Girls Hockey Class 2A Season Preview

Skippers set sail for a title

The Edina Hornets enter the 2021-22 girls hockey season as defending state champions, with aspirations of defending their title and winning a fifth championship in six years. But the Minnetonka Skippers appear to be in great position to win it all and dethrone their long-standing west suburb rivals. Minnetonka enters the new season with plenty of talent returning and some powerful new additions that make them the favorite to win it all in St. Paul at the end of February.

Heres how we see it as the season begins:

1. Minnetonka Skippers

The Skippers made it to the state semifinals last year, where they were beaten 4-0 by their west suburb nemesis and conference rival Edina. But the Skippers come into the new season with an unchallenged talent level that should get them back for another shot at a championship.

Junior forward Grace Sadura, a recent UMD commit, led the team in scoring last year (20-17 - 37) and will head up the offense. Sophomores Kendra Distad (11-13 - 24) and Lindzi Avar (7-12 - 19) will bring added punch to the offense. Senior goalie Sophia Johnson will look to fill the void left by the graduation of all-state net minder Brynn DuLac.

In addition, future Golden Gopher Ava Lindsay transferred from Breck in Class 1A to join the favorites in Section 2AA. Lindsay is among a strong group of new faces, which includes Josie and Layla Hemp, transfers from Andover. The Skippers set sail on the new season in favorable conditions.

2. Edina Hornets

The defending champs were simply awesome last year, finishing 22-0-0 and allowing just 16 goals all season. This included an astounding 12 shutouts. Goaltender Uma Corniea (.956 SV%) returns and dynamic Minnesota Gopher commit Vivian Jungels (12-31 - 43) returns to anchor the defense.

The big question for the Hornets is can they replace the scoring and leadership of their departed seniors? Emma Connor (Minnesota) and Hannah Chorske (Harvard) combined for 46 goals and 74 points, leaving some question marks on offense. But with Jungels, Lauren Zawoyski (5-14 - 19) and Hannah Halvorson (4-13 - 17) returning, along with the usual reinforcements Edina is known for, the Hornets are still the favorites in Section 6AA.

3. Andover Huskies

Andover standout Isa Goettl.  Photo by Mike Lieb

How about some fun with small numbers: the 2020 champs finished 22-1-0 in 2021, losing 2-1 to Edina in the 2021 state title game. Numerical tongue twisters aside, the Huskies are all about putting big numbers up on the scoreboard. This is a team that averaged over eight goals per game last year and looks to be an offensive powerhouse once again.

Despite graduating Peyton Hemp (Minnesota) (34-46 - 80) and Gabby Krause (UMD) (26-35 - 61), as well as 10 seniors total, Andover is an overwhelming favorite to return to the state tournament. Ella Boerger (27-30 - 57) averaged over two points per game and will get plenty of help from returnees Madison Brown (18-17 - 35), Sara Kaiser (16-18 - 34) and Isa Goettl (11-20 - 31). Helping the cause is the return of junior goaltender Courtney Stagman (.950 SV%), who had a whopping ten shutouts. Andover's domination in Section 7AA looks likely to continue.

4. Hill-Murray Pioneers

Hill Murray's Allie Franco.  Photo by Mike Lieb

The Pioneers should be plenty motivated this season. Due to a COVID outbreak last season, the Pioneers had four games cancelled from Feb. 26 to Mar. 6, then stumbled in their return, before a dominating run got them to the Section 4AA championship, where they lost 1-0 to Stillwater.

New coach Shawn Reid inherits a team that graduated just four seniors and will be backstopped by sophomore goalie Grace Zhan (.940 SV%). Four of the five top scorers also return for Hill-Murray, led by sophomore leading scorer Chloe Boreen (19-5 - 24), and U of M commit Allie Franco (10-11 - 21). Reid will look to Franco for leadership this season. "Her experience and maturity will help the younger players," said Reid. "Every season has peaks and valleys and were going to follow her lead."

The Pioneers returning experience makes them a slight favorite in tough Section 4AA and will put them in position for a run at the 2A state title.

5. Benilde-St. Margarets Red Knights

The Red Knights made it to the Section 6AA championship where they were upended by Edina 3-1. In fact, three of Benilde's four losses last season were to the Hornets, the other two by narrow, 2-1 and 1-0 scores. That bodes well for a team returning three of its five top scorers, including senior leader and St. Thomas commit Mary Zavoral (11-9 - 20) and top defender Emma Peschel (8-9 - 17), who was recently named to the USA Women's U18 National Team.

The Red Knights win with a defense-first philosophy, but could use a bit more offense if they are to challenge Edina this year. Seniors Emma Hoen (5-10 - 15) and Lily Mortenson (5-5 - 10) will be looked to for goal scoring, and sophomore newcomer Lizzy Hamel (12-8 - 20) will help on offense. Another senior, Allie Van Stelten, is the leading candidate to replace graduated Carly Greene in net. A Red Knights trip to the state tournament goes through Edina in Section 6AA.

6. Gentry Academy Stars

Gentry sniper Cara Sajavic.  Photo by Mike Lieb

The Stars move up to Class 2A this year and immediately look like a threat to make a lot of noise in Section 4AA. They looked every bit like a 2A school last year, going 19-3-0 and losing a heartbreaker in double overtime to Proctor/Hermantown in the Class 1A state championship game.

