December 27: Benilde-St. Margaret's vs. Holy Family (5:00 PM)
St. Louis Park Recreation Center - Premier Holiday Classic in The Park 

It is an all-private school battle at the Premier Holiday Classic in the Park in St. Louis Park as the Red Knights drop the puck against Holy Family. Will the Fire burn the Red Knights?   

Benilde-St. Margaret's is coming off a 5-0 victory against Blake. At forward, the Red Knights are led by seniors Ben Norris (5 goals, four assists, 9 points) and Caleb Koskie (4-4-8), as well as juniors Cameron Kirschner (3-6-9), Junior Podein (4-5-9) and A.J. Ulrich (0-3-3) are a fast and skilled group that like to play the game at a high tempo.

On defense, senior Mason Stenger (4-5-9), junior Carter Callan (0-6-6), and sophomore Mason Minor (0-3-3) are a mobile defense corps that helps the Red Knights transition quickly from defense to offense. Senior goaltender Mason McElroy (.904 save percentage) has made every start for the Red Knights this season.  

Holy Family is coming off a 3-1 victory over Eastview. The Fire is led at forward by seniors Drew Roelofs (6-4-10), Bryce Wiitala (2-6-8), and Connor Crowley (3-6-9), as well as juniors Holden Pajor (6-6-12), Sawyer Graubins (2-6-8) and Jack Gleason (3-8-11) along with 6'3" sophomore Adam Crosby (2-7-9), provide Holy Family with good scoring depth.

On defense, seniors Erik Charchenko (1-3-4) and Chase Messner (0-1-1), as well as juniors Carson Moe (0-7-7) and Cameron Dean (0-4-4), log a lot of minutes for the Fire, and they don't give opposing skaters a lot of time and space to work with.

At goaltender, junior Adam Kimbrel (.965 save percentage) has made most of the starts, but they have also utilized Stefano Carranza (.938 save percentage).   

December 27: Maple Grove vs. Chanhassen (7:30 PM) 
Maple Grove Community Center - Premier Holiday Classic in The Grove)

This is an intriguing west metro area matchup as the Crimson host the Storm as part of their Premier Holiday Classic in the Grove tournament. Can Chanhassen overwhelm Maple Grove?  

Maple Grove is coming off a 7-0 rout of Coon Rapids. The Crimson are led at forward by seniors Lucas Busch (4-7-11), Luke Giuliani (5-6-11), David Kukkonen (2-6-8), and 6'5", 205lbs Andrew Karkoc (5-3-8) give Maple Grove a desirable mix of speed, size and skill up front.

On defense, seniors Connor Stelljes (3-4-7) and Owen Smith (1-6-7), as well as sophomore Logan Lutner (4-3-7), are terrific puck movers and help support Crimson's attack. Junior Zach Price (.882 save percentage) has carried most of the goaltending workload so far, but they have also utilized senior Henry Friese (2 shutouts).  

Chanhassen continues to build momentum coming off a 7-0 rout of St. Louis Park. The Storm have a deep and very skilled forward group led by seniors Gavin Uhlenkamp (Wisconsin commit, 7-14-21), Caden Lee (Minnesota State commit, 12-10-22), Jack Christ (Minnesota State commit, 7-16-23), and Andy Earl (6-3-9) give Chanhassen steady scoring through its top two lines. Senior Gavin Uhlenkamp joined YHH's Rink of Fire podcast a few weeks ago for an interview.

On defense, seniors Owen Busegens (St. Thomas commit, 2-11-13), Drew Jensen (0-2-2), Ben Curtis (1-4-5), Chase Borene (1-4-5), and Billy McNeely (0-3-3) are experienced and provide poise to the Storm's blue line. Chanhassen is stingy on the penalty kill, shutting down opposing power plays 94.9% of the time.

Senior Kam Hendrickson (.952 save percentage) has shouldered most of Chanhassen's goaltending duties this season, but they have also used sophomore Grant Atterson (.857 save percentage).  

December 28: Austin vs. La Crescent-Hokah (2:45 PM)
Graham Arena Complex - Rochester Kiwanis Hockey Festival 

This is an intriguing matchup of two Section 1A squads hoping to make the rest of the state take notice, as the Packers take on the Lancers as part of the Kiwanis Hockey Festival at Rochester's Graham Arena.  

Austin is coming off a 10-0 thrashing by Waseca. The Packers are led at forward by juniors Grady Carney (3-4-7) and Gahvin Schaefer (5-1-6), as well as sophomore Isaac Anderson (3-1-4), who shoulders most of the offense for Austin. On defense, senior Bradley Lagerstedt (1-2-3), junior Cody Pederson (1-2-3), and sophomore Kyler Flanders (2-0-2) are an experienced and well-rounded defense corps that is active at both ends of the ice. Junior Daran Plunkett (.895 save percentage) has made every start for the Packers this season.    

