Unlike Warroad and Roseau, these northern neighbors and fierce rivals don’t have sparkling win-loss records. But don’t let their combined 9-12 record fool you — both these teams have the talent to reach the Xcel Energy Center in March.
Grand Rapids (5-5-0, 0-0-0) is led by one of the state’s best goaltenders in Carter Clafton, a senior who excelled in the Upper Midwest High School Elite League last fall and has a 2.65 goals against average this winter. Thunderhawks junior defenseman Jack Peart, a St. Cloud State commit with five goals and three assists, also ranks among the best in the state at his position.
Elusive center Ben Troumbly and towering defenseman Christian Miller, both seniors and St. Cloud State commits, have been Greenway (4-7-0, 3-0-0) stalwarts since they were sophomores. Troumbly leads the Raiders with 17 points, including a team-best eight goals, while Miller has two goals and five assists.