Edina Edges Elk River, Hutchinson Secures First Win, Windom Tops Redwood Valley, Pine City and Cambridge-Isanti End in a Draw, Rosemount Stays Perfect Over Hermantown, Orono Dominates Hibbing/Chisholm, and Little Falls Falls to Hutchinson in a Packed Night of Minnesota High School Hockey:

Robbinsdale Armstrong/Cooper Secures a 4-2 Victory Over Osseo

Robbinsdale Armstrong/Cooper topped Osseo 4-2 in a competitive matchup at Dick Vraa Arena. Strong performances on both ends of the ice and efficient scoring ensured the win for Robbinsdale Armstrong/Cooper.

Scoring Highlights:

• First Period: Robbinsdale Armstrong/Cooper struck early with goals from Tanner Cassidy at 5:31 and Luke Weisjahn on a power play at 14:19, giving them a 2-0 lead.
• Second Period: Osseo responded at 2:32 with Jackson Berg’s goal, assisted by Charlie Stockbridge and Zach Nunn. Robbinsdale Armstrong/Cooper extended their lead with a goal from Lewis Majkozak at 7:47.
• Third Period: Majkozak added his second goal of the night at 3:38, pushing Robbinsdale Armstrong/Cooper to a 4-1 lead. Osseo’s Bennet Prokop narrowed the gap at 13:21, but the deficit proved too much.

Key Players:

• Robbinsdale Armstrong/Cooper:
  • Lewis Majkozak: Led the offense with two goals and displayed key positioning throughout the game.
  • Tanner Cassidy: Scored the opening goal and added an assist, contributing to the team’s strong start.
  • Goalie Ryan Melsha: Made 29 saves on 31 shots, securing a .935 save percentage.
• Osseo:
  • Jackson Berg: Found the back of the net in the second period, showcasing his offensive instincts.
  • Bennet Prokop: Added a late goal, keeping the game competitive.
  • Goalie Brady Shields: Faced 27 shots and made 23 saves.

Special Teams Impact:

• Robbinsdale Armstrong/Cooper capitalized on one of their two power play opportunities, with Weisjahn’s goal proving pivotal.
• Osseo couldn’t convert on their lone power play opportunity.

Shots on Goal:

• Robbinsdale Armstrong/Cooper: 27
• Osseo: 31

Robbinsdale Armstrong/Cooper demonstrated strong team coordination and efficiency in front of the net, earning a well-fought victory. Osseo will look to tighten their defense in future games while building on their offensive efforts

Grand Rapids Beats Eden Prairie in a Close 2-1 Matchup

Grand Rapids secured a narrow 2-1 victory over Eden Prairie at the Edina Holiday Classic, overcoming an early deficit with disciplined play and key contributions.

Scoring Summary:

• First Period: Eden Prairie opened the scoring at 15:24 with a goal from John Kleis, assisted by Gavin Zick, giving them a 1-0 lead.
• Second Period: Grand Rapids tied the game at 12:22 with a goal from Will Miskovich, assisted by Luka Rohloff and Ander Rajala.
• Third Period: The game-winning goal came at 10:56 when Nathan Garski scored, assisted by Luka Rohloff and Carter Casey.

Special Teams:

• Both teams had opportunities on the power play, but neither could capitalize. Eden Prairie went 0-for-4, while Grand Rapids was also 0-for-4.

Goaltending:

• Grand Rapids’ goalie, Carter Casey, was a standout, making 34 saves on 35 shots for a stellar .971 save percentage.
• Eden Prairie’s goalie, Keegan Fryar, stopped 18 of 20 shots, finishing with a .900 save percentage.

Team Stats:

• Shots on Goal: Eden Prairie outshot Grand Rapids 35-20, dominating offensively but struggling to find the back of the net.
• Penalties: Both teams took five penalties each, totaling 10 minutes, but neither side could convert on the power play.

Key Performers:

• Grand Rapids:
  • Luka Rohloff: Contributed two assists, playing a pivotal role in both goals.
  • Carter Casey: Exceptional performance in goal, securing the win with key saves.
• Eden Prairie:
  • John Kleis: Scored the lone goal for his team.
  • Gavin Zick: Provided the assist on the opening goal and demonstrated strong playmaking.

Grand Rapids used their opportunities effectively to earn the win, while Eden Prairie will look to convert their offensive pressure into results in future games.

Becker/Big Lake Edges Sauk Rapids-Rice in a 5-4 Comeback Victory

Becker/Big Lake overcame an early deficit to secure a 5-4 win over Sauk Rapids-Rice, fueled by a dominant third-period performance and standout contributions from Tate Spilde and Hayden Kipka.

