Quantcast
skip navigation

Two goals from Kukkonen helps Maple Grove to defeat of Andover

By Heather Rule, SportsEngine, 03/04/21, 5:45PM CST

Share

Kyle Kukkonen, the state's No. 2 points producer with 55 of them this year, powered the Crimson past the rival Huskies.

Maple Grove's Kyle Kukkonen (9) scored two goals in a 3-2 defeat of Andover on Thursday night in Andover, helping the Crimson remain undefeated this season. Photo by Earl J. Ebensteiner, SportsEngine

Maple Grove's Kyle Kukkonen (9) scored two goals in a 3-2 defeat of Andover on Thursday night in Andover, helping the Crimson remain undefeated this season. Photo by Earl J. Ebensteiner, SportsEngine

The last time Kyle Kukkonen stepped on the ice at Andover Arena, he left with a season-ending leg injury in December 2019. Now recovered and leading the way for Maple Grove, Kukkonen made what he called an emotional return to the same rink Thursday night.

“You don’t forget something like that,” Kukkonen said. “So that’s something I’ll always remember. It was a lot of motivation coming into this one, and it felt good to pop a few in early.”

Not only did Kukkonen, a senior center who is the state leader in assists (32) and is second in points (55), return to the rink where he broke his leg, but he scored two first-period goals to help Maple Grove beat Andover 3-2 to remain undefeated. The Crimson, ranked No. 1 in the Class 2A coaches’ poll, improved to 14-0-0 with the victory over their Northwest Suburban Conference foe.

Already up 1-0 in the first thanks to Kukkonen, he found the net again 13 seconds into the game’s first power play when a rebound sailed perfectly to his tape in the circle. He didn’t miss his mark for his 23rd goal of the season, which he celebrated by going to one knee and pumping his arm.

With the game hanging over his head for more than a year, Kukkonen was mentally prepared for it, according to Maple Grove coach Todd Bergland.

“He is stronger now than he ever has been,” Bergland said, adding that Kukkonen is relentless.

For Kukkonen, who’s committed to Michigan Tech, the improvement in his game comes with getting better from time in the gym and at the rink. It doesn’t have to do with him getting injured, he said.

Kukkonen had six goals and 18 points in only seven games last season before his injury. 

Oddly, the game against No. 6-2A Andover was the first matchup this season where Kukkonen didn’t record a helper. But scoring two goals is a good reason for that.

He’s scored a pair of goals in each of his last three games, has recorded at least two points in every game this season and leads the team with four power-play goals. His 23 goals are tied for fifth-most in the state.

“If you work hard, it’s going to show on the ice,” Kukkonen said.

Maple Grove goalie Jack Wieneke deflects a second-period shot taken by Andover's Gavyn Thoreson on Thursday night. The Crimson beat Andover 3-2, dealing the Huskies just their second loss of the season. Photo by Earl J. Ebensteiner SportsEngine

Maple Grove goalie Jack Wieneke deflects a second-period shot taken by Andover's Gavyn Thoreson on Thursday night. The Crimson beat Andover 3-2, dealing the Huskies just their second loss of the season. Photo by Earl J. Ebensteiner SportsEngine

First Report

Maple Grove kept its undefeated season going with a 3-2 win over Northwest Suburban Conference foe Andover on Thursday at Andover Arena.

Senior center Kyle Kukkonen scored a pair of goals in the first period to give Maple Grove (14-0-0) a 2-0 lead. The state’s leader in assists (32) who is second in points (55), Kukkonen has recorded at least two points in every game this season and he’s scored two goals in each of his last three games.

The Huskies, ranked No. 6 in the Class 2A coaches’ poll, responded with a pair of goals 25 seconds apart in the final 1 minute, 10 seconds of the first period to tie the game 2-2, but No. 1-2A Maple Grove regained the lead for good 52 seconds into the second period on a goal from junior Bennett Glad.

Andover’s goals came from Weston Knox and Gavyn Thoreson, the team’s No. 2 points producer this winter behind Garrett Schifsky (41 points) with nine goals and 29 assists. Schifsky recorded an assist on Thoreson’s tally.

Senior goaltender Jack Wieneke stopped 33 shots for Maple Grove while Andover senior goalie Will Larson made 37 saves.

The only losses for Andover (13-2-0) this season have come against Maple Grove. The Crimson won the first meeting 5-1 on Feb. 4.

The Huskies’ Garrett Schifsky looks to take a shot and tie the game late in the third period. The Huskies lost to the Crimson 3-2 at home. Photo by Earl J. Ebensteiner, SportsEngine

The Huskies’ Garrett Schifsky looks to take a shot and tie the game late in the third period. The Huskies lost to the Crimson 3-2 at home. Photo by Earl J. Ebensteiner, SportsEngine

The MN Hockey Hub poll is for entertainment purposes only.

Hockey Hub Headlines

  • Five reasons Edina became a state champion

  • By DAVID LA VAQUE, Star Tribune 03/11/2024, 9:30am CDT
  • The 14th state championship for Edina/Edina East featured, of course, a hot goalie, but it also came with a list of intangible reasons for success.
  • Read More

Feed for https://www.startribune.com/sports/index.rss2