Red Wing at Blake
7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 24

Blake coach Shawn Reid and Red Wing coach Scott Haley played hockey together in high school at Lakeville, and each has developed his respective program into a state power.

The No. 9-1A Wingers and No. 1-1A Bears have plenty of familiarity with each other after meeting in the regular season and the Class 1A state tournament semifinals each of the past three years.

Red Wing has yet to beat Blake in the series, and the closest it came was a 5-4 double-overtime loss in the Class 1A state tournament semifinals two years ago.

The Bears have continued to show the makeup of a state title contender this season with a 4-1-1 start. Their only loss came against No. 1-2A Hill-Murray in a 3-1 game on Nov. 10.

Blake played No. 5-2A Eden Prairie to a 1-1 tie on Nov. 20 as it continues to play a rugged early season schedule.

Bears senior Carly Bullock posted back-to-back hat tricks in 5-1 victories over Lakeville North and Chaska/Chanhassen. She leads the team with eight goals in five games and Sylvie Wallin has four goals and four assists.

The Bears routed South St. Paul 10-0 on Nov. 21 with Bullock scoring three goals and assisting on two others. Lucy Burton also had a hat trick in the win.

Sophomore goalie Anna Kruesel has a  2-1-1 record with a 1.68 goals-against average and a .923 save percentage.

The Wingers return a potent offense despite graduating Reagan Haley. Sophomore Taylor Heise (5-6-11) and senior Maddy Hardyman (6-4-10) return from the Red Wing's top line last season.

The Wingers are off to a 1-3-1 start with losses to Hopkins (5-3), No. 14-2A Dodge County (4-2) and No. 4-1A St. Paul United (5-2). Red Wing settled for a 4-4 tie against No. 10-1A New Prague on Nov. 19.

Wingers freshman Tyler McGrath, who faced 40 shots against St. Paul United and 49 against New Prague, has a 3.12 goals-against average and a .904 save percentage.