When you score nine goals in the first period, it’s hard not to get noticed.

That’s what the Minneapolis Novas hockey team did Tuesday night, en route to a lopsided 15-1 victory over St. Paul Highland Park.

The Novas (12-1-3) are off to a great start in their first season since the Minneapolis East and West boys’ hockey teams were merged into one. The merger meant that all seven Minneapolis city high schools would compete together in the new hockey program.

Under the direction of new coach Shawn Reid, the Novas are trying to bring enthusiasm and passion for hockey back to the largest city in the "State of Hockey." Reid has served as an assistant coach at Gustavus for both men’s and women’s hockey and most recently was the head coach at St. Mark’s, a boarding school in Southborough, Mass.

The team’s only loss this year was a 2-1 overtime defeat at the hands of Robbinsdale Cooper. Senior forward Jack Kelly (24 points) leads the squad, which averages just under seven goals per game. Next up for Minneapolis is a showdown on Saturday with the WSFLG Blizzard (13-2-1), a Two Rivers foe tied with the Novas for second place in the conference standings.