Andover at Orono 
January 11 (7:00 PM) 

This is an intriguing Class AA versus elite Class A challenge as the Huskies travel to Orono to face the Spartans. One thing's for sure: there will be plenty of speed on the ice at Orono Arena, but which team will be able to slow the other down?  

Andover is coming off a 3-0 win over Anoka and has won three out of their last five games. At forward, the Huskies are led by senior Nora Sauer (St. Thomas commit, 8 goals, 7 assists, 15 points) as well as juniors Maya Engler (St. Thomas commit, 4-7-11), Ella Thoreson (5-10-15) and Hannah Christenson (Northeastern commit, 7-8-15) provide Andover plenty of scoring punch.  

As good as Andover is up front, they are even better 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, 9-10-19) allow the Huskies to match up with just about anyone, and a big reason why this team allows less than a goal per game.  

Sophomore Clairebella Hills (.927 save percentage) has carried most of the starts this season, but the Huskies have also utilized freshman Olivia Nedved (.970 save percentage).

Orono is coming off a 1-1 tie to Benilde-St. Margaret's have won three out of their last five games. The Spartans are led by senior Alexa Niccum (UW-River Falls commit, 3-9-12) as well as junior Zoe Lopez (Minnesota State commit, 16-10-26), sophomore Maddy Kimbrel (13-11-24) as well as talented 8th-grader Gabi Lopez (5-6-11) provide Orono with plenty of speed, skill and scoring up front.  

Orono will be without Macy Rasmussen (Ohio State commit, 5-17-22) as she is participating with Team USA as part of the IIHF U-18 World Junior tournament in Switzerland.   

On defense, seniors Grace Bickett (6-14-20) and Allie Pleimann (3-3-6), along with juniors Alex Paulson (0-10-10), maintain their gaps well and do an excellent job at denying the middle of the ice.  

At goaltender, Orono has split starts between freshman Vivienne Anderson (.939 save percentage) and junior Maddie Forsyth (.903 save percentage) this season.

Edina at Stillwater 
January 11 (7:00 PM) 

The Hornets make their way from the small town on the west side with a dream to St. Croix Valley Rec Center to take on the Ponies, who have plenty of motivation of their own. Which team's dream will come closer to being true after this game?

Edina is coming off a 1-0 victory over Minnetonka and has won four out of their last five games. The Hornets have plenty of firepower up front led by Ms. Hockey candidate as discussed in Episode #1 of YHH's Her Ice senior Hannah Halverson (Wisconsin commit, 15-14-29), juniors Whitney Horton (St. Thomas commit, 8-7-15), Kaylee Idrogo-Lam (6-6-12) and Cate McCoy (11-13-24) as well as talented sophomore Lorelai Nelson (6-12-18).  

On defense, senior Taylor Porthan (0-9-9), junior Camille Debuc (3-6-9), and sophomore Taylor Gardner (1-5-6) are skilled and help Edina transition quickly and efficiently.  

The Hornets will likely utilize junior Reese McConnell (.934 save percentage) as fellow junior Nora Hannan (.925 save percentage) is also participating for Team USA as part of the IIHF U-18 World Junior tournament in Switzerland.

Stillwater is coming off a 4-0 victory over White Bear Lake and have won three out of their last five games. The Ponies will be without star forward senior Josie St. Martin (Ohio State commit, 17-23-40), joining Team USA for a third year at the IIHF's World Juniors tournament.  

That means the Ponies will be leaning on senior Brooke Nelson (14-15-29) to lead the way offensively and will be looking to others to step up, like senior Olivia DeJarnett (3-2-5), swift skating junior Belle McKenzie (3-4-7) and freshman Brynne Laska (2-5-7).  

On defense, seniors Josie Lang (Providence commit, 10-20-30) and Addison Finn (Boston U. commit, 12-16-28), as well as sophomore Emma Chard (4-13-17), provide skill, scoring, and two-way play that is a lot of fun to watch, especially on the power play. The Ponies' power play is lighting the lamp at a 28.9% rate, but there is no doubt that St. Martin's absence may have an effect.  

Senior goaltender Lily Timmons (.909 save percentage) has made most of the starts this season for the Ponies, but they have utilized freshman Haley Solnitzky (.897 save percentage) too.  

Grand Rapids/Greenway at Forest Lake 
January 12 (7:00 PM) 

This is an intriguing Section 7AA showdown with plenty of seeding implications as the Lightning make their way down to the northeast metro to take on the Rangers.  

Grand Rapids/Greenway is coming off a 12-2 rout at the hands of Hill-Murray and has won just one of their last five games. The Lightning is led by junior captain Mercury Bischoff (Minnesota State commit, 24-15-39) and sophomore Kylie DeBay (11-12-23), as well as senior captain Molly Pierce (5-15-20) provide Grand Rapids/Greenway with firepower up front. The Lightning are dangerous on the power play, finding the back of the net 34.2% of the time.  

