VETERAN TIGERS READY FOR DELAYED SEASON

By Pat Rupp

It has been a long time coming, but the start of the COVID19-delayed 2020-21 Farmington girls’ hockey season is within sight.

The 2020 portion of the campaign was totally wiped out by the pandemic but coach Jon Holmes and his veteran squad are excited to hit the ice this Saturday night for the season opener at Prior Lake.

Last year the Tigers finished 18-12 overall and ranked third in the South Suburban Conference behind Apple Valley and Lakeville South. They came on strong toward the end of the season to claim Section 1AA honors and played two competitive games in the state tourney.

Izzy Zwart and Grace Auge graduated last spring and Claire Enright transferred out of the district, but no less than eight seniors appear on this year’s roster with most bringing a wealth of varsity experience.

Defenders Brenna Fuhrman, Jayden Seifert and Liv Helleson anchor a solid blue line unit and forwards Carly Lancaster Sadie Long, Sam Moehle and Kiersten Wood provide proven scoring.

Ryleigh Furlong is in her third season in the Farmington goal and according to Holmes has worked hard on her game over the off-season.

“Our defensive core is very talented,” Holmes said. “They not only play good defense but are well versed in offensive production, too…Sam (Moehle), Sadie (Long) and Carly (Lancaster) were our top three scorers last year.”

Sisters Madison and Kenna Kadrlik and Abby Gehrke, all sophomores, gained valuable experience last season and are expected to be contributors again this winter. Eighth grader Kennedy Meier is coming off a big season with the Farmington PeeWee AA boys’ team and along with newcomers Olivia Andrews. Morgan Mitchell, Elly Palodichuk and Laura McGregor could push the upperclassmen for playing time.

Another returnee, junior forward Ava Johnson is currently out as she recovers from a knee injury suffered playing soccer last summer.

Not surprisingly, one of the biggest question marks facing the Tigers and their upcoming season is COVID-19 which caused some scheduling snafus during the abbreviated fall sports season.

“Normally we play a tough early non-conference schedule to see how we stack up with teams from around the state,” Holmes said. “But this year we will only play South Suburban competition.

“Fortunately, the conference has a lot of good teams top to bottom. We will need to make sure we come to play every night and put ourselves in a position to defend our section title and get a crack at making some noise in the state tournament.”

Holmes, who has compiled an impressive 205-138-18 record in his long tenure behind the Tiger bench, said his team, Lakeville South and Eastview would probably be the pre-season picks to make a run at the South Suburban title but with all that is going on this season, anything is possible.

“Burnsville brings back a talented squad, and Apple Valley is the defending champion. Rosemount is building and Shakopee is a perennial contender. I think it’s wide-open.”

Farmington, Lakeville South, Northfield and Dodge County figure to be the top contenders for Section 1AA honors.

Holmes returns a veteran crew of assistant coaches, led by Jason Kohlbeck, Steve Sabetti, Jared Rowan and Steve Mechelke along with one new addition, goalie coach Alyssa Grogan.

“Alyssa was Eagan’s goaltender when we faced them in the state tournament in 2008,” Holmes said. “She played for the University of Minnesota when they were national champions. We are excited to have her come and work for us.”