This is a likely Section 8A championship preview as Warroad and East Grand Forks for their first meeting of the year between the two Mariucci conference clubs. Warroad is riding the high of a 4-3 overtime thriller over Class AA Grand Rapids.

The Warriors (5-0) are led at forward by senior and Clarkson commit Daimon Gardner (7-5-12), and junior and Minnesota-Duluth commit Jayson Shaugabay (4-8-12) are a combination of size and tremendous skill.

Junior defenseman Eric Comstock (1-4-5) and senior Carson Reed (0-5-5) do their best to limit opponents' scoring chances. Head Coach Jay Hardwick has started junior goaltender Hunter Slukynsky (1.97 goals-against-average) every game this season.  

East Grand Forks (4-2) stumbled out of the gate with two losses, but is currently riding a 3-game winning streak. The Green Wave are led up front by junior forward and North Dakota-commit Jaksen Panzer, also mentioned by the Hockey News, who is off to a torrid start (11-9-20) and sophomore Grandy Magner (4-5-9) as well as senior Zach Stocker (3-4-7).

Junior defenseman Sam Frost (1-8-9) and senior Justin Overgaard (2-5-7) are key in making East Grand Forks' 36.8% power play as dangerous as it is. Head Coach Tyler Palmiscno has alternated between sophomores Lucas Wavra (.905 save percentage) and Chase Mero (.840 save percentage), so it will probably be a game-time decision as to who gets the chance to start against the Warriors.