La Crescent-Hokah is coming off a 7-2 victory over Waseca. The Lancers are led by the high-scoring line, seniors Noah Gillette (19-15-34), Wyatt Farrell (21-16-37), and Michal Stojka (11-13-24), as well as junior Ethan Myhre (4-13-17) carry most of the Lancers' offense. La Crescent-Hokah's power play has been on fire, finding the back of the net at a 47.5% rate.

On defense, seniors Colton Holzer (4-15-19), Tobias Sajook (3-6-9), and Cooper Johnson (0-3-3) provide a lot of experience and poise on the Lancers' blue line. Sophomore Charlie Wieser (.860 save percentage) has shouldered most of the goaltending workload, but La Crescent/Hokah has also utilized senior Collin Morken (.886 save percentage).  

December 28: East Grand Forks at Hermantown (3:30 PM) 

The Green Wave make their way across northern Minnesota to take on Hermantown in one of the most highly anticipated games in the 218 this winter. Does East Grand Forks have what it takes to wash out the Hawks?

East Grand Forks is coming off a hard-fought 4-3 overtime loss to Warroad. YHH recently interviewed East Grand Forks' Head Coach, Tyler Palmiscno, as part of their Rink of Fire podcast. The Green Wave is led at forward by seniors Brock Schultz (8-12-20), Landon Jamieson (10-7-17) and Jace Fore (4-6-10), as well as junior Jace Van Eps (6-6-12) and Hunter Varnson (5-6-11), lead a group that has good scoring balance through its top two lines.

Freshman Jace Panzer (1-4-5) has been a nice boost of skill and speed since being called up from the JV team with five points in six games. On defense, senior Grady Magner (5-6-11), as well as juniors Nick Corbett (2-3-5), Cole Bies (3-1-4), and Judd Pesch (0-5-5) helped East Grand Forks dictate the pace of play.

At goaltender, junior Ryan Rockstad (.833 save percentage) has emerged as the Green Wave's go-to option this season. Still, they have utilized seniors Lucas Wavra (.865 save percentage) and Thomas McMahon (.841 save percentage).

Hermantown is coming off a 3-1 loss to Rosemount. At forward, the Hawks return seniors Josh Kauppinen (2-1-3), Andrew Johnson (2-2-4), and Evan Gunderson (0-3-3) as well as junior River Freeman (4-6-10) and talented sophomores A.J. Francisco (YHH's Bantam Player of the Year in 2022-23, 3-6-9) and Ford Skytta (4-2-6) give Hermantown solid skill and scoring up front.

On defense, seniors Will Esterbrooks (2-7-9), Weston Bohlman (1-4-5) and Drew Nelson (0-2-2) and junior Henry Peterson (St. Thomas commit, 1-1-2) help tilt the ice in Hermantown's favor and all play a steady game at both ends of the ice. Senior goaltender Dane Callaway (.958 save percentage) provides a well-seasoned experience to the Hawks' crease. 

December 29: Minnetonka vs. Wayzata (2:45 PM) 
Plymouth Ice Center - Premier Holiday Classic at The PIC

These two west-metro titans clashed as part of the Premier Holiday Classic at the Plymouth Ice Center, and this was the first of two meetings between the Skippers and Trojans. Which team will win round one of this showdown?  

Undefeated Minnetonka is coming off a 4-3 victory over Shakopee. The Skippers forward group is one of the best in the state with seniors Javon Moore (Minnesota commit, 11-9-20), Gavin Garry (St. Thomas commit, 5-9-14), Luke Garry (St. Thomas commit, 3-8-11), Hagen Burrows (Denver commit, 4-10-14), Alex Lunski (St. Thomas commit, 4-5-9), Sam Scheetz (Vermont commit, 3-2-5) and junior Ashton Schultz (North Dakota commit, 6-5-11). This embarrassment of riches allows the Skippers to roll from line to line with little to no drop-off in scoring ability. 

The Skippers' power play is very potent, lighting the lamp at a 50% rate. On defense, seniors John Stout (Minnesota-Duluth commit, 1-5-6) and Robby House (2-3-5), as well as juniors Danny Klaers (Notre Dame commit, 0-5-5) and Tyson Mahady (0-2-2) form the core of a very well-rounded blueline that denies the middle of the ice very well. Senior goaltender Hunter Bauer (.915 save percentage) has carried most of the starts, but Minnetonka has utilized junior Ben Ferguson (.857 save percentage) too.  

Wayzata is coming off a 2-2 tie against Eden Prairie. The Trojans possess a very experienced group of forwards led by seniors Brittan Alstead (6-16-22), Rhys Wallin (9-8-17), Jake Mattson (4-8-12), Cade De St. Hubert (5-9-14), Brooks Gengler (5-9-14) and Luke Miller (7-7-14) that give Wayzata great scoring depth.

On defense, senior Hawke Huff (1-5-6), as well as juniors Carson Clark (2-6-8) and Finn De St. Hubert (1-7-8), give Wayzata stability and veteran depth that few teams can match. Senior Jack Hartle is out after taking a big hit two weeks ago by Benilde-St. Margaret's Caleb Koskie. The Trojans have leaned on senior Evan Turek (.891 save percentage) this season at goaltender.