December 12
Northfield at Monticello - 7:00 PM

The Raiders leave the 507 to make their way to the 763 to battle Monticello at Moose-Sherritt Arena in an intriguing Class A matchup. YHH recently interviewed Monticello Head Coach Eric Nelson as part of its Rink of Fire podcast. 

Northfield is coming off a 2-2 tie to St. Cloud Cathedral. The Raiders' attack is led by seniors Will Cashin (8 goals, 9 assists, 17 points) and Griffin Kennelly (7-4-11), juniors Michael Steward (5-8-13) and Oliver Benjamin (2-2-4), as well as sophomore Wade Gilbertson (2-1-3) get things rolling offensively for Northfield.  

The Raiders' power play has been scorching opponents at a 50% rate this season.

On defense, seniors Joe Fogarty (1-1-2) and Jake Faust (0-3-3), along with juniors Bridger Riley (0-11-11), Carter Simon, and Ashton Pumper (0-2-2) and talented sophomore Ben Geiger (5-11-16) are a blend of skill, grit and experience.  

Senior goaltender Max Frank (.880 save percentage) has made almost every start this season for the Raiders, but they have given junior Gavin Winter (1 shutout) an opportunity as well.

The Moose are coming off a 4-0 victory over Chisago Lakes. Monticello is led at forward by seniors Landon Scherber (5-4-9) and Nathan Poeppel (4-3-7) as well as junior Ashton Stoll (2-7-9), who play with some snarl to their game.

On defense, seniors Ezra Pemberton (1-0-1) and Aidan Widmark (0-1-1), juniors Brady McGriff (0-2-2) and Levi Welle (0-2-2), as well as sophomore Nicklas Nelson (0-3-3) limit scoring chances and help keep the Moose on the attack.  

The Moose have yet to surrender a power-play goal this season.

Senior Logan Blahnik (.935 save percentage) has made every start for Monticello this season at goaltender.   

December 12
Rosemount at Delano - 7:15 PM

The Irish travel to the west metro to battle one of the best teams in Class A, the Delano Tigers.  

The Irish are coming off a 10-2 rout of Lakeville North. The Irish are led up front by seniors Christian Garrity (9-6-13) and Benny Rutzick (2-4-6), juniors Cade Sherman (5-11-16), Quinton VeDepo (2-5-7) and Gavin McNeil (5-8-13) drive the Rosemount attack. 

On defense, seniors Josh Toll (St. Thomas commit, 4-6-10), Josh Ganser (0-1-1), and Cristian Nichols (2-6-8), as well as juniors Graham Clafton (2-5-7) and sophomore Mason Henderson (1-0-1) are a mobile and offensively assertive blueline.  

Junior Sam Clements (a .904 save percentage) has made every start for the Irish this season at goaltender.

Delano is feeling confident after a 6-2 victory over Providence Academy. The Tigers are led up front by seniors Mason Hargarten (3-5-8), Bryce Peterson (4-3-7) and Joseph McCabe (Lawrence commit for lacrosse, 2-3-5), juniors Brady Kangas (3-2-5) and Daniel Halonen (2-3-5) give Delano good scoring balance. Freshman Lance Halonen (2-4-6) continues to show promise.

Delano's power play has gotten off to a hot start, finding the back of the net at a 35.7% rate.

On defense, seniors Markus Kangas (4-3-7), Eddie Lins, and Aaron Halonen (0-2-2), along with juniors Connor Oja (0-4-4) and Luke Robertson, are a group that has experience and plays a steady, stay-at-home game. Freshman Jackson Wollak (0-3-3) is the youngster of the blueline, but he has plenty of upperclassmen to learn from.  

At goaltender, junior Evan Geyen (.853 save percentage) has made most of the starts this season, but they have utilized sophomore Lincoln Truax (.905 save percentage) as well.  

December 13
Roseau at Sartell-St. Stephen - 7:15 PM

This is a game with significant Section 8AA seeding ramifications as the Rams travel to Sartell to face the Sabres.

The Rams are coming off a 2-2 tie to Elk River/Zimmerman. Roseau is led at forward by seniors Cade Ginther (2-2-4), Tucker Kvien (3-1-4), Isaac Baumgartner (1-3-4), Chase Bachleitner (0-3-3), and Jake Halvorson (4-0-4) and junior Jude Wittrock (2-3-5) lead the way offensively for the Rams. Sophomores Abram Waage (1-2-3) and Tyler George (1-2-3), as well as freshman Hal Brellenthin (1-2-3), are chipping in points as well.

On defense, seniors Eli Wensloff (0-4-4) and Austin Klint (1-1-2), juniors Beck Hammer (1-1-2), and Liam Johnson are the workhorses on the Rams' back end. Sophomore Taden Peterson (0-2-2) is showing more confidence with each game.

Roseau's penalty kill has been solid, killing opposing power plays at a 93.3% rate.

In goal, senior Abram Hinson (.882 save percentage) has made every start for Roseau this season.

