Blaine at Eden Prairie
7 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 23

Blaine has had an up-and-down start to its season, perhaps not a surprise for a program that lost nearly its entire lineup and coach in the offseason. The No. 11-2A Bengals (5-4-0) have had a quality program for years, and it looks like a new crop of players are leading the way.

Blaine had some tough setbacks, losing by two goals to both a rebuilding Roseau team and to Northwest Suburban Conference foe Anoka. But the Bengals have also proven they can compete with any team, as evidenced by victories over perennial state contenders Moorhead and Centennial. Blaine also handed No. 5-2A Hill-Murray its only loss (4-3 on Dec. 16). Luke Notermann (9-5-14) tallied the Bengals' final two goals and big Riley Tufte (3-7-10) had two assists in the win over the Pioneers.

No. 7-2A Eden Prairie (7-2-0) provides Blaine with its next big test, as the Eagles have only two one-goal losses (to No. 8-2A Benilde-St. Margaret’s and No. 2-2A Edina) in their first nine games. Senior Michael Graham (13-8-21), a Minnesota-Duluth commit, has been better than advertised, while sophomore Casey Mittelstadt (7-8-15) has added a second sniper to the Eagles’ top line.