Presley Norby barely made it to Minnesota in time for Minnetonka’s Saturday night showdown with Lake Conference rival Eden Prairie. 

A member of the U.S. Women’s National Under-18 Team, Norby won the gold medal on Friday in the 2016 International Ice Hockey Federation Under-18 World Championship in Ontario, Canada. She got on a plane to Minnesota on Saturday, came straight to the ice rink from the airport and made it before the puck dropped in the first period.

And boy, are the Skippers glad she did. 

Norby scored three goals to lead Minnetonka to a 3-2 victory over Eden Prairie at Pagel Activity Center in Minnetonka.

Norby’s efforts moved the Skippers, ranked No. 2 in the Class 2A coaches' poll, in first place in the Lake Conference standings with a 4-1-1 record while the No. 5-2A Eagles (14-5-2) are a half-game behind with a 4-2 record. The teams wrapped up their regular-season series on Saturday but have two conference games remaining. 

After staying up until 3 a.m. Saturday morning and coming back to score three goals in a game, Norby said she would sleep well tonight. 

“I am almost falling asleep right now,” she said postgame. 

The Minnetonka offense seemed as if it was asleep in the first period, mustering only five shots on net while not pressuring Eden Prairie goaltender Alexa Dobchuk. 

The Eagles offense, however, was wide-awake and wasted little time in attacking Minnetonka goaltender Tatyana Delaittre. Eden Prairie scored on its first shot, which came less than 30 seconds into the first period, as junior forward Naomi Rogge notched her 14th goal of the season. A goal from eighth-grade forward Sydney Langseth extended the lead to 2-0 with 14:09 left in the first. 

“They came out and outplayed us and outworked us,” Minnetonka coach Eric Johnson said. “They were moving the puck quickly, were forechecking hard, and their puck control as a team was solid.” 

Then Norby woke up the Skippers. 

She scored two goals in the second period, giving Minnetonka the momentum it carried through the rest of the game. 

“She brings energy and has energy that inspires her team like Zach Parise inspires the Wild,” Johnson said. 

Eden Prairie coach Jaime Grossman said limiting Norby's chances requires a defense to make her shoot from outside, where she can become impatient and start taking shots from “all over the place.” 

The only problem: the Eagles’ defense gave Norby the middle. 

“If you give a player like that the middle, she makes you pay,” Grossman said. “We are lucky she didn’t get five or six today.” 

She only scored three, but it was enough for the Skippers to get the victory. 

Although playing two big hockey games in two different countries in two days may seem as if it would be exhausting to some, Norby wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I am really blessed to wear the U.S.A. jersey and the Minnetonka jersey,” Norby said. “Both of those teams are unbelievable and super close to my heart. I love working hard, and I love hockey, so having great wins are really exciting.”

The Eagle's players Kelly Wolfe (11), Becca Kniss (2), and Sydney Langseth (29) celebrate one of 2 goals scored against the Skippers. Also in the photo is the Skippers goaltender Taty Delaittre (35) and Sarah McDonell (21). Photo by Chris Juhn

The Eagle's players Kelly Wolfe (11), Becca Kniss (2), and Sydney Langseth (29) celebrate one of 2 goals scored against the Skippers. Also in the photo is the Skippers goaltender Taty Delaittre (35) and Sarah McDonell (21). Photo by Chris Juhn

First Report

Presley Norby scored three goals to lead Minnetonka to a 3-2 victory over Eden Prairie in a Lake Conference matchup Saturday at Pagel Activity Center in Minnetonka.

With the victory, the Skippers (16-2-2, 4-1-1), ranked No. 2 in the Class 2A coaches' poll, not only moved into first place in the conference standings but also recorded a sweep of the No. 5-2A Eagles (14-6-2, 4-2-0) in the regular season. Minnetonka defeated Eden Prairie 2-1 in a league game on Dec. 15 and also 5-3 in the Eden Prairie Mid-Winter Meltdown semifinals on Dec. 29.

Before Norby became an offensive catalyst in the second and third periods, the Eagles dominated play early in the game. They wasted little time in pressuring Skippers goaltender Tatyana Delaittre, scoring on their first shot less than 30 seconds into the first period as junior forward Naomi Rogge notched her 14th goal of the season. 

Eden Prairie continued to pepper Delaittre with shots, and when eighth-grade forward Sydney Langseth scored with 14:09 left in the first, the Eagles' lead grew to 2-0. 

Norby, who just returned from winning a gold medal on Friday playing with the U.S. Women's Under-18 Team in the 2016 International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship in Canada, couldn’t get the Minnetonka offense going. She was held without a strong scoring chance as the Skippers were limited to five shots in the first.

Eden Prairie, however, couldn’t stop Norby for long. She scored twice in the second period.

Her first came as she fell down, and she scored the second off a rebound to record her 21st goal of the season and send the game to the third tied 2-2.

Norby wasn't done though. After receiving the pass from Caelyn Sauerer, Norby tallied her third goal, which gave Minnetonka its first lead and proved to be the game-winner.

Eden Prairie goaltender Alexa Dobchuk finished with 22 saves while Delaittre finished with 29. 

The Eagle's Sydney Henrich (10), Sammie Morton (14), Lauren Oberle (28), and goaltender Alexa Dobchuk (30) defend they're goal against the Skippers Taylor Johnson (4) and Lauren Klein (11). Photo by Chris Juhn

The Eagle's Sydney Henrich (10), Sammie Morton (14), Lauren Oberle (28), and goaltender Alexa Dobchuk (30) defend they're goal against the Skippers Taylor Johnson (4) and Lauren Klein (11). Photo by Chris Juhn

Spotlight Game Coverage