The last time Maple Grove played a regular-season game with this much statewide interest, the Maple Grove Community Center was filled to the brim — and then some. Back on Jan. 4, 2012, fans were stacked three deep behind the glass, spectators spilled out of the main bench seating and into the aisles, and kids climbed into the window wells behind the concourse in an effort to get a glimpse of the action between then-unbeatens Duluth East and Maple Grove.
Fans may have been thrilled, but the fire marshal was not pleased. Duluth East was ranked No. 1 and Maple Grove was No. 2. Duluth East won 4-1, and both teams went on to reach the state Class 2A tournament (where they were subsequently stunned in the quarterfinals).
Tuesday’s showdown, arranged after coronavirus-related cancelations left openings in both teams’ schedules, is eerily reminiscent. Maple Grove (15-0-0) enters the tilt with the No. 1 ranking in the Class 2A coaches’ poll from March 3. Lakeville South, meanwhile, is also unbeaten at 13-0-1.
Both teams are loaded with superstars, none more omnipresent than Maple Grove senior and Michigan Tech commit Kyle Kukkonen, the state’s co-scoring leader with 56 points and a certain finalist for this year's Mr. Hockey award.
Lakeville South counters with the tandem of seniors Cade Ahrenholz and Cam Boche. Boche leads the No. 3-2A Cougars with 18 goals among his team-best 37 points. Ahrenholz, a Colorado College commit, has 24 points and provides an intimidating physical presence.