Panthers take out Maple Grove 7-5

After spotting Maple Grove a 3-1 first period lead, Lakeville North stormed back to beat Northwest Suburban power Maple Grove 7-5 Wednesday in the St. Louis Park Holiday tournament. Blake Brandt and Max McGlade had two goals a piece and St. Cloud State commit Henry Enebak chipped in a goal and three assists as the Panthers upped their record to 6-1-1 on the season. 

After scoring three goals in the second period, Lakeville North would get the eventual game winner when McGlade fired a rocket past Maple Grove freshman Ethan Haider to push their lead to 6-4. 

Three Stars --> 3. Jayden Walsh (Maple Grove, 2G/2A) 2. Max McGlade (LVN, 2G) 1. Henry Enebak (LVN, 1G/3A)

#1 Ponies ride past Prior Lake, 3-1

Stillwater found a way to win Wednesday getting a third period goal by senior Luke Manning and Noah Cates added an empty net goal as the top rated Ponies extended their record to 9-0 on the season. Senior goalie Seth Eisele turned away 21 shots including a barrage late in the game by the Lakers. 

Jackson Jutting had the lone goal for the Prior Lake as the Lakers (4-4-0) who suffered their fourth loss in a row.

Three Stars --> 3. Michael Kaufman (1G) 2. Luke Manning (GWG) 1. Seth Eisele (21 saves)

Elks down Benilde-St. Margaret's 7-3 with third period flurry

Lead by a third period burst, Elk River downed Benilde-St. Margaret's 7-3 Wednesday in the St. Louis Park Holiday Classic. The Elks scored four third period goals including three in a row by Jack Perbix to pull away from the Red Knights. Tommy Laabs and Max Michaelis added two goals a piece as the #2AA Elks improved to 9-1 on the season.

Three Stars--> 3. Tommy Laabs (2 goals) 2. Max Michaelis (2 goals) 1. Jack Perbix (3 goals)

Spuds put out Fire, 6-1

Junior Cole O'Connell had a hat trick and chipped in an assist for Moorhead as they beat #6AA Holy Family Wednesday 6-1. The Spuds got a great performance from Lance Leonard who turned away 25 shots in the win.

Three Stars ----> 3. Carter Randklev (Moorhead, 1G/2A) 2. Lance Leonard (Moorhead, 25 saves) 1. Cole O'Connell (Moorhead, 3G/1A)

See highlights from the game below.

Top rated Hermantown sneaks by Delano 4-3

#1A Hermantown faced off with #2A Delano Wednesday night in Duluth to see who the mid-season top team in the state was at the Hilltopper Classic. After controlling much of the play, the defending state champs found themselves down 3-2 and shorthanded with six minutes left to play, but somehow found a way to win in regulation. 

The Tigers had their chances to increase their lead including a power play pipe shot by Michigan Tech recruit Brian Halonen that went off the cross bar and out of play. The see saw game went back in favor of the Hawks when junior Tyler Watkins beat Erik Peterson top shelf with 4:11 to play to tie it. And two minutes later, Watkins found pay dirt when Ryan Sandelin's shot rebounded onto his stick and he buried it. "Ryan made a great play to create space and his pass off the goalie's pad was right there and all I had to was finish it," said Watkins after the game.

Stars of the Game 3. Erik Peterson (Delano, 37 saves) 2. Ryan Sandelin (Hermantown, 1G/2A) 1. Tyler Watkins (2 goals).

Bruce Quote 

Hermantown head coach Bruce Plante when asked if Delano reminds him of his program 20 years ago, "yes, their program has done a great job of developing their own players - I have a lot of respect for them."