Photo by Pat Donaghy Pics

Bella Schmidt and the East Ridge Raptors are looking to contend for a Section 4AA title.

Raptors on the Rise

The East Ridge Raptors are battling to overcome a neighborhood rival and win the state’s most competitive section

The East Ridge Raptors started this season on fire with a six-game winning streak. Hopes began to emerge for a return to the state tournament for the second time in program history.

It was first-year head coach Kim McClintick who guided the team to its inaugural appearance in 2019. McClintick led the Raptors to State after upsetting number one seed Eagan in the 3AA Section Finals.

“That was a big deal for the program,” McClintick said. “It was good exposure for us because we lose a ton of kids to private schools like Hill-Murray, Cretin, and Gentry.”

“I think this is one of the most hard working teams I've been on. It makes me want to work harder and be faster and stronger.” -- East Ridge senior Lily Fetch

The team was handed a tough first round draw against the Edina Hornets, falling 7-0, and later losing to Maple Grove 5-2.

Since the addition of McClintick, East Ridge has put their name on opponents’ radar as a fierce competitor in the state.

The Raptors claimed victories over five conference opponents in the Suburban East to start the season: Forest Lake, Cretin-Derham Hall, Park of Cottage Grove, and new co-op teams Mounds View/Irondale and Roseville/Mahtomedi.

McClintick has made it a team goal to win 20 games in the regular season.

“I want 20 wins. The schedule is tough this year and late in the season we have to pretty much win them all, but when we were doing stuff in the weight room we're doing 20 wall sits, passes and 20 push ups. Everything has been 20, 20, 20.”

The team's early win streak was cut short due to the Raptors very close rival, Woodbury.

The Woodbury Rivalry

In 2010, the Woodbury program split up into two teams, East Ridge and Woodbury. Even though they separated at the high school level, the youth programs are still combined. This means girls who grew up playing together, could potentially be rivals in high school.

Senior forward and captain Bella Schmidt grew up playing in the Woodbury youth program and chose East Ridge based on proximity. She mentioned it can be difficult playing against childhood teammates.

“It's kind of sad, you know, seeing all these girls split up into two teams,” Schmidt said. “You grew up with them, you have bonds with them.”

The girls on both teams are still close and hang out, but when it’s game time, the friendships disappear. “I just think it's really fun to have that opportunity to be close with a rival team,” Schmidt said “It's extremely intense but really, really fun.

Raptors' leading scorer Lily Fetch has 40 points in 21 games.  Photo by Pat Donaghy Pics

“Soon as the warm up starts, you kind of flip a switch and that rivalry just starts and that friendship that you had goes away for the night,” said Schmidt, who has 24 points in 21 games. “Stepping onto the ice you just want to win so badly. It's the only thing you want to be able to say.”

At Health East Sports Center in Woodbury, the teams share a rink

Photo by Pat Donaghy Pics

Fetch will continue her hockey career playing Division I at the University of Maine.

with locker rooms right next to each other and even have a combining bathroom. Senior forward and captain Lily Fetch loves how close the teams are because it makes winning even better.

“In between games we will see each other because we literally share everything,” Fetch said. “It's just kind of funny because you see them all the time, almost taunting you.”

Early this season Woodbury came out with a 1-0 win over East Ridge, halting the Raptors’ six-game winning streak.

“It was another dogfight,” McClintick said. “There was a big crowd and it was Woodbury’s home game which is weird because we have to take the opposing bench. But we're looking for some redemption.”

The Raptors got their redemption over the Royals on Jan. 21 at their shared home rink. Schmidt led the way, scoring an unassisted short-handed goal early in the first for a 1-0 lead. She then assisted on three others as the Raptors cruised to a 6-2 victory.

East Ridge senior goaltender Annika Limpert was outstanding, making 45 saves in the game.

The win brought the Raptors record to 13-8-0 on the season, with four games to play before section playoffs. McClintick’s goal of winning 20 games could now come to fruition if her team wins the section championship and returns to state.

A daunting Section 4AA

With the season coming to a close, the Raptors are hoping to work their way up to a higher seeding in an extremely tough Section 4AA.

“In a section with all strong teams, it's almost like you're going for that fourth seed, sad to say. But we don't want that sixth seed, we're trying to really get at least that fourth seed so we don't end up playing one of those top three right off the bat,” McClintick said.

Those top three would be AA powers Hill-Murray, (currently ranked #2), Gentry Academy (#4) and Stillwater (#6). Throw in #17 Roseville/Mahtomedi and #27 Woodbury and the #19 Raptors find themselves in arguably the toughest section in the state.

As a junior, Fetch led the Raptors with 22 goals, 21 assists and 43 points in 23 games.  Photo by Pat Donaghy Pics

McClintick describes her team as fast, and the team spent most of their offseason working on explosiveness, which has led to forwards like Schmidt (24) and Fetch (40) putting up big points. Sophomore Addison Andre is second on the team with 34 points and senior forward Vivian Ferrell has 24.

“I think this is one of the most hard working teams I've been on,” Fetch said. “It makes me want to work harder and be faster and stronger.”

Both Fetch and Schmidt are continuing their hockey careers after their final season with the Raptors. With the impacts of COVID, the girls mentioned it was difficult on the recruiting process.

“It was really stressful for me and then when COVID hit, it pushed back the process too because of the extra year of eligibility for college players. But then when it finally happened, it was awesome,” Fetch said.

Fetch is continuing her career playing Division I at the University of Maine and Schmidt is going to Boston to play Division III at Suffolk University.

McClintick will always remember this year, specifically due to the level of team chemistry and culture that has been instilled.

“It’s been an especially great year, just a great group of kids. Probably the best I've ever had. It's a special team.”