The fight for positioning in Class 1A, Section 8 begins early as No. 8-1A Warroad meets No. 7-1A Thief River Falls on Thursday.
Grant Slukynsky leads the Warriors (3-3, 1-1) with six goals and five assists (11 points) while teammate Owen Meeker has also impressed, with four goals and five assists.
Goalie Max Gausen has a 4.37 goals-against average and .849 save percentage in five starts for Warroad.
Thief River Falls (3-3-1, 0-0-1), the defending section champion, is coming off a 3-2 overtime loss to No. 2-1A St. Cloud Cathedral.
The Prowlers are led by Grant Hartmann (2-4-6), Brockston Masseth (2-4-6) and Tucker Skime (2-3-5). Goaltenders Josh Berzinski and Noah Rupprecht each has a goals-against average below 2.01.
The teams split two regular-season meetings last year, each winning at home.