Friday, Nov. 24, 6:00 P.M.

Don’t bother wearing a coat to this game, because the sparks flying off the skates should keep the rink plenty warm for this matchup. 

The Skippers feature a talented crop of players, with the bulk of the roster members of back-to-back Bantam AA state championships. Sophomore Bobby Brink should build on his impressive freshman campaign, in which he totaled 10 goals and 30 points, and veteran senior forward and Minnesota-Duluth commit Luke Loheit (6-7-13) provides the Skippers with a physical presence in the offensive zone. 

St. Thomas Academy brother-duo of Ray and Rob Christy, a senior and junior respectively, combined to total 34 goals and 87 points last season, and have both committed to Colorado College. Senior Payton Matsui (21-14-35) and junior Brendan McFadden (12-18-30) give the Cadets one of the more balanced scoring attacks in the state. 

The Cadets slipped past the Skippers 3-2 in last season’s meeting, a penalty-marred affair that featured 19 trips to the box between the teams. Eight of penalties were roughing calls, with four more deemed slashing violations. 

Friday, Nov. 24, 8:00 P.M.

Few teams can match the returning class of Moorhead, with numerous players back on the roster after a runner-up finish at last season’s Class 2A state tournament. 

However, if Lakeville North can frustrate the Spuds’ top line by slowing the game down with icings, physical play and force the play to the boards, the Panthers can stay in the game despite losing several contributors from last season’s Section 1AA runner-up squad. 
Senior forward Blake Brandt (23-27-50) and junior forward Spencer Schneider (10-14-24) will be key cogs in the Panther offense, while senior defenseman Garrett Daly (3-9-12) takes care of the backend. Daly is committed to Bowling Green. 

The Moorhead senior forward trio of Carter Randklev, Cole O’Connell, and Jack Stetz are all back and certainly make a case for one of the best lines in the state. Randklev led the pack in scoring last season with 33 goals and 60 points, while O’Connell and Stetz combined for 37 goals and 98 points. Power play quarterback and junior defenseman Ethan Frisch (7-13-20) should log serious minutes for the Spuds.