Game Preview: East Grand Forks vs. Roseau – January 14, 2025
Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at 6:00 PM
Roseau Memorial Arena, Roseau, MN
East Grand Forks (7-6-1) has gotten off to a strong start this season in the Mariucci Conference, currently sitting near the top of the standings. They’ve managed to balance offense and defense well, averaging 2.86 goals per game while allowing 2.86 goals against per game. The Green Wave have had a solid power play performance as well (17.2%) and a penalty kill operating at 80.7%.
The standout player for East Grand Forks this season has been senior forward Hunter Varnson, who leads the team with 17 points, including 7 goals. He’s been the driving force behind their offense, along with teammates like Cooper Hills (14 points) and Tucker Lovejoy (12 points) gives East Grand Forks a dangerous top line.
Defensively, Noah Schindele has been solid between the pipes with a 2.37 goals-against average and a .902 save percentage. While Schindele’s numbers are respectable, the Green Wave’s defense will need to continue tightening up to face an explosive Roseau offense in this matchup.
Key Players:
Roseau (9-7-1) enters this game with a mixed record. The Rams’ offense is led by Jude Wittrock, who has 8 goals and 16 points. He has been a consistent threat for the Rams, and along with players like Jake Halvorson (7 goals, 12 points) and Chase Bachleitner (13 points), Roseau can put together offensive bursts that could trouble any defense.
However, defense has been a bit of a concern for the Rams this season. They’ve allowed an average of 3.00 goals per game, and Abram Hinson, their starting goaltender, holds a 2.96 GAA and an .888 save percentage. While these numbers are decent, they are vulnerable to being exposed if they can’t tighten up defensively, especially against a team like East Grand Forks, which has been opportunistic offensively.
Roseau’s power play has also been a bit of a mixed bag, operating at 17.7% and the penalty kill sitting at 80.4%. If they’re going to compete with a team like East Grand Forks, they’ll need to capitalize on their power play opportunities and be more disciplined on the penalty kill.
Key Players:
Prediction: East Grand Forks 4, Roseau 3
