Moorhead at Bemidji
7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 13

Class 2A, Section 8 seeding is up for grabs when No. 17 Moorhead (9-5-2) visits No. 11 Bemidji (13-1-1) Tuesday night. It’s been well-documented that no one besides Roseau and Moorhead has won a Section 8 title since Alexandria in 1996, but this year the Lumberjacks are clearly threatening that streak.

The first meeting between these two northwestern powers (a 4-2 Bemidji victory on Dec. 2) kick-started Bemidji's current 13-game winning streak. Behind goaltenders Grant Tharaldson (9-0-1, 1.32, .921) and Garret Atteberry (4-1-0, 1.76, .890), the Lumberjacks are one of the stingiest defensive teams in the state, allowing only 1.47 goals per game. Beginning with that victory at Moorhead, they’ve allowed no more than two goals in any game and have three shutouts.

Can Moorhead score against the 'Jacks? The Spuds have had a much more difficult schedule the past six weeks, but have gone 8-3-2 in that span to remain relevant in the section race. Five of the Spuds’ last six games have been decided by a single goal, no a surprise for a team that relies on its defense and goaltender Jacob Dittmer (8-4-2, 2.55, .917). Defenseman Alex Mehnert (4-15-19) leads the team in points.