The Shakopee Sabers face their toughest challenge yet when they take on the high-flying Rosemount Irish on Tuesday, January 7, at 7:00 PM at Rosemount Ice Arena. Both teams are undefeated in South Suburban Conference play.
The Sabers are riding high after a 9-2 victory over Farmington. Head Coach Calvin Simon’s squad has been a force offensively, averaging 4.79 goals per game. Cooper Simpson leads the charge with an impressive 18 goals and 29 points, with strong support from Nate Pederson (25 points) and Cooper Siegert (21 points).
Defensively, the Sabers are anchored by goaltender Owen Lunneborg, who sports a stellar 1.76 goals-against average and a .916 save percentage. The team’s penalty kill has been solid at 79.5%, but they’ll need to elevate their game against Rosemount’s strong power play.
Key to Success: Shakopee must strike early and contain Rosemount’s dynamic offensive threats.
The Irish have been a force this season, led by Head Coach Rick Saintey. Rosemount’s high-octane offense averages 5.53 goals per game, while their defense allows just 1.93. The Irish are coming off a convincing 4-1 win over Prior Lake and boast a balanced attack featuring multiple scoring threats.
Josh Toll leads the team in points with 31, while Christian Garrity (16 goals) and Cade Sherman (30 points) provide consistent offensive plays. Goaltender Sam Clements has been a unit in net, posting a 1.93 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage. With a lethal 36% power play and an 82.6% penalty kill the Sabes better stay out of the box.
Key to Success: Rosemount needs to capitalize on the power play and maintain defensive structure against Shakopee’s aggressive offense.
This matchup pits two evenly matched teams against each other, but Rosemount’s depth and home-ice advantage give them a slight edge. Expect a fast-paced, high-intensity game with both teams leaving it all on the ice.
Prediction: Rosemount 4, Shakopee 3 (OT).
