Sartell/Sauk Rapids at Alexandria 
January 18 (7:15 PM) 

This is an intriguing Central Lakes Conference rematch as Sartell/St. Stephen travels to Alexandria's Runestone Arena to face the Cardinals. The Sabres won the first match this season, 3-2, on December 5th. Can the Cardinals avoid the sweep?

Sartell/St. Stephen is coming off a 4-3 overtime loss to Roseau, but they have won four out of their last five games. The Sabres are led at forward by seniors Kyan Reider (7 goals, 11 assists, 18 points), Baylor Stebbins (9-7-16) and Tony Colatrella (6-18-24), junior Shaun Paulson (6-12-18), as well as sophomore Brayden Klande (8-5-13) and talented freshman Devin Jacobs (7-15-22) give Sartell/St. Stephen quality scoring depth through its top two lines.  

On defense, seniors Carter Bollinger (4-6-10) and Connor Anderson (0-5-5), as well as junior Jace Jansky (1-7-8) and 6'2" freshman Collin Otto (1-6-7), give the Sabres a well-rounded defense corps that can bring it at both ends of the ice.  

The Sabres have given senior Noah Hacker (.921 save percentage) most of the starts this season at goaltender.

Alexandria is coming off an impressive 4-3 comeback victory over Holy Angels but has won just two of their last five games. At forward, the Cardinals are led by seniors Leo Kompelien (3-7-10), Gavin Olson (8-2-10), Kasen Muscha (3-7-10), and Evan Anderson (7-4-11), as well as freshman Grady Olson (2-6-8) carry most of the scoring load for Alexandria.  

On defense, senior Gage Castle (2-0-2) and Bennett Hagen-Olsen (0-2-2), as well as sophomore Niklas Schultz (1-0-1), keep it simple in their end of the ice but are okay with dishing out the hits. Alexandria's power play doesn't give up much, as it has shut down 84.8% of opposing power plays this season.  

At goaltender, senior Brady Metcalf (.922 save percentage) has made most of the starts this season for the Cardinals.  

Luverne at New Ulm 
January 19 (7:00 PM) 

This Big South rematch also has some seeding ramifications in Section 3A as Luverne makes the trip to New Ulm Civic Center to take on the Eagles for the 2nd time this season. Luverne won the first time these two clubs met, 6-1, on December 8th. Can the Cardinals make it a sweep?

Undefeated Luverne is coming off a 14-0 rout of Redwood Falls. The Cardinals are led at forward by seniors Owen Sudenga (19-20-39), Patrick Kroski (8-20-28), and Elliott Domagala (8-8-16), along with sophomores Landyn Lais (14-20-34) and Maddux Domagala (17-10-27) give Luverne steady firepower up front.  

6'4" junior Blaik Bork (11-17-28) and sophomore Blake Sauer (7-3-10) moonlight between forward and defense for the Cardinals. Luverne is good on the power play, scoring 33.3% on the man advantage.

On defense, seniors Henry Hartquist (5-7-12), junior Layke Miller (0-2-2), sophomore Jaxon Lais (2-4-6), and freshman Benjamin Hartquist (6-8-14) bring size. They are almost as eager to attack as Luverne's forwards with an all-gas, no-breaks playing style.  

Senior Tyler Arends (.928 save percentage) has shouldered most of the workload for Luverne this season at goaltender. Still, they have given opportunities to sophomores Gavin Hoven (.908 save percentage) and Xander Remme (.917 save percentage).  

New Ulm is coming off a 4-1 victory over Marshall. The Eagles are led at forward by seniors Austin Uecker (21-12-33), Bryer Lang (13-14-27), and Kaden Larson (8-18-26), as well as juniors Ian Brudelie (11-11-22) and Brecken Neuman (5-8-13). Sophomore Brody Nordby (6-8-14) has shown much promise this season and helps give New Ulm solid scoring depth through its top two lines. The Eagles' power play is good, finding the back of the net 29.6% of the time.

On defense, senior Landon Barstad (2-8-10), juniors Brody Wenner (2-7-9), and Casey Koop (4-2-6) try to limit scoring chances but don't mind pulling the trigger when the opportunity arises.  

Senior goaltender Bryer Hoffmann (.910 save percentage) has shouldered most of the goaltending duties for New Ulm this season, but they have given a few opportunities to junior Graham Glaser (.964 save percentage) as well.  

Duluth Denfeld at Warroad 
January 19 (7:30 PM) 

This is the only meeting between these two clubs as Duluth Denfeld makes its way across the northern part of the state to play Warroad. Can the Class AA Hunters stonewall the Warriors?  

Duluth Denfeld is coming off a 2-0 loss to Little Falls but has won three out of their last five games. Denfeld is led at forward by juniors Valterri Luhtalampi (9-22-31) and Nolan Harju (8-13-21), who most of the Hunters' scoring. Talented junior John Scott will be out of the lineup with an injury. The Hunters are efficient on the power play, lighting the lamp 28.9% of the time.  

On defense, seniors Braeden Erickson (2-4-6) and Brady McGinn (1-7-8), junior Brady Wick (2-9-11) as well as sophomore Bruno Decambaliza (0-2-2) will be tasked with slowing down Warroad's high-powered attack.  

