Mahtomedi, ranked No. 3 in the Class 1A state coaches' poll, hosts a St. Thomas Academy team that's been ranked much of the year but has fallen out recently and is looking to get back in. Photo by Mark Hvidsten, SportsEngine
We task our reporters with identifying several intriguing games throughout the state to assemble our Top Games of the Week. The matchups are presented in no particular order, and when there are additional games we want to highlight, we’ll include them with brief notes.
Minnetonka vs. Duluth East, Saturday, Jan. 5, 3 p.m. It’s a rematch of the 2018 Class 2A title game, which Minnetonka won 5-2. However, No. 4-2A Duluth East (7-2-1) won the regular-season matchup 4-2 last season in Minnetonka. This season, the unbeaten No. 1-2A Skippers (12-0) have just one game that was decided by less than three goals.
Elk River/Zimmerman vs. Andover, Thursday, Jan. 3, 7:30 p.m. Elk River/Zimmerman (5-7-0, 2-1-0) scored twice late in a 3-2 loss on Dec. 18 at Andover. This rematch against No. 3-2A Andover (9-0-1, 3-0-1) is poised to be key as the Northwest Suburban Conference standings start to take shape.
Chisago Lakes vs. North Branch, Saturday, Jan. 5, 7 p.m. Both teams are off to good starts in what looks to be a strong Mississippi 8 Conference. Chisago Lakes’ Thomas Overgaard is tied for 16th in the state in points (24) for the Wildcats (8-5-0, 1-2-0). North Branch (9-2-1, 2-2-0), meanwhile, is one of four teams in the conference with at least seven wins.
The MN Hockey Hub poll is for entertainment purposes only.
Tag(s): Home MSHSL Conferences Big Nine Rochester Century/JM Rochester Mayo Big South Minnesota River Marshall Granite Ridge St. Cloud Cathedral Independents Duluth East Lake Minnetonka Lake Superior Hermantown Metro East Mahtomedi St. Thomas Academy Mississippi 8 Cambridge-Isanti Chisago Lakes Northwest Suburban Northwest Suburban - North Andover Elk River/Zimmerman South Suburban Eagan Lakeville South