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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/Greenway vs. Centennial
Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, MN-8:00 p.m.
2/21/2007

Game Preview:
The Grand Rapids/Greenway Lightning will take to the ice at the Xcel Energy Center for the second straight year. The Lightning will face the Centennial Cougars in the last quarterfinal game on Thursday. The Lightning made the trip to the Xcel Energy Center last season by beating Cloquet in overtime after beating Cambridge and St. Francis. The Lightning were stymied by Benilde-St. Margaret's in last year's quarterfinals, 2-0. The next day the Lightning saw their season come to an end when Burnsville stole one in double overtime at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis. Centennial hasn't been to state since 2005. They lost their first game, but were still able to advance to the consolation final. The Lightning will look to Emily Erickson, Dana Gallop, and Molly Arola to carry the offensive load. Erickson has tallied 42 goals and has added 31 assists for 73 points. Dana Gallop has 20 goals and 30 assists for 50 points and Molly Arola has 24 goals and 22 assists for 46 points. Centennial has four players with 12 goals to lead the way. The Lightning have not allowed more than one goal in a playoff game this year. They outscored opponents 16-3 in route to their section 7AA title. Centennial has outscored opponents 87-34 this year. The winner of Grand Rapids/Greenway and Centennial will play the winner of Eagan and Farmington (6:00 p.m. Thursday). In the top bracket, Benilde-St. Margaret's will face off with Cretin-Derham Hall (11:00 a.m. Thursday) and Eden Prairie will play against Elk River (1:00 p.m. Thursday). The Lightning have beaten Benilde-St. Margaret's and Cretin-Derham Hall this year. Grand Rapids/Greenway is 23-3-2 on the year and Centennial is 23-4.

Last meeting: Centennial 4, Grand Rapids/Greenway 3 (12/29/2006-Centennial Holiday Tournament)

Notes: The Grand Rapids/Greenway Lightning are making their second trip to the state tournament. The Lightning have outscored opponents 129-54 this season.

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

Box Score:

1st Period-No scoring.

2nd Period-No scoring.

3rd Period-1. C, Sarah Armstrong (Kiley Gibbons) 4:44; 2. GRG, Morgan Illikainen 12:01

Overtime-3. GRG, Molly Arola (Dana Gallop, Kayla Clafton) (PP) 2:22

Saves-Jessica Havel (GRG) 13, Cassi Carpenter (C) 31

Three Stars:
3. Cassi Carpenter (C)
2. Morgan Illikainen (GRG)
1. Molly Arola (GRG)

Game Summary:
Official start time: 8:15 p.m.
Official end time: 10:12 p.m. 
Official game time: 1 hour and 57 minutes

The Grand Rapids/Greenway Lightning came out flying at the Xcel Energy Center on Thursday night. The Lightning outshot Section 5AA champion, Centennial, 13-2 in the first period. Cassi Carpenter (Sr.) was able to keep the game scoreless as she made several fantastic saves. In the first period, the Lightning suffered their biggest loss of the year when 8th grade forward Molly Illikainen went down. She ended up breaking both her collar bone and her fibula in the collision with a Centennial forward. The injury leaves the Lightning without her 14 goals and 17 assists on the season. The second period was much more evenly played, but there were still no goals scored in the period. The Lightning outshot the Cougars 7-6 in the second frame. Both Jessica Havel and Cassi Carpenter made big saves in the period. Centennial struck first at 4:44 of the third period when Sarah Armstrong scored on a shot from a shallow angle. The senior forward's goal was assisted by junior forward Kiley Gibbons. Morgan Illikainen was able to tie the game with just 4:59 remaining in the third period. Morgan picked the puck off in the neutral zone and made a couple of nice moves to get herself in position to tie the game. She eventually would beat Cassi Carpenter with a shot high to the short side. The goal was Morgan Illikainen's fifth of the year and her third of the postseason. The goal was the first goal the Lightning ever scored at the Xcel Energy Center. It snapped a 97:01 scoring drought at the Xcel Energy Center for the Lightning. That would be the last goal of regulation play. At the end of three full period, Grand Rapids/Greenway had a 29-14 shot advantage over Centennial. The teams entered overtime in a brief four on four situation followed by a brief Centennial power play. The Lightning killed the penalty for the fifth time in the game. Grand Rapids/Greenway went right back on the power play for the seventh time in the game and they would score for the first time. Who other to score the goal then Molly Arola, Ms. Clutch. Arola has two section final winners, including one overtime winner, and now one state tournament winner. The win was the first ever playoff win for the Lightning and improves their all-time state tournament record to 1-2. 

Photo of the Game:

Courtesy of Minnesota Sports Online

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

Grand Rapids Hockey Online is proud to announce its support for the Shut Out Cancer program. Check it out at www.shutoutcancer.com