Lakeville North’s Henry Enebak is something of a connoisseur when it comes to Minnesota high school hockey history.

Although just a sophomore, Enebak has a deep appreciation for the playoffs and, of course, a state tournament that is widely considered among the biggest and best in the nation.

“My favorite playoff moment of all time is Kyle Rau against Duluth East,” Enebak said about the former Eden Prairie star’s diving, triple-overtime goal that secured a state Class 2A title for the Eagles in 2011. “That was awesome.”

Enebak, a standout at the state tournament last year, scored three goals on Thursday to lead No. 1-ranked and undefeated Lakeville North to a 6-1 victory over Farmington in the Class 2A, Section 1 championship game in front of a near-capacity crowd of about 4,000 at the Rochester Rec Center. 

“Playing hockey in Minnesota, playoff time is the best,” said Enebak, who scored twice in the third period and has 21 goals this season. “There’s nothing like it. This is the best sport in the state.”

After hoisting the section championship trophy for the second straight year, the Panthers talked a lot about their unblemished record (the head into the state tournament unbeaten in 28 games) effectively serving as a target for upset-minded foes. It will be more of the same next week. Three more victories and Lakeville North would be the first big-school champion since the 1992-93 Bloomington Jefferson squad to finish a season unbeaten. 

“I think if you asked our kids they would have no idea, to be honest with you,” Lakeville coach Trent Eigner said, perhaps figuring even Enebak’s historical database doesn’t stretch back to Jefferson’s dominant run of three state titles in the 1990s.

Lakeville North, which beat Farmington 6-0 in last year’s section title game, led 3-0 after the first period and, other than a momentum swing when Justin Novak scored 30 seconds into the second period, seemingly had a tight grip on the outcome.

The Panthers won their three section playoff games by a combined score of 30-1. They have been ranked No. 1 in the state since beating two-time defending state champion Edina 3-1 in their second game of the season. The Hornets, who crushed Burnsville 10-1 in the Class 2A, Section 2 title game on Wednesday, loom as a possible championship game opponent if the two teams should make it that far. Edina beat Lakeville North 8-2 in last year’s title game.

“We take it one game at a time,” said senior Nick Poehling, who opened the scoring for the Panthers, “But obviously (a rematch with Edina) is in the back of our heads. We would love that. 

“We know that if we keep this up it could be possible.”

Who knows, maybe it will be Enebak who scores the winning goal in dramatic fashion. Just like Rau did back in 2011.

“I can only hope so,” Enebak said with a smile.


Lakeville North sophomore Henry Enebak celebrates after scoring one of his three goals on Thursday. Photo by Mark Hvidsten

First Report

Sophomore Henry Enebak scored three goals, senior Jack Poehling had two and senior Ryan Edquist stopped 13 of 14 shots to lead unbeaten, No. 1-ranked and top-seeded Lakeville North to a 6-1 victory over Farmington on Thursday night in the Class 2A, Section 1 championship at the Rochester Rec Center.

Enebak, a second-line wing who was outstanding at the state tournament last year as a freshman, scored two of his goals in the third period as the Panthers (28-0-0) pulled away from the No. 3-seeded Tigers (19-8-1). Enebak has 21 goals this season, including five in the playoffs.

Senior Nick Poehling, Enebak and Jack Poehling all scored on laser shots from the high slot as Lakeville North surged to a 3-0 lead after the first period.

Farmington, which took Lakeville North to overtime before losing early in the season, got a goal from Justin Novak just 30 seconds into the second period and carried the play for the next several minutes.

But the Panthers, who entered the game having defeated their previous three opponents by a combined score of 33-0, regained control on a goal by Jack Poehling late in the second.

Senior Gage Overby made 24 saves for Farmington, which lost 6-0 to Lakeville North in last year’s section final.

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