Just two seniors departed from that team and the Stars possess a stockpile of talent and experience. Leading the charge is dynamic junior Cara Sajavic (29-16 - 45), a recent St. Thomas commit. Sisters Jenessa Gazdik (9-20 - 29) and JuliAnna Gazdik (8-19 - 27) anchor a formidable defense and both of Gentry's goaltenders return. Rylee Bartizal and Maggie Vance rotated in goal last year, giving the Stars a great tandem in nets. Look out Class 2A, theres a new kid on the block!

7. Holy Family Fire

Holy Family junior Grayson Limke.  Photo by Mike Lieb

The Fire enter the new season having not lost a single player to graduation. And after a rough 2-4-2 start last winter, Holy Family became an inferno, reeling off eleven straight wins, allowing just eight goals in the process, and advancing to the Section 2AA championship where they finally lost, 4-1 to Minnetonka.

Juniors Grayson Limke (13-15 - 28) and Maddy Helmstetter (5-14 - 19), another St. Thomas recruit, lead a balanced offensive attack. The Fire had 11 players with at least 11 points last year. Junior goalkeeper Sedona Blair (.940) is considered one of the state's best, and the Fire penalty kill had an impressive 88% success rate. The competition in Section 2AA is fierce, but this Fire burns hot!

8. Stillwater Ponies

The Ponies made it to the state tournament last year and lost a squeaker in the quarterfinals, 1-0 to Eastview. They edged out Forest Lake by one point for the conference championship and beat Hill-Murray 1-0 in the Section 4AA final. So, the Ponies know all about working in tight spots with little margin for error. This year's squad should once again be a tough customer.

Head coach Mira Jalosuo is playing one of the toughest schedules in 2A, with a firm belief that it will make them ready for what she says is "the second toughest section in the state." Stillwater has some top-notch young talent, led by sophomore and leading scorer Josie St. Martin (20-26 - 46), who was recently named to the USA Hockey U18 Women's National Team as a 15-year-old.

Senior Sydney Schuster (10-21 - 31) will help with the graduation losses of Lexi Huber and Morgan Wohlers. And though they also lost undefeated goaltender Sophie Cronk to graduation, sophomore Lily Timmons (.923 SV%) steps in as an experienced and capable replacement. In a boost to the defense, Breck transfer Josie Lang (6-8 - 14) joins the Ponies for her sophomore season.

9. Wayzata Trojans

Wayzata's leader Sloane Matthews.  Photo by Mike Lieb

Trojans head coach Taylor Williamson is "super excited" for the new season. Wayzata has a strong senior class and Williamson likes the make-up of her team. "I think seniors are the key to any team's success," says Williamson. "We have an incredible group of seniors with great leadership."

Ohio State-bound senior forward Sloane Matthews (10-13 - 23) will lead the way, along with Mallory Coffin (6-17 - 23). Annika Lavender (.911 SV%), who will play at St. Michael's College in Vermont next year, posted three shutouts as a junior and is experienced in goal. Junior Samantha Mathe (3-5 - 8) is a Long Island University signee and will lead the defense.

In a tough Section 6AA, Wayzata should be right in the thick of things.

10. Burnsville Blaze

The Blaze emerged as the class of the highly competitive South Suburban Conference last season, losing just two games before being upset 3-1 by a pesky Apple Valley squad in the Section 3AA semifinals. The bitter taste of that upset may prove to be huge motivation for this year's team.

Senior and Quinnipiac commit Sami Bowlby (14-14 - 28) leads the Blaze up front, and classmate Zoie Dundon (8-14 - 22) had three clutch, game-winning goals. The major question mark is in goal, where the Blaze will try and replace the graduated mainstay Maria Widen, who played in every game last year.

The Next 10:

11. Eastview Lightning

Avery Chesek (22-14 - 36), a Yale commit; defender Nora Stepan (8-21 - 29); and stalwart goaltender Angie Lombardi (.936 SV%) are the Thunder before the Lightning.

12. Roseville Raiders

Raiders return top two scorers and top goalie from a team that went 13-6-1 last season.

13. Blake Bears

Junior trio of Suzy Higuchi (Yale), Liz Morrison and Sam Broz combined for 76 points last year.

14. Lakeville South Cougars

MSU Maverick commit Taylor Otremba (25-15 - 40) is a dominant threat every shift.

15. Grand Rapids/Greenway Lightning

Freshman Mercury Bischoff (31-25 - 56) scored nearly three points per game last year.

16. Roseau Rams

Memphis Mertens (23-26 - 49) and sophomore goalie Jada Pelowski (.916 SV%) power the Rams.

17. Apple Valley Eagles

Mikayla (29-17 - 46) and Marie Moran (13-17 - 30) lead the upstart Eagles offense.

18. Centennial Cougars

Made state tourney last year, but defaulted due to COVID. Cougars should be good once again.

19. Brainerd/Little Falls

BLF does it with defense and Breya Sawyer (.938 SV%) is stout in goal.

20. Northfield Raiders

The young Raiders were 16-1-0 last year and have most of their top scorers back.