Walleyes, windows and wondrous hockey talent. Warroad produces all three by the boat/truck/Zamboni load.
And just when you think the superstar well might run dry in self-titled Hockeytown USA, out comes a player the caliber of senior Hannah Corneliusen, a forward whose scoring exploits seemingly have no limits. The senior has 11 goals and 18 points this year, placing her among the state leaders in both categories. Corneliusen has eclipsed the 100-goal plateau for her career (she’s at 103) and is slowly inching her way up the state’s all-time charts in career goals and points (lists that include the likes of Warroad’s Lisa and Gigi Marvin).
Corneliusen, who has committed to play at Merrimack, helped lead Warroad to a runner-up finish in the Class 1A state tournament last March. The Warriors (3-1-1, 0-0-0) sit atop the Class 1A coaches’ poll from Nov. 20 and welcome No. 6-2A Wayzata to Gardens Arena on Saturday in our Top Game of the Week.
Corneliusen has a capable sidekick in Genevieve "Geno" Hendrickson, a junior forward who has committed to Franklin Pierce. Hendrickson has two goals and nine assists.
Warroad rebounded from a 9-4 loss to No. 4-2A Minnetonka on Nov. 16 by crushing No. 8-1A East Grand Forks 9-2 three days later. The Warriors then tied Chaska/Chanhassen 3-3 on Nov. 23.
Wayzata (4-1-0, 0-0-0) is coming off a week of rest after taking down Benilde-St. Margaret’s 5-4 in an overtime thriller last Tuesday. Junior Gretchen Branton, a Clarkson commit, scored the winner — her fourth goal of the game and ninth of the season. Branton ranks among the state leaders with 12 points, the same total as teammate Sophie Urban, a senior forward who has committed to Quinnipiac.