At goaltender, senior Connor Doyle (.912 save percentage) has made almost every start this season for the Hunters.   

Warroad is coming off a 4-1 victory over Hermantown, the Hawks' 1st regular season loss to a Class A opponent in a decade, and has won four out of their last five games.  

The Warriors are led at forward by seniors Carson Pilgrim (North Dakota commit, #137 ranked North American skater according to NHL Central Scouting, 19-19-38) and Murray Marvin-Cordes (15-14-29), as well as junior Taven James (12-20-32) and sophomores Ryan Shaugabay (5-6-11) and Dominic Anthony (6-6-12) give the Warriors steady firepower up front. Warroad's power play is solid, lighting the lamp at a 27.7% rate.  

On defense, seniors Ryan Lund (12-15-27) and Will Hardwick (0-5-5), as well as sophomores Broden Hontvet (1-18-19) and Mason Reed (0-1-1), will help Warroad lock things down defensively while also taking chances to chip in offensively.  

Senior Ben Norris (.907 save percentage) has started in every game for Warroad this season.   

Stillwater at St. Thomas Academy 
January 20 (2:00 PM) 

This is the only scheduled game between these two clubs, who hope to make some noise and surprise in section play a few weeks from now. Stillwater treks to St. Thomas Academy to take on a confident Cadets' squad led by Head Coach Mike Randolph, who recently celebrated his 700th win. Can the Ponies prevail?

Stillwater is coming off a 7-0 rout of East Ridge and has won four out of their last five games. The Ponies are led at forward by juniors Brody Dustin (9-16-25), Blake Vanek (11-11-22), Luke Myers (5-10-15), and Carson Kingbay (2-4-6) can all fly and provide skill to Stillwater's attack. 

On defense, senior Will Kane (2-6-8) and Wyatt Carroll (1-4-5), along with sophomores Jonas Kohn (3-3-6) and Cal Grilz (1-4-5), play the game with physicality and swagger. The Ponies' penalty kill has been solid, shutting down opposing power plays at an 87% rate.

6'4", 225lbs senior Alex Reedy (.898 save percentage) has carried most of the goaltending workload for the Ponies, but they have utilized 6'3", 205lbs junior Landon Huber (.925 save percentage) as well.  

St. Thomas Academy is coming off a 4-1 loss to Edina, but they have won three out of their last five games. The Cadets forwards are led by senior Jimmy Zavoral (13-7-20), juniors Will Dosan (Princeton commit, 9-12-21), Niko Russ (4-3-7), and Michael Mikan (6-2-8), along with sophomore Cole Braunshausen (5-7-12) shoulder most of the scoring for St. Thomas Academy. YHH interviewed Jimmy Zavoral on a recent Rink of Fire podcast episode.  

On defense, senior Brody Deitz (3-9-12), juniors Patch Cronin (Colgate commit, 0-11-11), and 6'5" sophomore Tommy Kertz (3-4-7) are smart, mobile, and timely with their physical play and do a great job at making that first pass out of the zone to get the Cadets back on the attack.  

Junior Cody Niesen (.900 save percentage) has made every start this season for St. Thomas Academy in goal.

Chanhassen at Benilde-St. Margaret's 
January 20 (7:00 PM) 

This is the first of two meetings between Chanhassen and Benilde-St. Margaret's as the Storm go down to the St. Louis Park Rec Center to take on the Red Knights. Who will win game one of this series?  

Chanhassen is coming off a 7-0 rout of Chaska and has won their last six games. The Storm have a deep and very skilled forward group led by seniors Gavin Uhlenkamp (Wisconsin commit, 11-20-31), who is back from injury, Caden Lee (Minnesota State commit, 17-16-33), Jack Christ (Minnesota State commit, 11-25-36) and Andy Earl (12-11-23) give Chanhassen steady scoring through its top 2 lines. Senior Gavin Uhlenkamp joined YHH's Rink of Fire podcast a month ago for an interview. The Storm's power play has been formidable, lighting the lamp at a 34.9% rate.

On defense, seniors Owen Busegens (St. Thomas commit, 4-18-22), Drew Jensen (0-3-3), Ben Curtis (2-8-10), Chase Borene (2-5-7), Coltin Wassengenso(2-8-10) and Billy McNeely (0-4-4) are experienced and provide poise to the Storm's blue line. Chanhassen is stifling on the penalty kill, shutting down opposing power plays 96.5% of the time.  

Senior Kam Hendrickson (.955 save percentage) has shouldered most of Chanhassen's goaltending duties this season, but they have also used sophomore Grant Atterson (.913 save percentage).  

Benilde-St. Margaret's is coming off a 2-0 loss to Eden Prairie and has won two out of their last five games. At forward, the Red Knights are led by seniors Ben Norris (8-5-13) and Caleb Koskie (5-5-10), as well as juniors Cameron Kirschner (5-8-13), Junior Podein (8-6-14) and A.J. Ulrich (4-6-10) are a fast and skilled group that like to play the game at a high tempo.  

On defense, senior Mason Stenger (5-10-15), junior Carter Callan (0-10-10), and sophomore Mason Minor (0-7-7) are a mobile defense corps that helps the Red Knights transition quickly from defense to offense.  

Senior goaltender Mason McElroy (.905 save percentage) has made every start for the Red Knights this season.