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2008-2009 Preseason Rankings
Courtesy of Let's Play Hockey
11/26/2008

Class AA

1. Edina
2. Hill-Murray
3. Duluth East
4. Centennial
5. Bloomington Jefferson
6. Roseau
7. Minnetonka
8. White Bear Lake
9. Eden Prairie
10. Blaine
11. Moorhead
12. Academy of Holy Angels
13. Benilde-St. Margaret's
14. Hopkins
15. Burnsville
16. Woodbury
17. Cretin-Derham Hall
18. Eastview
19. Wayzata
20. Grand Rapids

2008-2009 Preseason Rankings
Courtesy of Let's Play Hockey
11/26/2008
Class A

1. St. Thomas Academy
2. Duluth Marshall
3. Rochester Lourdes
4. Little Falls
5. St. Cloud Cathedral
6. Breck
7. Warroad
8. Mahtomedi
9. International Falls
10. Totino-Grace
11. South St. Paul
12. Alexandria
13. Orono
14. Duluth Denfeld
15. New Prague
16. Blake
17. Red Wing
18. Hibbing
19. Rogers
20. Bemidji

Grand Rapids @ Duluth Denfeld
Mars Lakeview Arena, Duluth, MN-7:30 p.m. (or following Duluth Marshall vs. Cretin-Derham Hall)
2/12/2008

Game Preview:
The Grand Rapids Thunderhawks will head to Mars Lakeview Arena to take on the Duluth Denfeld Hunters. Both teams will be playing in their second to last game of the season. Grand Rapids will play @ Roseau on Friday and Duluth Denfeld will be at Greenway on Saturday. Grand Rapids comes into the final week of the season with a 12-9-1 record and Duluth Denfeld comes in at 14-9. The Thunderhawks will be looking for junior defenseman Sam Rendle to quarterback the blue line the rest of the way. Rendle has just 4 goals on the year, but he has 20 assists to total 24 points. Rendle's 24 points is tied for first among section 7AA defenseman. Senior forward Robb Roy leads the team with 32 points on the season. Roy's 32 points is tied for 7th overall in section 7AA. Tony Palkki leads the team with 11 goals on the season. A.J. Underwood has posted a 5-8 record with a 2.68 GAA and a 90.7 save %. Jake Johnson, senior forward for Duluth Denfeld, leads section 5A in points with 24 goals and 40 assists for 64 points. Chris Stafne (Sr.) is amongst the state leaders in goals with 36. Stafne has added 23 assists for 59 points this year. Ben Skurich and Glen Olcott have split time in goal for the Hunters. The Thunderhawks and Hunters will take the ice immediately following Duluth Marshall and Cretin-Derham Hall. Their game is scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m.  

Last meeting: Grand Rapids 3, Duluth Denfeld 3 F/OT (February 13th, 2007) Matt Alstad and Chris Stafne scored just 18 seconds apart in the first minute of the second period and the two teams were tied at one after two periods of play. Chris Stafne and Josh Wentz put the Hunters up 3-1 early in the third period. Robby Roy scored twice in the final seven minutes to send the game to overtime. Grand Rapids outshot Duluth Denfeld 51-29 in the tie.

Notes: Sophomore forward John Skrbec has four goals in the last two games for Grand Rapids. Section 7AA seedings will be released tomorrow night. This game could play a factor because Duluth East and Cloquet have already played each other this year.

Special Teams: Grand Rapids is 23/111 (20.72%) on the power play this season. The penalty kill is 83/99 (83.84%) and Grand Rapids has scored three short handed goals this year. 

Line Score: Goals (top), Shots (bottom)

Box Score:

1st Period-No scoring.

2nd Period-1. GR, Sam Rendle (Jack Moore, Grant Prokop) 9:00; 2. DD, Cody Hotchkin (Andrew Doig) (PP) 13:51

3rd Period-3. GR, Shane Greniger (Kyle Kleinendorst) 5:46; 4. GR, Sam Sparen (Sam Rendle, Trevor Tabaka) 15:14

Saves-Trevor Tabaka (GR) 27, Brad Skurich (DD) 22

Three Stars:
3. Shane Greniger (GR)
2. Sam Rendle (GR)
1. Trevor Tabaka (GR)

Game Summary:
Official start time: 8:00 p.m.
Official end time: 10:00 p.m.
Official game time: 2 hours

Grand Rapids and Duluth Denfeld took to the ice without two of their more well known players on Tuesday. Duluth Denfeld was without the Northland's leading scorer, Jake Johnson. Johnson was out of the game with a shoulder injury. Grand Rapids was without veteran defenseman Corey Kosak. Kosak is likely out for the season with a knee injury. The Thunderhawks and Hunters skated to a scoreless first period, shots were 9-5 in favor of Grand Rapids. Sam Rendle put Grand Rapids on the scoreboard first exactly nine minutes into the second period. Rendle ripped one through traffic and into the goal for his fifth of the season. Jack Moore and Grant Prokop would eventually be credited with assists. Cody Hotchkin tied the game at one late in the second period with the lone power play goal of the game. Shane Greniger scored the game winning goal for Grand Rapids just under six minutes into the third period. Greniger streaked into the Hunter's zone after take a pass from Kyle Kleinendorst. Greniger rifled a shot five-hole and it trickled in for the goal. Sam Sparen added the Thunderhawks 4th shorthanded goal of the season late in the third. Sam Rendle and goalie Trevor Tabaka assisted the goal. Each team had five power play chances in the game. The Hunters scored once on the power play and Grand Rapids scored once short handed. Shots were even at 25 in the game.

Photos are now up: Page One : Page Two

Photo of the game:

Courtesy of Shannon Merritt

News:                          The Princeton Tigers have been moved by the MSHSL into Section 7AA.  PrepHockeyNorth.com provides section wide coverage throughout the season.         

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