Eyes on the Prize

Thirty days into the season a few teams have stood out with strong performances that most did not see coming

One month into the regular season there have been plenty of blazing starts, many of which were not in the initial forecast. Teams making the boldest early-season statements include metro squads and rural teams, both up north and down south.

Bemidji Lumberjacks (8-1-0)

The biggest turn-around this season is undoubtedly Bemidji, where the Lumberjacks are off to a 8-1 start. Bemidji was 4-20-2 last season and 1-17-1 in 2021, making their leap into the Janjet Class AA top 20 rankings something very few saw coming.

“Last year we only had one senior so we were short on senior leadership. This year we have the benefit of six seniors,” said fifth-year coach Mike Johnson.

Johnson says his team is benefitting from the work of some tremendous youth coaches who have prepared players for varsity hockey. “They brought that winning attitude,” he says of his younger players. ”Adding a mix of kids who know how to win with good senior leadership.”

The Jacks aren’t exactly lighting up the scoreboard, but are allowing fewer than two goals per game and building around their defense. “We have no choice but to have a D-first starting point,” Johnson says. “It’s really hard to teach scoring even though we work on it every day.”

The Jacks have two solid goaltenders in junior Peyton Weidemann (2.15 GAA, .920 SV%) and sophomore Ava Myhre (0.40 GAA, .966 SV%) which has helped Bemidji win a few close games.

Johnson thinks an early season 4-2 upset of Grand Rapids/Greenway on the road was a big win. “That gave us a bit of a jump start,“ he said.

Looking ahead, Bemidji faces a tough schedule in the next month. Upcoming on Dec. 13 is a big clash when the Lumberjacks host Class A #9 Crookston (8-1-1).

With Fergus Falls, Brainerd/Little Falls and Roseau to follow, coach Johnson will know a lot more about his team when they travel to the Twin Cities to play in the New Hope Holiday Tournament. “Talk to me in a month,” said Johnson with a chuckle.

Woodbury Royals (7-2-0)

Another big surprise this season is the performance of Angel Crowley’s Woodbury Royals. The Royals started the season with six straight wins, before cooling off a bit. They lost their next two games: 3-2 to Roseville/Mahtomedi and then were drubbed 8-1 by Stillwater.

But the Royals picked themselves up and scored a 1-0 victory over previously unbeaten East Ridge on Dec.10 for possibly their biggest win of the season.

There are plenty of positives Woodbury can take from the opening month. After going from six to 14 wins last season, the Royals are 7-2, with a favorable schedule ahead in the coming month. It will be a tall task for Woodbury once Section 4AA playoffs begin, but the Royals, off to their best start in school history, look like they could be a factor.

Dodge County Wildcats (8-0-0)

The Wildcats were reclassified to Class A starting this season and have instantly become a force, rising to #2 in the Janjet Class A rankings behind top-ranked Warroad. Following last week’s 3-1 win at Class AA Owatonna, DC took down their primary challenger in Section 1A with a 4-2 win at Albert Lea on Dec. 10.

Dodge is a perfect 8-0-0 and has emerged as the favorite in Section 1A. Their top scorer is eighth grader Maysie Koch (7-13–20), followed by sophomores Nora Carstensen (8-7–15) and Mollie Koch (5-9–14). Junior Abby Simons (4-9–13) rounds out a potent top end group on offense. Defensively, sophomore goaltender Ida Huber (1.12 GAA, .937 SV%) has been more than solid, posting three shutouts while playing every minute thus far.

With a roster full of youthful leadership, plan on Dodge County being in the mix for the foreseeable future.

East Ridge Raptors (6-1-0)

The Raptors soared out of their nest in the opening month, winning their first six games, including an 11-3 rout of Mounds View/Irondale.

A challenging schedule awaits and more will be known about this newcomer to the Class AA top ten in the coming weeks. For now, the Raptors appear formidable, following up on a 14-win season last year.

Sophomore Addison Andre (7-11–18) is leading the way on offense and seniors Lily Fetch (4-12–16) and Vivian Ferrell (6-5–11) are off to strong starts.

Lakeville North Panthers (7-2-0)

Things are getting warm down in Lakeville. While the #5 South Cougars are a tidy 6-0-0, the re-oriented North Panthers are 7-2-0, ranked #14 and are picking up speed. After opening the season with road losses at Roseau and Moorhead, North has reeled off seven straight wins and has allowed just one goal in their past four games – and just three goals during their seven-game streak.

It will be North vs. South this Thursday as the Panthers host the Cougars at Ames Arena for temporary bragging rights. Burnsville transfer Addie Bowlby (7-10–17) and junior sniper Gracie Hanson (11-5–16) lead the way offensively. North has a strong duo in goal with Kaia Weiland (1.00 GAA, .930 SV%) and Addison Oettinger (1.20 GAA, .944 SV%) splitting duties. Through one month of the season, it appears the Panthers are ready to pounce.

Crookston Pirates (8-1-1)

The Pirates, coming off a 15-9-2 season a year ago, appear to have taken a step forward this season, winning impressively over Fergus Falls and Northfield and wrestling metro big school Blaine to a rare, 0-0 tie.

However, a recent trip to Warroad and a 8-1 loss poured some cold water on the Pirates’ flaming coals. It will be the Warriors whom the Pirates will have to defeat in order to qualify for state from Section 8A.

Reese Swanson (10-8–18) again leads the team offensively, with help from Cassie Solheim (5-11–16), Brekken Tull (7-7–14), Taylor Field (6-7–13) and Ashlyn Bailey (5-6–11). Emma LaPlante has seven goals.

The Pirates are shying away from no one with their schedule, including at the upcoming Warroad holiday tournament and a Jan. 20 home game against Gentry Academy. Their rigorous schedule is designed to make sure they are ready for section playoffs, and a likely date with Warroad.

Odds and ends

In one of the bigger southern Minnesota match-ups so far this season, Class A #10 Mankato East defeated Class A #13 Luverne 4-3 in overtime.

After Kamryn Van Batavia gave the Cards a 3-1 lead early in the third period, East rallied with a pair of goals a minute apart to tie the game and force overtime. East’s Ava Tibodeau netted the game-winner to give the Cougars a huge come-from-behind win. Mankato East is now 6-2-0 after a 22-win season and a trip to state last spring.

A nose for the net

The Rock Ridge Wolverines have reason to feel good about their first month, going 5-6-0 under first-year coach Paddy Elsmore. Rock Ridge went 7-17-0 last season in their first year as a co-op serving Eveleth, Virginia, Mt. Iron and surrounding Iron Range cities.

A big factor in Rock Ridge’s improvement has been the offense provided by freshman forward Natalie Bergman. Bergman has 14 goals in 11 games and leads the team with 19 points.

Parity at the top

The top-ranked teams in Class AA are a familiar bunch, with Andover, Maple Grove, Minnetonka and Hill-Murray currently occupying the luxury boxes in the Janjet rankings. No big surprise there. But unlike recent seasons in which Andover and Edina largely dominated, could we be seeing the most parity and depth in Class AA in several years?

Gentry Academy, who beat Andover 4-3 in November, currently sits at #9, suggesting that the AA field may be as wide open as ever. Holy Family, Benilde-St. Margaret’s, Lakeville South and Edina make up spots 5-8 in the rankings – all teams who appear to be legitimate state title contenders.

Throw in upstarts East Ridge, Lakeville North and Centennial/SLP and you have possibly the most unpredictable and deepest group of teams in many years.