Game Preview: Morris/Benson Area vs. Willmar – January 14, 2025

Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at 5:00 PM,
Willmar Civic Center, Willmar, MN

Morris/Benson Area Storm: Looking to Bounce Back

The Morris/Benson Area Storm are coming off a hard-fought 3-2 loss to Breckenridge/Wahpeton on January 9, where they showed up in the second and third periods, but ultimately fell short in the final moments. With a 4-11 record so far this season, they’re still working to find consistency, particularly in the offensive zone. The Storm’s attack is led by senior forward Kye Suess, who has tallied 14 points on the season, including a team-high of 9 assists. Alongside him, Zachary Wrobleski has been a major goal-scoring threat, with 8 goals this season.

Defensively, Morris/Benson Area has struggled with a 4.47 goals-against-per-game (GAPG) average, but they’re hoping to stabilize their play with senior goaltender Gavin Schmidt. Schmidt has a save percentage of .882, but will need a strong performance against Willmar’s explosive offense to keep the Storm in the game.

Key Players:

  • Kye Suess (14 points, team leader)
  • Zachary Wrobleski (8 goals)
  • Gavin Schmidt (4.63 GAA, .882 SV%)

Willmar Cardinals: Looking for a Strong Showing After Recent Defeat

Willmar enters this matchup coming off a tough 8-2 loss to Becker/Big Lake on January 13. After a strong early season, the Cardinals have struggled with consistency, posting a 6-10 overall record. Despite their recent struggles, Willmar has a strong offensive lineup, with senior forward Gibson Horyza leading the charge with 13 goals and 21 points. He is closely followed by Luke Larson, who also has 21 points, and Aden Jacobson, who’s chipped in 17 points so far this season.

However, the Cardinals have also had issues on the defensive side, with a team goals-against average of 5.19 per game. Goaltender Eli Ewert has faced a lot of shots, and his .865 save percentage suggests that Willmar will need to tighten up their defensive game if they want to rebound from their recent loss and take control of the West Central standings.

Key Players:

  • Gibson Horyza (13 goals, 21 points)
  • Luke Larson (21 points)
  • Eli Ewert (5.12 GAA, .865 SV%)

Head-to-Head: A Battle of Inconsistent Teams

Both teams have been plagued by inconsistency this season, with Morris/Benson Area sitting at 4-11 and Willmar at 6-10. The Storm’s offensive and defensive struggles has kept them from finding any rhythm, while Willmar has at least been able to put up more offensive firepower, averaging 3.31 goals per game.

Morris/Benson Area’s key to success will likely come down to shutting down Willmar’s high-scoring duo of Horyza and Larson. If they can minimize turnovers and capitalize on power-play opportunities (10.9% success rate), they might be able to keep this game within reach. On the flip side, Willmar will need to tighten up defensively and find a way to slow down Morris/Benson Area’s counter-attacks.

Prediction: Willmar 4, Morris/Benson Area 2

While Morris/Benson Area will certainly fight hard and have moments of success, Willmar’s offensive depth and their ability to generate scoring chances should give them the upper hand in this matchup. The Cardinals’ higher-scoring offense and home-ice advantage should allow them to pull away late, despite their defensive vulnerabilities. Morris/Benson Area will need a standout performance from Schmidt in goal and continued offensive production from Wrobleski and Suess to keep this game competitive.

Prediction: 4-2 victory for the Cardinals

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