East Grand Forks has faced a gauntlet of highly ranked foes with pedigrees for winning to open the season which has led to mixed results.
The Green Wave (3-3) dropped their first two games of the season — 5-3 to No. 2-1A Orono on Nov. 24 and 3-2 to No. 9-1A Delano the following day. They responded by winning three straight by a combined score of 15-2, highlighted by a 5-1 victory over No. 6-1A St. Cloud Cathedral on Dec. 2, before falling to No. 4-1A Greenway 5-3 last Saturday.
Coby Stauss has led the No. 5-1A Green Wave's attack, tallying five goals and three assists since the opening losses, including a goal and an assist in the loss to Greenway.
Alexandria tied Little Falls 3-3 in its season opener on Nov. 28 and has since notched three consecutive wins, capped by a 3-2 overtime decision over River Lakes last Thursday.
Sophomore defenseman Matt Carlsen netted the overtime game-winner and has a point in each game this season for the No. 8-1A Cardinals (3-0-1, 1-0-0).
Fellow sophomore blue-liner Andrew Revering has five goals and an assist on the season to match Jack Westlund’s two goals and four assists — both healthy contributions in the absence of last year’s leading scorer Ben Doherty, who had a state-high 44 assists among returning players but has played just one game this season.