Scoring Summary:

• First Period:
  • Sauk Rapids-Rice took an early 2-0 lead with goals from Vincent Murn and Elijah Fitch.
• Second Period:
  • Becker/Big Lake responded with goals from Owen Zahler and Tate Spilde (power play), but Brandon Goebel added a tally for Sauk Rapids-Rice to maintain a 3-2 lead.
• Third Period:
  • Becker/Big Lake’s Brant Rusin and Tate Spilde scored back-to-back goals to take a 4-3 lead. Although Elijah Fitch equalized for Sauk Rapids-Rice, Spilde sealed the game with his third goal at 16:47.

Special Teams:

• Becker/Big Lake capitalized on one of their six power-play opportunities (16.67%), while Sauk Rapids-Rice was unable to convert on three attempts.

Goaltending:

• Becker/Big Lake’s goalie, Elliott Grafnitz, made 32 saves on 36 shots, finishing with a .889 save percentage.
• Sauk Rapids-Rice’s goalie, Reed Omvig, stopped 12 of 17 shots, ending with a .706 save percentage.

Key Performers:

• Becker/Big Lake:
  • Tate Spilde: Recorded a hat trick and one assist, contributing to four of the team’s five goals.
  • Hayden Kipka: Registered three assists, facilitating key scoring plays.
• Sauk Rapids-Rice:
  • Elijah Fitch: Scored two goals and added strong offensive presence.
  • Vincent Murn: Tallied one goal and one assist.

Game Stats:

• Shots on Goal: Sauk Rapids-Rice outshot Becker/Big Lake 36-17 but couldn’t hold off the late surge.
• Penalties: Becker/Big Lake served 6 minutes on 3 infractions, while Sauk Rapids-Rice had 12 minutes on 6 infractions.

Becker/Big Lake’s resilience and efficient offense in the final period proved decisive, securing a well-earned win in a closely contested game

 

Rosemount Extends Undefeated Streak to 10 with a 4-1 Victory Over Hermantown

Rosemount (10-0-0) maintained their perfect record with a 4-1 win over Class A powerhouse Hermantown (5-2-2). A strong start and balanced team play secured the victory for the Irish.

Scoring Summary:

• First Period:
  • Rosemount opened the scoring with an even-strength goal by Benny Rutzick at 5:17, assisted by Josh Toll and Cristian Nichols.
  • Cade Sherman added a power-play goal at 14:18, extending the lead to 2-0.
• Second Period:
  • Rosemount’s Christian Garrity scored at 7:02 to make it 3-0.
  • Hermantown’s Bradford Skytta responded with a power-play goal at 11:20, assisted by River Freeman and Gabriel Swenson.
• Third Period:
  • Rosemount sealed the game with an even-strength goal by Connor Schubert at 8:57, with assists from Josh Toll and Jack Lenmark.

Special Teams:

• Rosemount converted their lone power-play opportunity, maintaining efficiency at 100%.
• Hermantown scored on one of their two power-play opportunities (50.0%).

Goaltending:

• Sam Clements (Rosemount): Made 19 saves on 20 shots, finishing with a .950 save percentage.
• Bryce Francisco (Hermantown): Stopped 38 of 42 shots, posting a .905 save percentage.

Key Performers:

• Rosemount:
  • Josh Toll: Contributed three assists, playing a pivotal role in the team’s offensive efforts.
  • Cristian Nichols: Recorded two assists and was instrumental on both ends of the ice.
• Hermantown:
  • Bradford Skytta: Scored the lone goal for the Hawks on the power play.

Game Stats:

• Shots on Goal: Rosemount outshot Hermantown 42-20, demonstrating their dominance throughout the game.
• Penalties: Rosemount had 4 minutes on 2 infractions, while Hermantown had 2 minutes on 1 infraction.

Rosemount’s victory solidifies their position as a dominant force this season, while Hermantown will look to regroup as they prepare for their next challenge.

 

Orono Overpowers Hibbing/Chisholm 6-2

Orono secured a decisive 6-2 victory over Hibbing/Chisholm, thanks to a dominant third period led by a hat trick from Trey Landa and solid goaltending from Evan Schmidt.

