Game Preview: Wayzata Trojans vs. St. Michael-Albertville Knights
Thursday, January 9, 2025, at 7:00 PM
Plymouth Ice Center, Plymouth, MN
Head coach Pat O’Leary leads the Trojans, who are coming off a tough 3-2 loss to Grand Rapids. Wayzata’s strength lies in its attack, led by senior captain Eli Molde (7 goals, 16 points). Supporting Molde are Max Luedtke (6 goals) and Jackson Hendricks (5 goals), providing depth in scoring.
On the defensive side, goaltender Ryan Pellinger has been a steady presence with a 2.61 GAA and a .912 save percentage. The Trojans will look to tighten their penalty kill, currently operating at 80.4%, against a potent Knights power play.
The power play has been a mixed bag for Wayzata; while their penalty kill is solid, their power play (11.5%) has struggled. Improving their efficiency with the man advantage could be key to turning tight games into wins.
Under first-year head coach Sean Fish, the Knights have shown improvement after a challenging previous season. Their offense is powered by Tanner Esterberg, who has already tallied 13 goals and 17 points. Supporting Esterberg are Braeden Waller and Owen Volkenant, who add additional scoring depth.
Defensively, the Knights have struggled, allowing 4.30 goals per game. Goaltender Lucas Ingebrigtson has a 3.55 GAA and an .885 save percentage, and he will need to elevate his play to give the Knights a chance against Wayzata.
The power play is a strength for St. Michael-Albertville, with a 37.5% success rate. The Knights will aim to capitalize on any Wayzata penalties to keep the game close.
Wayzata 4, St. Michael-Albertville 2
Wayzata’s balanced scoring and stronger defensive structure give them the edge in this contest. Expect Molde to lead the way offensively, while Pellinger provides stability in goal. St. Michael-Albertville will stay competitive, especially if their power play finds success, but Wayzata’s depth and home-ice advantage will secure the victory.
