If there was a Mount Rushmore of state high school girls’ hockey coaches, the mug of Packers coach Dave Palmquist would be front and center. He is, after all, the last coach standing from when girls’ hockey became a varsity sport 26 years ago. His run at South St. Paul includes four state titles and an 86-game unbeaten streak.
South St. Paul has appeared in 14 state tournaments — the most of any team. The Packers have won 26 tournament games — again, the most of any team.
Though they’ve been regulars in the state tourney since the beginning, the Packers' last title came in 2006 and their most recent appearance was 2015. Those are interminably long droughts for a program with such a storied tradition.
Is South St. Paul (13-4-1, 7-1-1) poised for a return to prime time?
The Packers, ranked No. 4 in the Class 1A coaches’ poll from Jan. 15, have won four straight and have lost just once in their last 12 games — a run that includes two victories over potential Class 1A, Section 4 playoff opponent Mahtomedi (3-2 on Dec. 17 and 4-2 on Jan. 14), and a tie with longtime nemesis St. Paul United (3-3 on Dec. 21).
With just two weeks left in the regular season, South St. Paul’s playoff preparations include making a trip west on Saturday to face No. 5-1A Hutchinson in our Top Games of the Week.
The Tigers (13-4-0, 6-2-0) are coming off a 9-0 rout of Waconia in which Alex Hantge scored four goals and Britta Johnson three. Hantge and Johnson, both seniors, are Hutchinson’s scoring leaders with 18 and 16 goals, respectively. Junior Maddie Seifert has 14.
Defender Lilie Ramirez, a sophomore committed to Minnesota State Mankato, leads the Packers with 28 points (8 goals, 20 assists).