The Winona Winhawks hit the road to face the Rochester Lourdes Eagles on Tuesday, January 7, at 7:00 PM at Graham Arena in Rochester.
The Winhawks are coming off a 3-2 overtime victory over Red Wing. Led by Head Coach Marty Raymond, Winona has relied on a strong offense, averaging 4.89 goals per game. Aven Prodzinski is the team’s offensive weapon, leading the Winhawks with 10 goals and 18 points. He has been supported by Trystan Hagen and Paxton Raymond, each contributing 13 points.
Defensively, the Winhawks will lean on goaltender Damon Noland, who boasts an impressive 1.44 goals-against average and a .937 save percentage. Noland’s consistent play has anchored Winona’s penalty kill, which has succeeded at 78.4%.
Key to Success: Winona must establish an early lead and maintain defensive discipline against a balanced Lourdes line-up.
The Eagles are fresh off a 2-0 victory against La Crescent-Hokah, showcasing their defensive strength. Head Coach Jeff True’s squad has shown solid play on both ends, averaging 3.45 goals per game while allowing just 2.36. Offensively, Nolan DuBois is the standout player with 11 goals and 12 points, while Vinny Harens provides additional scoring depth with 12 points.
In goal, Anton Ackley has been a steady presence, posting a 2.52 goals-against average and a .901 save percentage. The Eagles’ special teams have been effective, with a 28.1% power play conversion rate and an 80.6% penalty kill success rate.
Key to Success: Rochester Lourdes needs to neutralize Prodzinski’s impact while capitalizing on power play opportunities.
Both teams have strong penalty kill averages, making penalty discipline and power play execution critical.
Both teams bring strong momentum and solid goaltending into this matchup. However, Winona’s offensive firepower, led by Prodzinski, gives them a slight edge.
Prediction: Winona 4, Rochester Lourdes 3 (OT).
