skip navigation

GHS: Maple Grove On To Section Finals

By Peter Odney , 02/12/19, 8:30PM CST

Share

Ms. Hockey candidate Mannon McMahon scored two goals and added an assist for the Crimson, while Senior Goalie of the Year finalist Lucy Morgan made 23 saves in the shutout.


Maple Grove's Tristana Tatur (17) scores the first goal of the game for the Crimson in Tuesday's 3-0 win over Blaine in the Class 2A, Section 5 semifinals.

Team Leaders Shine In Playoff Victory

Having a Ms. Hockey candidate and a Senior Goalie of the Year finalist on your roster is nice, but having those standout players kick their respective games up a notch or three in the postseason is even sweeter. 

Mannon McMahon scored two goals and added an assist, while goaltender Lucy Morgan made 23 saves and earned the shutout as Maple Grove blanked Blaine 3-0 in the Class 2A, Section 5 semifinals on Tuesday night at the Roseville Ice Arena. 

“They’re incredible hockey players, but more than that they’re incredible leaders,” Maple Grove coach Amber Hegland said of McMahon and Morgan after the game. “Lucy last week shared something with the team about (us) just needing to compete, be all in and give everything we can for this,” Hegland continued, adding that McMahon spent much of the week’s practice time vocally encouraging her teammates.

McMahon’s optimism was rewarded on a personal level, as the Minnesota-Duluth commit wowed the arena with a behind-the-back then through-the-skates move that she converted for her second goal of the game. McMahon slammed herself into the glass in excitement as the crowd let loose a collective gasp at the move. 

‘We’ve seen (that move) a few times,” Hegland said with a grin. “It was tremendous.”

McMahon said that for all of the failed attempts at the deke, she was thrilled that one of the times it worked came in an actual game. 

“I do try it a lot, most of the time it doesn’t work,” McMahon said. “I was so happy that it finally worked for once,” she added, mentioning that she executes the maneuver once every ten tries.

McMahon’s season totals not sit at 23 goals and 47 total points in 26 games.  


Mannon McMahon celebrates after scoring in Tuesday's win over Blaine.

In addition to her inspired offensive play, McMahon and the Crimson proved equally effective on the defensive side of the ice, routinely forcing the Bengals (11-14-1) outside the slot when attacking the Crimson zone and rarely allowing a Bengal to catch a pass unencumbered by a Maple Grove defender. 

“We’re aggressive,” Hegland said simply of her team’s defensive philosophy. “We’re going to come at you, and we’re going to continue to put pressure on you and make you move the puck quickly.”

These traits will follow the Crimson (18-7-1) into the Section 5-2A finals, a stage the team has graced three of the last four years. McMahon has been on the roster for all three appearances and said that this year’s team ranks among her favorite groups. 

“It’s a family every year,” McMahon said. “It’s a tribe. I’m so thankful for this year especially. These girls are my family, and I would do anything for them, and I know they’d do anything for me.


Lucy Morgan stopped all 23 shots to earn the shutout against Blaine.

Recent MN YHH News