On defense, senior Cali Madsen (0-12-12) provides veteran leadership to a young group with promising youngsters in freshman Ella Muller (0-2-2) and Sophie Carlson (3-10-13).  

At goaltender, senior Riley Toivonen (.885 save percentage) is Grand Rapids/Greenway's go-to option, but they have also utilized sophomore Claire Tobeck (1 shutout).

Forest Lake is coming off a 5-3 loss to Roseville/Mahtomedi and has won once in their last five games. The Rangers are led at forward by juniors Rylen Kissell (9-6-15) and Madelyn Kemplin (3-9-12), as well as sophomore Abigail Sklaventis (9-5-14), who pace Forest Lake's attack. 

On defense, senior captain Sami Pool (7-3-10), junior Maren Wallinga (1-0-1), and 8th-grader Lilly Halweg (1-3-4) try to keep opposing skaters to the perimeter and chip in offensively. Forest Lake's power play is dangerous when it gets to find the back of the net at a 28.6% rate, where Sami Pool likes to activate.

Sophomore goaltender Taylor Thompson (.916 save percentage) has made almost every start this season for the Rangers.   

Luverne at Waseca 
January 13 (11:00 AM) 

It is a battle of the songbirds as the Cardinals of Luverne travel to Waseca Community Arena to take on the Jays as they battle for Big South supremacy. Luverne defeated Waseca on December 2nd (5-1), can the Cardinals complete the sweep?  

Luverne is coming off an 11-0 rout of Fairmont and has won four of their last five games. The Cardinals are led at forward by junior Payton Behr (5-8-13), sophomores Ella Appel (8-7-15), Gretta McClure (3-8-11), and Hannah Woodley (5-2-7), freshman Izzy Steensma (4-7-11) as well as 8th-grader Ellie Van Batavia (13-7-20) carries most of the offense for Luverne.  

On defense, senior Anika Boll (4-5-9) and freshman Tenley Behr (10-7-17) log many minutes for the Cardinals as they like to play a free-wheeling game.  

At goaltender, sophomore Emma Saarloos (.872 save percentage) has started in every game for Luverne.

Waseca is coming off a 7-0 rout of Worthington and has won two of their last five games. The Jays are led at forward by seniors Emma Keith (10-10-20) and Izabela Slechta (4-7-11), as well as sophomore Madalyn Benson (4-7-11) and talented freshman Maizee Storey (24-11-35) give Waseca plenty of firepower.  

On defense, juniors Katlyn Schueler (7-8-15) and Ryley Bartz (3-4-7) log many minutes and like to join the attack when the opportunity presents itself. The Jays' penalty kill is very effective, shutting down opposing power plays 92.2% of the time.  

Freshman goaltender Ilamay Draheim (.945 save percentage) has started in every game this season for Waseca and has already made over 1,000 saves in her high school career.  

Dodge County at Crookston 
January 13 (5:00 PM) 

Could this be a game with some Class A State Tournament seeding implications? I am sure the Wildcats and Pirates hope so as Section 1A Dodge County travels northwest to face Section 8A Crookston.  

Dodge County is coming off an 8-2 rout of Chisago Lakes and has won four out of their last five games. At forward, Dodge County is led by senior MaKenna LaFleur (8-11-19), juniors Nora Carstensen (18-18-36), Hannah Peterson (7-5-12) and Mollie Koch (9-11-20), sophomore Zoe Heimer (9-18-27) as well as freshman Maisy Koch (14-14-28) and 8th-grader Daisy Harens (8-7-15) form the core of three effective scoring lines for the Wildcats. The Wildcats power play is dangerous, finding the back of the net at a 29% rate.  

On defense, seniors Abby Simons (5-21-26), Alyse Williamschen (1-3-4), and Alexa Van Straaten (5-3-8) keep it simple on their end but also take their chances to get involved in the offensive zone as well. The Wildcats have yet to surrender a single power-play goal this season.  

Junior goaltender Ida Huber (.916 save percentage) has made almost every start for the Wildcats this season.

Crookston is coming off a 4-0 victory over Gentry Academy and have won three out of their last five games. At forward, seniors Brekken Tull (5-4-9), Brynley Coleman (5-4-9), and Cassie Solheim (4-4-8), as well as junior Addison Fee (6-5-11) and sophomore Taylor Field (3-6-9) as well as gifted 8th grader Jocelyn Field (3-11-14) provide Crookston experience and plenty of scoring options.  

On defense, senior Reese Swanson (6-4-10), along with sophomores Ashlyn Bailey (2-4-6) and Emma LaPlante (5-2-7), keep the Pirates on the attack and like to be involved in the offensive zone. The Pirates penalty kill has been outstanding, stifling opposing power plays at a 91.2% rate.  

At goaltender, junior Kambelle Freije (.924 save percentage) has made almost every start this season for Crookston.