Game Summary:

• First Period:
  • Hibbing/Chisholm struck first at 4:36 with an even-strength goal by Tyler Raatsi, assisted by Ethan Sundvall.
  • Orono equalized at 11:33 as Trey Landa scored off an assist from Nicholas Nugent.
• Second Period:
  • Orono took the lead at 16:30 with Jackson Knight scoring, assisted by Lachlan Hoffman and Ethan Pagel.
• Third Period:
  • Orono extended their lead early in the period with Ethan Pagel scoring at 1:11, assisted by Jacob Pfeifer.
  • Luca Decubellis added another goal at 7:54, assisted by Boston Foster.
  • Hibbing/Chisholm narrowed the gap at 12:34 with a goal from Ben Galli, but Orono responded with two more goals:
    • Trey Landa scored at 13:57 (empty net).
    • Landa completed his hat trick at 15:20 with an assist from Ryan DeLange.

Special Teams:

• Both teams were unable to capitalize on their power plays, with Orono going 0 for 4 and Hibbing/Chisholm 0 for 3.

Goaltending:

• Evan Schmidt (Orono): Stopped 31 of 33 shots, posting a .939 save percentage.
• Rex Walli (Hibbing/Chisholm): Made 28 saves on 34 shots for an .824 save percentage.

Key Performers:

• Orono:
  • Trey Landa: Hat trick and three shots on goal.
  • Ethan Pagel: One goal, one assist, and strong contributions in the offensive zone.
• Hibbing/Chisholm:
  • Tyler Raatsi: Scored the team’s first goal.
  • Ben Galli: Added the second goal while showing determination on both ends of the ice.

Game Stats:

• Shots on Goal: Orono edged Hibbing/Chisholm 34-33 in shots.
• Penalties: Both teams accumulated 8 penalty minutes on 4 infractions.

Orono’s balanced offense and steady defensive effort secured their victory, while Hibbing struggled to maintain momentum after the first period.

Hutchinson Upsets Little Falls, Secures First Win of the Season

Hutchinson earned its first victory of the season with a 4-1 upset over Little Falls. The win improves Hutchinson’s record to 1-7-0, while Little Falls drops to 3-3-1.

Game Summary:

• First Period:
  • Hutchinson struck first at 14:47 with an even-strength goal from Nathan Thode, assisted by Emmett Reiter.
• Second Period:
  • Hutchinson extended their lead at 13:49 on the power play as Matthew May found the back of the net, with assists from Hudson Lien and William Van Marel.
• Third Period:
  • Little Falls narrowed the gap at 2:40 with an even-strength goal by Mason Oothoudt, assisted by Ryan Oothoudt and Luke Avery.
  • Hutchinson responded at 11:00 with a goal from Emmett Reiter, assisted by Nathan Thode and Hudson Lien.
  • Reiter sealed the game with an empty-net goal at 16:21, assisted by William Van Marel and Nathan Thode.

Special Teams:

• Hutchinson capitalized on the power play, going 1 for 3 (33.33%).
• Little Falls struggled with their power play opportunities, going 0 for 2.

Key Performers:

• Hutchinson:
  • Emmett Reiter: Two goals, one assist.
  • Nathan Thode: One goal, two assists.
  • Matthew May: One goal on the power play.
• Little Falls:
  • Mason Oothoudt: One goal.
  • Ryan Oothoudt and Luke Avery: Each contributed an assist.

Goaltending:

• Hutchinson – Lukas Heilman: Outstanding performance, stopping 24 of 25 shots for a .960 save percentage.
• Little Falls – Izaak Kalis: Made 24 saves on 28 shots for an .857 save percentage.

Team Stats:

• Shots on Goal: Hutchinson narrowly outshot Little Falls 28-25.
• Penalties:
  • Hutchinson: 4 minutes on 2 infractions.
  • Little Falls: 6 minutes on 3 infractions.

Hutchinson’s first win was marked by strong defensive play, opportunistic scoring, and a solid showing in net by Heilman.

Pine City Area and Cambridge-Isanti Battle to 1-1 Tie

In a tightly contested matchup, Pine City Area and Cambridge-Isanti skated to a 1-1 draw after overtime. Both teams displayed strong defensive efforts and solid goaltending, resulting in the tie.

Game Summary:

• First Period:
  • No scoring occurred as both teams exchanged chances but were unable to capitalize.
• Second Period:
  • Cambridge-Isanti struck first at 3:17 when Josh Sauro scored an even-strength goal, assisted by Drew Johnson.
  • Pine City Area answered at 12:34 with a shorthanded goal by Milo Rydberg, set up by McCall Leger.
• Third Period and Overtime:
  • Despite both teams generating quality scoring chances, neither could break the deadlock.

Special Teams:

• Neither team capitalized on limited power play opportunities, with no penalties resulting in goals.

