Grand Rapids at Hermantown
7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 10


Grand Rapids visits Hermantown in a showdown between elite northland squads. The game should feature plenty of individual talent on outstanding teams that are well-coached and charging hard into mid-January.

The No. 3-2A Thunderhawks (10-2-1) face a crucial stretch on the road, first at Hermantown on Tuesday and then a trip to Duluth East on Thursday.

Grand Rapids is outscoring the opposition by more than two goals per game (4.77 goals for to 2.08 goals against) behind the play of Micah Miller (13-22-35), Blake McLaughlin (12-20-32) and Gavin Hain (12-17-29), who each have at least a dozen goals for the season. 

The No. 1-1A Hawks have played perhaps the best 10-day stretch of hockey the state has seen thus far, with giant wins over Bemidji (4-0), Delano (4-3), Duluth Marshall (3-1), Greenway (11-2) and St. Cloud Cathedral (7-1). 

Hermantown (10-1-1, 1-0) is averaging four more goals than it allows (5.33 to 1.33). Senior forward Ryan Sandelin (15-11-26) continues to lead the Hawks in scoring, and senior goaltender Cade McEwen boasts a 10-1-1 record with a .935 save percentage and a 1.34 goals-against average.