January 2
Rock Ridge at Hermantown - 7:00 PM

The Wolverines make their way to Hermantown Ice Arena to face the Hawks in this Lake Superior Conference showdown in their lone game against one another this season. YHH recently interviewed Rock Ridge Head Coach and NHL Stanley Cup Champion Matt Niskanen in a recent episode of their Rink of Fire podcast.  

Rock Ridge is coming off a 6-5 victory over Buffalo. The Wolverines are led up front by seniors Grady Dimberio (13 goals, 9 assists, 22 points) and Levi Flatley (3-5-8), as well as juniors Caz Carlson (10-14-24) and Colton Bialke (3-10-13) give the Rock Ridge scoring and experience up front. Freshman Jackson Bartovich (6-6-12) has shown a lot of promise.

On defense, seniors Aidan Rabideaux (1-2-3), Easton Walters (2-3-5), Derik Dahl (0-3-3), and Carson Mast (0-1-1) bring a mix of size and puck-moving ability to the Wolverines' blue line. Sophomore Blake Norberg (0-1-1) is exhibiting more confidence with each game.

Between the pipes, Rock Ridge has rotated between senior Steven Ranisate (.857 save percentage) and junior Ryan Jonassen (.906 save percentage) this season.

Hermantown is coming off a 5-2 loss to White Bear Lake. The Hawks are led up front by seniors River Freeman (10-5-15) and Charlie Marchand (3-4-7), as well as juniors Ford Skytta (5-8-13) and Bodie Madill (2-4-6) along with sophomore Beau Christy (1-4-5) carry most of the scoring for Hermantown.

The Hawks' power play is heating up, finding the back on 37.5% of its opportunities.

On defense, seniors Henry Peterson (St. Thomas commit, 3-9-12) and Cam Lukovsky (1-0-1), juniors Jack Slattengen(2-0-2) and Cayden Manion (1-1-2) along with sophomores Gabe Swenson (1-8-9) and Ethan Aysta (0-2-2) round out Hermantown's blueline. 

Junior Bryce Francisco (1.53 goals-against-average) is starting to find his groove this season at goaltender. 

January 2
Park of Cottage Grove at Roseville - 7:00PM

This is an intriguing matchup of two teams that have been featured as part of YHH's Friday Night Ice, and hope to make some noise in this year's playoffs from Sections 3AA and 4AA, respectively. 

Park of Cottage Grove is coming off a 4-2 loss to Duluth Denfeld. The Wolfpack are led at forward by seniors Owen Corkish (8-17-25), Gavin Moss (11-6-17), Drew Schumacher (5-3-8), and Max Kaplan (4-9-13), who play with speed and a bit of a chip on their shoulder. Juniors Nick Bailey (3-3-6) and Brady Siemer (2-3-5) give Park of Cottage Grove an element of secondary scoring.

With so many offensive weapons up front, it is no surprise the Wolfpack power play is dangerous, scoring at a 32% rate.

On defense, seniors Caden Schwartz (3-11-14) and Eli Daly (0-3-3), juniors Luke Dahlstrom (4-10-14) and Malachi McMorrow (1-1-2), sophomore Jack Kennedy (0-3-3) are a nice blend of size, skill and experience.

The Wolfpack penalty kill has been strong, shutting down opposing power plays 95.5% of the time.

At goaltender, the Wolfpack have rotated between junior Henry Voss (2.57 goals against average) and senior Aidan Miller (2.73 goals against average) this season.

Roseville is coming off a 6-2 victory over Spring Lake Park/Coon Rapids. The Raiders are led up front by seniors Jacob Villela (14-16-30), Ben Beal (5-11-16), Jacob Troska (6-5-11), and Kellen O'Rourke (6-13-19), as well as sophomores Garrett Hites (4-7-11) and Grant Jaboski (8-10-18) give Roseville solid scoring depth.

On defense, seniors Prentiss Maier (3-11-14), Collin Hites (4-7-11), Riley Lackner (0-4-4), and Jacob Elm (0-9-9), along with junior Wyatt Hauer (0-2-2) are blueline that has lots of experience and understands the right moment to jump into the attack.

Junior Cooper Stevens (.882 save percentage) has made every start this season for Roseville in goal.

January 3
Monticello at Minneapolis - 7:00 PM

The Moose travel to the 612 to face Minneapolis at Parade Ice Garden in an always-spirited game between these two programs. Monticello prevailed 4-3 over Minneapolis last year, but will that result repeat itself this time around? Monticello's Head Coach Eric Nelson recently joined YHH for an interview on their Rink of Firepodcast. 

Undefeated Monticello is coming off a 3-3 tie to Bemidji. Monticello is led at forward by seniors Landon Scherber (17-18-35) and Nathan Poeppel (10-10-20), as well as juniors Ashton Stoll (7-16-23) and Liam O'Donnell (4-3-7), who they hope can carry most of the scoring for the Moose up front. 

The Moose power play is effective, finding the back of the net at a 33.3% rate.

On defense, seniors Ezra Pemberton (1-4-5) and Aidan Widmark (3-11-14), juniors Brady McGriff (2-4-6) and Levi Welle (3-3-6), as well as talented sophomore Nicklas Nelson (7-19-26) are a group that likes to activate offensively.  