Goaltending:

• Pine City Area – Aaron Rootkie: Stopped 33 of 34 shots, finishing with a .971 save percentage.
• Cambridge-Isanti – Jaxon Sibell: Delivered a stellar performance, making 35 saves on 36 shots for a .972 save percentage.

Key Performers:

• Pine City Area:
  • Milo Rydberg: Scored the team’s lone goal shorthanded.
  • Aaron Rootkie: Strong performance in net, keeping Pine City Area competitive.
• Cambridge-Isanti:
  • Josh Sauro: Tallied the team’s only goal.
  • Jaxon Sibell: Exceptional in net, making crucial saves to secure the tie.

Team Stats:

• Shots on Goal: Pine City Area outshot Cambridge-Isanti 36-34.
• Penalties: A disciplined game with no penalties called on either side.

Both teams demonstrated resilience in this evenly matched contest. Pine City Area moves to 0-0-1 on the season, while Cambridge-Isanti begins with a similar 0-0-1 record.

Windom Triumphs Over Redwood Valley in High-Scoring Match

Windom secured a 6-4 victory against Redwood Valley in an action-packed game at the Windom Arena. The Eagles’ balanced offense and timely scoring helped them fend off a resilient Redwood Valley team.

Game Summary:

• First Period:
  • Windom Area opened the scoring at 2:44 with Weston Murray finding the net, assisted by Ayden Endreson.
  • Redwood Valley responded at 11:14 with Kilen Cilek scoring an even-strength goal, set up by Knox Kramer, tying the game at 1-1.
• Second Period:
  • Erik Rasmussen scored shorthanded for Redwood Valley at 1:50, giving them a 2-1 lead.
  • Windom Area answered with goals from Nick Espenson at 4:00 and Ayden Endreson at 8:04 to take a 3-2 lead.
  • Redwood Valley tied it again at 14:08 through Gavin Vanderwerf, but Jessy Gentry restored Windom Area’s lead at 15:26.
• Third Period:
  • Windom Area extended their lead with goals from Alex Cory at 5:15 and Andrei Rivera at 8:27.
  • Redwood Valley’s Kooper Johnson scored on the power play at 16:08, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the deficit.

Special Teams:

• Redwood Valley: Scored 1 goal on 3 power play opportunities (33.33%).
• Windom Area: Unable to capitalize on 2 power play chances.

Key Performers:

• Windom Area:
  • Andrei Rivera: 1 goal, 2 assists.
  • Ayden Endreson: 1 goal, 1 assist.
  • Goalie Kole Espenson: Stopped 18 of 22 shots (.818 save percentage).
• Redwood Valley:
  • Thomas Fischer: 2 assists.
  • Erik Rasmussen: 1 shorthanded goal.
  • Goalie Jacob O’Halloran: Made 24 saves on 30 shots (.800 save percentage).

Team Stats:

• Shots on Goal: Windom Area outshot Redwood Valley 30-22.
• Penalties: Redwood Valley had 17 penalty minutes compared to Windom Area’s 6.

Edina Beats Elk River 2-1 

Edina held off a determined Elk River/Zimmerman team to earn a 2-1 victory in a closely contested matchup. The game showcased strong goaltending and defensive efforts from both teams.

Game Summary:

• First Period:
  • Elk River/Zimmerman opened the scoring at 7:48 with Tristan Kriech finding the net off assists from Joey Kotzian and Grant Schauer.
  • Edina responded on the power play at 9:11 with Freddie Schneider scoring, assisted by Sam Peckham and Casey Vandertop, tying the game 1-1.
• Second Period:
  • Neither team managed to score despite multiple chances, as both goaltenders stood tall.
• Third Period:
  • Edina’s Mason West scored the game-winning goal at 2:58, with the Hornets’ defense and goaltending securing the victory.

Special Teams:

• Edina: Converted 1 of 3 power play opportunities (33.33%).
• Elk River/Zimmerman: Unable to score on 2 power play opportunities.

Key Performers:

• Edina:
  • Freddie Schneider: 1 goal.
  • Mason West: Game-winning goal.
  • Goalie Wyatt Spindler: Stopped 13 of 14 shots (.929 save percentage).
• Elk River/Zimmerman:
  • Tristan Kriech: 1 goal.
  • Goalie Gavin Greniuk: Made 38 saves on 40 shots (.950 save percentage).

Team Stats:

• Shots on Goal: Edina outshot Elk River/Zimmerman 40-14.
• Penalties: Elk River/Zimmerman recorded 10 penalty minutes compared to Edina’s 8.