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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. Duluth (Girl's 7AA Final)
CARC, Cloquet, MN-7:00 p.m.
2/14/2008

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

Box Score:

1st Period-1. D, Kari Balduc (Ashley Birdsall) 3:30; 2. GRG, Dana Gallop (Emily Erickson, Molly Arola) (PP) 6:33; 3. GRG, Molly Arola (Emily Erickson) (PP) 7:02

2nd Period-No scoring.

3rd Period-4. GRG, Emily Erickson (Molly Illikainen, Morgan Illikainen) 1:11; 5. GRG, Marina Guyer (Molly Illikainen, Molly Arola)

Saves-Jessica Havel (GRG) 12, Laura Bellamy (D) 24

Three Stars:
3. Marina Guyer (GRG)
2. Emily Erickson (GRG)
1. Molly Arola (GRG)

Game Summary:
Official start time: 6:56 p.m.
Official end time: 8:26 p.m.
Official game time: 1 hour, 30 minutes

The Grand Rapids/Greenway Lightning were able to defend their section 7AA title on Thursday night, but something felt different from last year's title. Yes, the game was against Duluth and not Cloquet. Yes, the score was 4-1 and not 2-1. Yes, the game did not need overtime. No, Pat Rendle was not behind the bench. First year head coach, Chris Granley was able to lead the Lightning to the section title this year. Duluth got on the board first early in the game. Duluth won the draw back to the point and Kari Balduc beat Jessica Havel through a screen to make it 1-0. The Lightning looked like a team on the edge for the next few shifts, then Duluth made a vital mistake. They took two penalties only a few seconds apart to give the Lightning a prolonged 5-on-3 power play. Early in the 5-on-3 Emily Erickson and Molly Arola were working the puck to Duluth goaltender Laura Bellamy's left. The puck eventually went on goal and came to Dana Gallop back door. Gallop pulled it back and tucked it under the crossbar to tie the game at one. For Gallop, it was her 20th goal of the year and her 50th point. It was also Gallop's third goal of the postseason. Just 29 seconds later, Molly Arola tallied on the power play. Arola circled behind the goal and was looking for Erickson in front of the net. Both defenders covered Erickson, leaving Arola in front alone. She showed tremendous patience and Bellamy went down. Arola put the puck upstairs for her 24th goal of the year and 1st of the playoffs. Emily Erickson was granted the lone assist. There was no scoring in the second period. The period was completely dominated by the Lightning. The puck very rarely left the Lightning attacking zone and they outshot Duluth 9-3 in the period. Just 1:11 into the third period, Ms. Hockey Finalist, Emily Erickson made her case. Erickson tipped a blast from the point past Bellamy to give the Lightning the huge two goal lead. It was Erickson's 42nd goal of the year. She leads the northland in point and is second in the state in class AA. The Illikainen sisters, Molly and Morgan were credited with the assists. In the final two minutes, the Lightning made known of their fate. Molly Arola brought the puck across the blue line at the end of a long shift. She was looking to flip it in and get a change when she saw Marina Guyer streaking to the net. A perfect pass was made that sprung Guyer in all alone. She made a great move to beat Bellamy and stuck the puck in the net to put the game on ice. For Guyer, it was her third goal of the season and her third of the playoffs. She finally got one against PHM in the semi-finals, then she got another one later in the game. Jessica Havel made just 12 saves in the win while Laura Bellamy had 24 stops in the loss. The Lightning outscored opponents 16-3 in their three section wins. The game winning goal scorer was the same, but the celebration was not. The Lightning are already getting prepared for the Xcel Energy Center where they will play Thursday. The Lightning will play in the 8:00 game vs. the winner of 5AA. Centennial and Coon Rapids play for the right to play Grand Rapids/Greenway tonight.

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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