The new year has ushered in a new era of hockey at Blake as the prep school opted up to Class 2A this season. The girls team’s move sparked more conversation than the boys, but that hasn’t kept them from making waves.
The Bears beat Class 2A, Section 6 foe Wayzata, ranked No. 10 in the Class 2A coaches’ poll, 6-3 on Dec. 22, proving they can compete with the best in the big-school class. Blake also played No. 9-2A Cretin-Derham Hall close, falling 5-2 on Dec. 12 after the Raiders buried an empty-net goal in the final minute.
Blake has been overshadowed by a Breck program that made seven consecutive trips out of Class 1A, Section 2 before missing last year’s state tournament. The No. 7-1A Mustangs have won 16 straight games since 2011 -- the last time the Bears won a share of the Independent Metro Athletic Conference title. Blake will be eager to end the streak on home ice in one of the metro’s best prep school rivalries. Add in gaining a jump in the league standings and Tuesday’s game has all the fixings as our featured Top Game of the Week.
Joe Miller leads the Bears (5-3, 1-0) with four goals and nine assists on the season. Blake also beat No. 5-1A Orono 3-2 on Dec. 16 as a piece of its first winning streak the Bears carry into 2018. The Bears had a full week of practice in preparing for the latter half of the season.
Breck's 3-6 record reflects a down-year for the Mustangs, but Nick Strom has been a game-changer on defense with his team's co-leading 14 points off five goals and nine assists. Four of his goals have been on the power play this season.