A young Grand Rapids team logged victories over perennial bluebloods Benilde-St. Margaret’s (4-2 on Nov. 23) and Minnetonka (4-3 on Nov. 29) to start the season, launching the Thunderhawks into the state’s collective consciousness. But back-to-back one-goal losses on a Canadian border road trip to Roseau (3-2 on Dec. 6) and Warroad (3-2 the next day) have slowed the Thunderhawks’ bandwagon considerably.
So how good is this Grand Rapids (3-2-0, 0-0-0) team that features five sophomores and individual standouts on defense (Jack Peart) and in goal (Carter Clafton)? Three games in as many nights against top caliber teams should tell the tale.
Edina (2-3-1, 0-0-0) is the Thunderhawks’ first opponent in the Edina Holiday Classic, and the defending Class 2A champion might be the only squad in the state that garners so much respect it sticks among the state’s top 10 despite lugging a losing record. Senior Emmet Wurst and freshman Jimmy Clark are No. 9-2A Edina’s scoring leaders with four goals each.