Sartell-St. Stephen is coming off a 1-0 victory over Alexandria. The Sabres are led up front by seniors Owen Oxton (2-1-3), Shaun Paulson (1-2-3), and Caden Vos (0-2-2), sophomores Devin Jacobs (3-1-4), Isaac Mentzer (1-0-1) and Preston Deragisch (1-3-4) provide Sartell-St. Stephen steady scoring through its top two lines.

On defense, seniors Jace Jansky (1-1-2), Landon Hilger, and Jacob Volker (0-1-1), juniors Keaton Landowski (0-4-4) and Tanner Burris as well as sophomore Brady Anderson (0-1-1) are a well-rounded blueline that likes take its chances to rip shots from the point.

Senior Adam Holien (.974 save percentage) has made every start for the Sabres this season at goaltender.

December 14
Stillwater at Rogers - 3:00 PM

The Ponies travel from the east metro to the west metro to take on the Royals of Rogers in this intriguing East Suburban versus Northwest Suburban matchup with plenty of flash and dash. YHH recently interviewed Rogers' defenseman, Nolen Geerdes, as part of its Rink of Fire Podcast.  

Stillwater is coming off a 10-1 rout of Mounds View. The Ponies are led up front by seniors Trey Fredenberg (2-8-10), Brody Dustin (7-4-11), Matt Volkman (7-6-13), Carson Kingbay (0-7-7), and Blake Vanek (4-5-9) give Stillwater plenty of scoring punch as they are averaging 6.88 goals per game. Talented sophomore Luca Jarvis (4-6-10) is showing a lot of promise.

The Ponies' power play has been potent, finding the back of the net at a 50% rate.

On defense, seniors John Karkula (0-3-3), Alex Oehlke (1-2-3), and Conor McGlynn (0-1-1), juniors Cal Grilz (2-3-5) and Jonas Kohn (0-5-5) along with sophomore Tate Batchelor (1-8-9) are a group that has a lot of size and experience. 

Curiously, Stillwater's penalty kill has struggled this season, killing opposing power plays at a 70.6% rate.

At goaltender, the Ponies have rotated between seniors Landon Huber (.853 save percentage) and Cal Conway (.932 save percentage) this season.  

The Royals are coming off an 8-0 rout of Robbinsdale Armstrong/Cooper. Rogers is led up front by a trio of seniors in Parker Deschene (Lindenwood commit, 4-9-13), Mason Jenson (Ohio State commit, 9-6-15), and Keaton Weis (4-4-8), who lead the way offensively for the Royals. Junior Brock Cheslock (1-4-5) is starting to heat up.  

On defense, seniors Nolen Geerdes (Western Michigan commit, 0-10-10), 6'5" Jackson Smithknecht (Colorado College commit), and Brady Sorrentino (0-1-1) lead a deep Rogers defense corps. Juniors Jayden Kurtz (1-0-1) and Matthew Hauser (1-2-3) are an underrated second pairing that gives the Royals quality depth on its blueline. Sophomore Blake Sinclair (0-1-1) has a lot of potential.  

Rogers' penalty kill has been stout, denying opposing power plays at a 92.9% rate.

Senior Wyatt Knott (.896 save percentage) has made every start this season for the Royals at goaltender.

December 14
Elk River/Zimmerman at Moorhead - 5:00 PM

This is a rematch of last year's Section 8AA semifinal, where Elk River/Zimmerman upset the top-seeded Spuds. Will history repeat itself, or will the Spuds prevail?

Elk River/Zimmerman is coming off a 2-2 tie to Roseau. The Elks are led up front by juniors Tristan Kriech (3-2-5) and Luke Patraw (2-0-2), as well as sophomore Logan Rustad (1-3-4), leading an attack where scoring has been a challenge.

At defense, seniors Andrew Sweet (0-1-1) and Brandon Hill, juniors Hudson Miller (1-0-1) and Joey Kotzian, sophomores Grant Schauer (0-1-1) and Rylan Hanson (0-1-1) are a blueline unit that plays with a snarl, but they also move the puck well in the offensive zone.

Elk River/Zimmerman has rotated between senior goaltender Gavin Greniuk (.960 save percentage) and junior Jack Stimac (.885 save percentage) this season.

Moorhead is coming off a 3-2 victory over Minnetonka. The Spuds are led at forward by seniors Mason Kraft (2-9-11), Carver Hasbargen (5-2-7), and Brooks Cullen (Michigan State commit, 3-6-9), as well as talented sophomore Zac Zimmerman (2-5-7) and junior Tyden Bergeson (1-5-6) who carried most of Moorhead's offense a season ago.  

On defense, seniors Aiden Dufault (0-2-2) and Carter Huotari as well as juniors Brandon Mickelson (3-2-5), Brady Steffen (0-1-1), and Zak Devig, in addition to sophomore Drew Simonich (1-2-3) play an intelligent game that moves the puck efficiently around the offensive zone with precise passes has become a signature of Moorhead hockey. 

With such a skilled defense, it should come as no surprise the Spuds' penalty kill is pretty good, operating at a 92.3% success rate.

Senior goaltender Charlie Stenhjem (.915 save percentage) has made every start for the Spuds this season.