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Class 1A field wide-open with Blake opting up

By DAVID LA VAQUE, Star Tribune, 02/20/18, 10:03PM CST

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Teams from Minnesota’s different regions bring different strengths to the Class 1A tournament.


Warroad's Madison Oelkers, game vs, Lakeville North Girls' Hockey at Ames Arena, Lakeville on November 17, 2017. Photo by Jeff Lawler, SportsEngine

Optimism abounds in Class 1A, a field no longer featuring powerhouse Blake. The seven-time champion Bears opted up to play among the larger schools by enrollment in Class 2A, creating excitement for a fresh outcome.

“What I like about it is, it’s almost like it’s a wide-open field,” St. Paul United coach Nate Mauer said. “It’s all over the map.”

Teams from Minnesota’s different regions bring different strengths.

No. 1 seed Warroad boasts an explosive top line of Madison Oelkers (42 goals, 28 assists), Genevieve Hendrickson (14-53) and Abbey Hardwick (11-25) backed by Hannah Corneliusen (38-17) on the second line.

No. 2 seed Breck went 16-10-1 but no Class 1A team played a tougher schedule. Eight of the Mustangs’ losses came against top-10 teams in Class 2A.

Red Wing, the No. 3 seed, boasts Class 1A’s top player in forward Taylor Heise. The Ms. Hockey finalist tallied 13 hat tricks among her 67 goals and topped 200 goals for her stellar career.

No. 4 seed Alexandria received at least 10 points from eight of its skaters.

Mauer said his No. 5 seed St. Paul United team, tournament runner-up the past two seasons, brings “experience and a second line with a ton of speed.”

David La Vaque

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