial at Maple Grove
Centennial averaged 4.64 goals per game last season. So far through 4 games they are averaging 2.50 goals per game. We all know why. The question is can they adopt a new identity as a team with a strong defensive/goalie unit? New coach David Cole is a goalie guy so if anyone will help them with their new identity it will be him.
Maple Grove has started 2-0. They have a tough schedule this year with no extended reprieve anywhere really. Mannon McMahon has 4 points over the first two games. She will stay on that pace tonight.
Maple Grove 4. Centennial 1.
Delano/Rockford at South St. Paul
D/R is 3-1 on the season with some nice wins over New Ulm and Dodge County. Senior Anna Keranen has 10 points so far. 7 of them goals. Junior Chloe Kuechle and senior Emily Olson each have 7 points. Anna Kivisto likes to shoot the puck from the point.
South St. Paul is 2-3 on the year. Two of those losses were one goal games. They’ve got a really good D in Makenna Deering. She leads the team in points with 7.
This one is a coin flip. If it is a low scoring game it favors SSP. Heads it’s SSP. Tails it is D/R.
Heads it is. SSP 2. D/R 1.
Sota Girls Hockey 