Bemidji at Roseau 
December 21 (6:00 PM) 

The Lumberjacks make the trek up to Roseau to take on the Rams for their second meeting of the season. The Rams won their first meeting on November 21st by a score of 3-2. Can they earn the season sweep?

Bemidji is coming off a 7-0 rout by Minnetonka. The Lumberjacks are led up front by senior MaKenna Dreher (3 goals, 1 assist, 4 points), who guides a young but skilled forward group including freshman Bailey Rupp (14-9-23), sophomore Megan Berg (7-10-17) and 8th grader Naomi Johnson (4-6-10) where they carry most of the scoring for Bemidji. On defense, seniors Zoe Fayette (1-3-4) and Mya Lundeen (1-1-2), as well as sophomore Tahiya Little (0-2-2), log a lot of minutes for the Lumberjacks.

At goaltender, senior Payton Weidemann (.923 save percentage) has carried most of the workload this season, but they have used junior Ava Myhre (.881 save percentage) as well.

Roseau is coming off a 6-2 victory over Brainerd/Little Falls. Junior forwards Payton Remick (St. Cloud State commit, 13-6-19) and Lily Erickson (7-5-12), as well as sophomore Jasmine Hovda (8-12-20) and freshman Ella Ketring (2-9-11) carry most of the offensive workload for the Rams.

On defense, juniors Summer Byfuglien (4-6-10) and Kylie Bjerk (0-7-7) log big minutes where they will try to limit the Lumberjacks' offensive opportunities. The Rams have split starts between freshman Madi Lisell (.908 save percentage) and senior Jada Pelowski (.892 save percentage) this season.

Proctor/Hermantown at Simley 
December 21 (7:00 PM) 

With a tough schedule, the road is never easy, as both the Mirage and Spartans have discovered this season. The Mirage will again board the bus for a sojourn down to the Twin Cities to take on a struggling Simley squad. Can the Mirage find enough offense to triumph over the Spartans?  

Proctor/Hermantown is coming off a 5-3 confidence-boosting victory over South St. Paul. The Mirage are led at forward by seniors Izy Fairchild (Bemidji State commit, 5-8-13), Anika Burke (6-5-11), Hannah Graves (3-2-5) and Hailey Jussila (3-5-8) as well as junior Jane Eckstrom (6-9-15) and sophomore Mya Gunderson (2-2-4) carry most of Proctor/Hermantown's offense.

On defense, senior Morgan LaValley (1-5-6) dictates the pace in the Mirage's end of the ice. Eighth-grader Taylee Manion (1-4-5) and freshman Avery Milbridge (1-2-3) are showing steady improvement. Proctor/Hermantown's penalty kill is strong, killing penalties at a 95.5% rate. The Mirage has split starts at goaltender between junior Neelah McLeod (.871 save percentage) and sophomore Suri Langley (.889 save percentage) this season.

Simley is coming off a 3-3 tie to St. Paul/Two Rivers. Simley's attack will be led up front by sophomore Ella Sanders (2-1-3), junior Zoie Lang (1-4-5), as well as seniors Kelsi Ries (5-6-11), Valerie DuVal (1-3-4) and Taylor Ralston (9-2-11) to set the pace offensively for the Spartans.

On defense, senior Hannah Kurowski (1-5-6), junior Courtney Kurowski (4-2-6), and junior Kylie Dahl (1-2-3) have had their share of tough tests this season, and they will get another as they try to slow down the Mirage. Junior Sydney Ries (.931 save percentage) has shouldered most of the workload this season at goaltender.

Mankato East at Northfield 
December 21 (7:15 PM) 

The Cougars make their way to face Big Nine rival Northfield for the first of two meetings this season. Can Mankato East topple the conference frontrunner?

Mankato East is coming off a 2-2 tie to Litchfield/Dassel-Cokato. The Cougars are led at forward by senior Jessica Eykyn (14-6-20), sophomores Brielle Newton (6-8-14) and Ava Thibodeau (4-8-12), freshmen Grace Campbell (3-8-11) and Alexis Erickson (8-4-12) as well 8th graders Laina Peterson (3-3-6) and Ella Fugazzi (3-2-5) give Mankato East decent scoring punch through its top two lines.

On defense, senior Sophie Steindl (5-0-5) mentors a young group with talented freshmen Kira Prange (3-4-7) and Emerson Asher (1-2-3), who like to get involved in the offensive zone. The Cougars have yet to surrender a powerplay goal this season. Junior goaltender Jordan Thomas (.918 save percentage) has started in every game this season for the Cougars.

Undefeated Northfield is coming off a 5-1 win over Albert Lea. Northfield is led by seniors Ayla Puppe (Minnesota commit, 25-22-47), Emerson Garlie (15-11-26), and Isabelle Stephes (Wisconsin-River Falls commit, 7-9-16), giving the Raiders top-notch scoring depth. The Raiders' power play is dangerous, converting at a 36.2% rate. Freshman forward Emma Peroutka (5-6-11) is a rising star.