Senior Logan Blahnik (1.58 goals against average) has made nearly every start for Monticello this season at goaltender.  

Minneapolis is coming off a 3-0 victory over Hudson (WI). They are led at forward by seniors Johan Krasean (10-14-24) and Matthew Walsh (3-7-10), plus junior Eli Milinkovich (11-10-21) and sophomore Rory Kronick (9-7-16), giving Minneapolis skill and scoring up front. 

On defense, senior Nick Anderson (4-13-17), juniors Milo Black (2-3-5) and Jack Shroat (0-2-2), and freshman Wilson Lamberty (2-7-9) are a group that likes to be involved in the play at either end of the ice.

At goaltender, senior Adam Lybeck (2.65 goals-against-average) has carried most of the workload between the pipes for Minneapolis, but they have utilized junior Griffin Simpson (one shutout) as well.

January 4
Detroit Lakes at Warroad - 2:15 PM

This is an intriguing game with plenty of Section 8A seeding ramifications as the Lakers travel up to the Gardens Ice Arena in Warroad to face the Warriors. 

Detroit Lakes is coming off a 3-2 loss to Northfield. The Lakers are led at forward by seniors Easton Wahl (4-5-9), Brock Bender (4-3-7) and Owen Chiodo (5-1-6), juniors William Cymbaluk (4-7-11), Carter Whitworth (7-2-9) and Easton Kennedy (2-7-9) as well as sophomore Mason Deraney (5-4-9) give Detroit Lakes solid scoring depth. 

On defense, seniors Tommy Suckert (4-5-9), Jace Fields (1-7-8), and Luke Helm (0-1-1), junior Hudson Petit (1-6-7) and sophomores Max DuCharme and Henry Olson are a well-rounded blue line that has experience and mobility to keep Detroit Lakes on the attack.

At goaltender, sophomore Griffin Lindberg (1.96 goals against average) has carried most of the workload this season for the Lakers, but they have utilized fellow sophomore Noah Germain (1.40 goals against average) as well.

Warroad is coming off a 3-2 overtime victory over Notre Dame (Connecticut) as part of their holiday tournament. The Warriors are led up front by senior Taven James (10-9-19) and junior Ryan Shaugabay (4-14-18), who drive the Warriors' offense. Keep an eye on talented sophomore Gavin Andersen (4-8-12) who has emerged as an important offensive contributor this season.

On defense, juniors Broden Hontvet (6-9-15), Mason Reed, Sam Hard (2-4-6) and Thomas Grapentine (1-0-1), and sophomores Ryan Lee (1-2-3) and Wesley Schreiner (0-1-1) provide a nice blend of experience and poise to Warroad's defense corps.  

At goaltender, the Warriors have split starts between junior Patrick Kennedy (2.91 goals-against-average) and sophomore Finn Hanson (2.25 goals-against-average) this season.

January 4
St. Thomas Academy at Moorhead - 6:00 PM

Who doesn't love a good rematch? The Cadets and Spuds faced one another at the Traditional Holiday Invitational last week, only to play again one week later, with St. Thomas Academy making the trek to Moorhead. The Spuds prevailed the first time, 4-1. Can Moorhead earn a regular season sweep? 

At forward, the Cadets are led by seniors Michael Mikan (Harvard commit, 10-19-29), Will Dosan (11-6-17), Nico Russ(10-9-19), and Jackson Rudh (16-16-32), who provide leadership, scoring, skill and grit. Juniors Cole Braunshausen (10-8-18), Peter Murray (5-11-16), and Luca Pedri (6-6-12) bring speed and secondary scoring to the Cadets' attack.

St. Thomas Academy's power play is rolling along at 36%.

On defense, seniors Patrick Cronin (3-10-13), James Richardson (2-4-6), and Tommy Kertz (1-6-7), as well as junior Cody Kronberg (2-3-5), are poised and stout in their own zone.

At goaltender, senior Cody Niesen (1.72 goals-against-average) has shouldered most of the goaltending duties this season for the Cadets, but they have given sophomore Jacksyn Crary (.910 save percentage) as well.

Brimming with the confidence of an 11-game winning streak, the Spuds are led at forward by seniors Mason Kraft (15-21-36) and Carver Hasbargen (6-8-14), juniors Brooks Cullen (Michigan State commit, 5-8-13) and Tyden Bergeson (7-8-15) as well as talented sophomore Zac Zimmerman (15-19-34) and provide most of the firepower for Moorhead offensively. Sophomore Max Cullen (7-5-12) is gaining more confidence with each game. Junior Brayden Kvamme may be another name to watch for after netting his first hat trick of the season in a win over Edina.  

The Spuds' power play is dangerous, finding the back of the net at 37.5%.

On defense, seniors Aiden Dufault (0-4-4) and Carter Huotari (0-3-3), as well as juniors Brandon Mickelson (4-14-18), Brady Steffen (0-6-6) and Zak Devig (0-5-5) along with Drew Simonich (1-5-6) play an intelligent game that moves the puck efficiently around the offensive zone with precise passes has become a signature of Moorhead hockey. 

Senior goaltender Charlie Stenehjem (1.95 goals-against-average) has made every start for the Spuds this season.