Luverne at St. Paul Academy
2 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 6

No. 17-1A Luverne (2-0-0) gets grief from some hockey observers for its schedule, but it’s tough to knock the Cardinals for a nearly 500-mile round trip to face No. 16-1A St. Paul Academy (4-0-0) in a key game for two programs hoping to show that their success is sustainable.

Not that anyone should doubt Luverne any more, not after last year’s unbeaten run and good showing in the state tournament. The Cardinals don’t have any hangover, as they’ve romped past a pair of opponents by a combined 18-4 score to start the winter.

Junior Chaz Smedsrud recorded seven points in each game (three goals, four assists at Waseca and two goals, five assists against LeSueur-Henderson/St. Peter/TCU), while freshman sensation Jaxon Nelson has a team-leading six goals.

That duo should again lead the way against St. Paul Academy, which will have already played five games by the time the puck drops Saturday.

Who will get the call in goal for the Spartans against powerful Luverne? So far, time has been split evenly between David Nicholson (2-0-0 with 33 saves on 34 shots) and Andy Beran (2-0-0 with 30 saves on 35 shots).