Northern Lakes vs. Hibbing/Chisholm:
Thursday, January 9, 2025, at 7:00 PM,
Breezy Point Ice Arena, Breezy Point, MN
Led by head coach Mike Randolph in his first year with the program, the Lightning have enjoyed a strong start to their season. They have a balanced attack, with standout performances from captain Drew Paulbeck, who leads the team with 14 goals and 27 points. Supporting him are Jerome Martin (17 points) and Wyatt Balmer (14 points), who provide depth in scoring.
On the defensive side, goalie Sam Suja has been a wall in net, boasting a stellar 1.43 GAA and a .932 save percentage. Suja’s consistency has been key for Northern Lakes, especially in close games, as evidenced by their 2-0 shutout victory over Superior earlier this week.
Northern Lakes thrives on special teams, with a power play conversion rate of 33.3% and an impressive 88.2% penalty kill.
Under head coach Aaron Jamnick, the Bluejackets have a strong offense, averaging 4.92 goals per game. Their attack is led by Tate Swanson, who tops the team with 30 points, and Jace Kampsula, who has 11 goals on the season. The supporting cast, including Cole Swanson and Isaiah Hildenbrand, both with 22 points, adds significant depth to their lineup.
In net, Rex Walli has been solid with a 2.09 GAA and an .899 save percentage. The Bluejackets have excelled on the power play as well, with a 34.1% success rate and a penalty kill operating at an impressive 92.9%.
Hibbing/Chisholm comes into this matchup following a dominant 7-2 victory over Delano, showing their ability to finish strong in games with four second-period goals in that contest.
Northern Lakes 3, Hibbing/Chisholm 2 (OT)