On defense, seniors Grace McCoshen (10-16-64) and talented sophomore Mia Miller (10-21-31) are talented two-way defenders who like to join the attack. Freshman Isabelle Paulson (1-6-7) shows lots of potential on Northfield's blueline. Junior goaltender Macy Mueller (.950 save percentage) has made every start this season for Northfield.

Hill-Murray at Andover 
December 22 (7:00 PM) 

This showdown of two elite teams has possible seeding implications for the Class AA state tournament as the Pioneers travel to Andover to take on the Huskies for the first of two meetings this season.  

Undefeated Hill-Murray is coming off a 5-2 victory over Holy Family. The Pioneers possess a very skilled group of forwards led by seniors Chloe Boreen (St. Thomas commit, 10-8-18) and Maddy Morrell (1-7-8), junior Regan Berglund (6-5-11) along with promising freshmen Emily Pohl (13-6-19), Elliana Englehardt (3-4-7) and Jaycee Chatelain (6-8-14) give Hill-Murray an array of scorers that make them challenging to match up against. Hill-Murray's strong play was discussed on YHH's most recent episode of Her Ice.

On defense, junior Josie Skoogman (Cornell commit, 3-4-7) leads a young group of defenders like sophomore Elli Petronack (0-4-4), freshman Addy McLay (1-4-5) and eighth-grader Olivia Braunshausen (1-4-5). The Pioneers' penalty kill doesn't give up much and kills opposing penalties at a 96.8% rate. Senior goaltender Grace Zhan (Dartmouth commit, .959 save percentage) gives Hill-Murray one of the best in the state at her position.  

Andover is coming off a 9-1 rout of Blaine. At forward, the Huskies are led by senior Nora Sauer (St. Thomas commit, 6-5-11) as well as juniors Maya Engler (St. Thomas commit, 4-6-10), Avery Kasick (4-4-8), Amelia McQuay (4-2-6), Ella Thoresen (5-8-13) and Hannah Christenson (Northeastern commit, 7-7-14) give Andover tremendous scoring depth. Sophomore Pyper Andrews (2-5-7) is showing a lot of promise.

On defense, senior Cailin Mumm (St. Thomas commit, 2-10-12), as well as juniors Courtney Little (St. Thomas commit, 4-7-11) and Mackenzie Jones (Wisconsin commit, 9-8-17), are establishing themselves as one of the best defense corps in the state. Sophomore goaltender Clairebella Hills (.905 save percentage) has carried most of the starts this season, but Huskies have utilized freshman Olivia Nedved (.964 save percentage) too.

Champlin Park/Coon Rapids at Minnetonka 
December 23 (1:00 PM) 

One of the best teams in the Northwest Suburban Conference travels to Pagel Ice Arena to face the front-runner of the Lake Conference, pitting arguably the top two conferences in the state against each other. 

Champlin Park/Coon Rapids is coming off a 5-1 victory over Elk River. At forward, senior Kyla Keding (4-3-7), juniors Lily McKenzie (9-16-25) and Taylor Zahalka (2-6-8) as well as sophomores Sydney Burnevik (11-8-19) and Tessa Boden (6-8-14) provide decent scoring depth. Freshman June Semling (5-11-16) is starting to take off offensively for Champlin Park/Coon Rapids.

On defense, senior Brylei Del Castillo (2-2-4), junior Nola Milton (0-5-5), sophomore Kylie Aswegan (0-6-6), and freshman Callie Alphin (3-3-6) are a well-rounded group that plays a responsible game at both ends of the ice. Juniors Madelyn Wostrel (.915 save percentage) and Grace Lund (.900 save percentage) have shared the goaltending duties this season for Champlin Park/Coon Rapids.  

Minnetonka is coming off a 7-0 rout of Bemidji. At forward, seniors Kendra Distad (Minnesota commit, 6-14-20), Lindzi Avar (Cornell commit, 5-16-21), juniors Lauren Mack (Providence commit, 10-12-22), Ruby Rauk (Quinnipiac commit, 5-11-16), Ellie Zakrajshek (Minnesota-Duluth commit, 4-10-14) and Senja Leeper (Bemidji State commit, 3-6-9) give the Skippers terrific scoring depth. Eighth-grader Sydney Boss Krohn (5-4-9) is showing steady improvement.

The Skippers' power play is one of the best in the state, lighting the lamp at a 48.8% rate. Senior captain Lauren Goldsworthy (Minnesota State, 6-12-18) and junior Bella Finnegan (Harvard commit, 7-3-10) lead a youthful Minnetonka blue line on defense.

Junior Ashlyn Hazlett (Bemidji State commit, .921 save percentage) has carried the majority of the workload so far. Still, the Skippers have also utilized fellow junior Layla Hemp (Minnesota commit, .909 save percentage) this season.