This is an interesting late-season game between two teams with big aspirations. Maple Grove is a team hoping to earn the top seed in Section 5AA, while St. Thomas Academy is hoping to command the top spot in Section 3AA. Which team will take a step closer to that goal? 

Youth Hockey Hub interviewed Maple Grove Head Coach Todd Bergland on an episode of their Rink of Fire podcast.  

Maple Grove is coming off a 3-2 victory against Andover. The Crimson are led up front by seniors Finn Brink (Wisconsin commit, 23-30-53), Jack Kernan (12-32-44), and 6'4" Blake Steenerson (15-21-36) as well as juniors Lucas Busch (11-19-30) and sophomore Andrew Karkoc (5-9-14) give Maple Grove plenty of firepower up front.  

Maple Grove is very dangerous on the man advantage at 44.6%, so the Cadets would be wise to avoid taking too many penalties against the Crimson. Youth Hockey Hub recently interviewed Finn Brink as part of a Rink of Fire podcast.  

On defense, senior Lucas Margenau (8-22-30) and Grant Leneau (8-15-23), as well as junior Connor Stelljes (1-9-10), are a very active group who like to get engaged at both ends of the ice.  

Senior Jack Roach (.908 save percentage, 4 shutouts) has shouldered most of the goaltending duties for the Crimson this season.  

St. Thomas Academy is coming off an emotional 1-0 victory over Hill-Murray. The Cadets are led at forward by seniors Tommy Cronin (Colgate commit, 25-19-44), Zach Howard (8-18-26), and Lucas Kikhofel (9-8-17), along with junior Jimmy Zavoral (3-6-9) and sophomore Max Candon (7-10-17) carry the majority of the offense for St. Thomas Academy. St. Thomas Academy's power play is rolling along at 27.6%.

On defense, junior Brody Deitz (3-9-12) and sophomores Jake Faith (0-7-7), Patch Cronin (0-11-11), and Tommy Kertz (2-5-7) are a youthful group, but they've improved steadily throughout the season.  

St. Thomas Academy has rotated at goaltender between senior Tyler Magozzi (.941 save percentage, 4 shutouts) and sophomore Cody Niesen (.909 save percentage, 3 shutouts) this season.