This is the first of two meetings between Northern Lakes and Wadena-Deer Creek, with plenty of Section 6A seeding ramifications attached to it.  

Northern Lakes hopes to rebuild momentum after a 3-1 loss to Duluth Denfeld. The Lightning is led up front by senior Darby Boelter (2-9-11), junior Logan Verville (8-5-13), as well as sophomores Easton Anderson (6-4-10) and Jerome Martin (5-5-10).  

On defense, juniors Christian Crutcher (3-6-9) and Isaac Peterson (3-6-9), as well as sophomore Wyatt Balmer (1-4-5), help by adding some scoring punch from the back end. Northern Lakes' 84.6% penalty kill is a strength and helps keep the team confident.

At goaltender, the Lightning has rotated between senior Ethan Kunz (.871 save percentage) and junior Nigel De Santo (.893 save percentage) this season.   

Wadena-Deer Creek is feeling confident after a 6-5 victory over Lake of the Woods. The Wolverines' attack is led by seniors Cole Woods (8-23-31), Aron Sutherland (16-9-25), M.J. Lunde (3-8-11), and Connor Davis (11-9-20), who set the tone offensively for Wadena-Deer Creek. Wadena-Deer Creek's 30.2% power play is dangerous, and Northern Lakes would be wise to stay out of the penalty box.  

On defense, seniors Dalton Moyer (2-5-7) and Aiden Sutherland (0-3-3) keep it simple on the back end and don't get involved much in the offensive zone. Senior Austyn Oothoudt (2-5-7) and 6'2" junior Jaeger Pettit (3-2-5) moonlight between forward and defense.

Junior Gunner Olson (.854 save percentage, 2 shutouts) has carried all of the Wolverines' goaltending workload this season.