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Girls' 2016-17 High School Preview: Usual Suspects Lead the Pack

11/09/2016, 9:00pm CST
By Peter Odney

Edina, Blake Among Early Season Favorites

Edina and Eden Prairie should be right back in the thick of the state tournament race in 2016-17. Credit: Courtesy YHH.

Edina and Eden Prairie should be right back in the thick of the state tournament race in 2016-17. Credit: Courtesy YHH.

With the volatility of high school hockey and its ever-changing landscapes complicating the boys’ game, the 2016-2017 season appears to be more of the same on the girls’ side.

Nine of the 10 teams in this preview participated in last season’s Class AA and Class A state tournaments, and their youth could ensure a return trip to the Xcel Energy Center again in 2017. The 2016-17 season gets underway this week. Following is a breakdown of the top teams in Class AA and Class A.

Class AA

1. Edina (2015-2016 Record: 20-9-1)

The Hornets return an absurd amount of talent, bringing back their seven leading scorers and starting goaltender Anna Goldstein from last year’s squad that took fourth at the Class AA State Tournament.

Goldstein posted a 15-8-1 record with a goals-against-average of 1.33 and a save percentage of .937 to go along with eight shutouts. The forward corps of junior Lolita Fidler (20 goals, 28 assists, 48 points), senior Sophie Slattery (12-25- 37) and junior Minnesota commit Emily Oden (19-10- 29) are all back, and the defense will be held down by senior Wisconsin commit Grace Bowlby (3-17-20).

2. Maple Grove (2015-2016 Record: 22-6-2)

Senior forward Taylor Wente is arguably the frontrunner for the Ms. Hockey award, and returns for a seasoned Crimson team after scoring 29 goals and 57 points last season. The Minnesota commit will pair with junior forward Maia Martinez (11-18- 29), who emerged as a dynamic forward by recording two goals and 10 points in the postseason alone.

In goal, the Crimson will rotate seniors Breanna Blesi (11-4-0, 1.38 GAA, .946 save pct., five shutouts) and Coco Francis (11-2-2, 1.31 GAA, .942 save pct.). Blesi’s performance in last season’s Class AA State Tournament was nothing short of spectacular, as she shutout Hill-Murray with 43 saves and made 41 stops in the title game loss to Eden Prairie.

3. Eden Prairie (2015-2016 Record: 22-7-2)

The defending state champions lose several key pieces from last year, but having senior forward and Minnesota-Duluth commit Naomi Rogge (22-21-43) back should keep the Eagles in the hunt come March.

Junior defender Crystalen Hengler (14-19-33) is a force on the blue line for the Eagles, and has made great strides since her first varsity action as a freshman. Hengler will protect junior goaltender Alexa Dobchuk, who played in every game for the Eagles while posting a GAA of 1.36 and 11 shutouts.

4. Lakeville South (2015-2016 Record: 21-7-2)

Goaltender Lexi Baker will take over for graduated Cougar standout Chloe Crosby between the pipes, and will look to build on a 6-1-0 record, 0.68 GAA, .955 save pct. and four shutouts in 2015-2016.

On offense, the Cougars will rely on the forward tandem of senior Halle Gill (21-20-41) and Emily Fischler (21-16-37), a pair that could take the Cougars past the first round of the state tournament after losing in last year’s consolation finals.

5. Hill-Murray (2015-2016 Record: 29-1-1)

Despite graduating multiple key pieces from last season’s near-perfect team, the Pioneers maintain top-tier status after a state tournament third-place finish in 2015-2016.

Leading scorer Abigail Boreen (16-37-53) is back for her junior season, and Bemidji State commit senior forward Lindsey Featherstone (13-20-33) also returns for the Pioneers.

After splitting time with Mari Johnson last season as a freshman, sophomore goaltender Ava Bailey will be the starter in goal. Bailey went 14-1-0 with a 0.73 GAA, six shutouts, and a save pct. of .947 in last year’s rotation.

Hill-Murray hopes to improve on its third-place finish in last year's state tournament. Credit: Nick Wosika.

Hill-Murray hopes to improve on its third-place finish in last year's state tournament. Credit: Nick Wosika.

High school Girls Class AA Preseason Ranking*

 

1. Eden Prairie

2. Maple Grove

3. Hill-Murray

4. Edina

5. Minnetonka

6. Cretin-Derham Hall

7. Elk River/Zimmerman

8. Centennial

9. Blaine

10. Wayzata

11. Lakeville South

12. Chaska/Chanhassen

13. Eastview

14. Eagan

15. Forest Lake

16. White Bear Lake

17. Lakeville North

18. Spring Lake Park/Coon Rapids

19. Stillwater Area

20. Dodge County

Receiving votes: Mounds View, Hopkins/Park, Benilde-St. Margaret's, Farmington, Sartell/Sauk Rapids, Grand Rapids/Greenway, Cambridge-Isanti, Bloomington Jefferson, Duluth, Prior Lake, Roseau, Champlin Park, East Ridge

Blake has won three of the last four girls' Class A state tournaments. Credit: Nick Wosika.

Blake has won three of the last four girls' Class A state tournaments. Credit: Nick Wosika.

Class A

1. Blake (2015-2016 Record: 26-2-2)

Anyone hoping for a talent drop-off after the Bears graduated Carly Bullock is in for another season of balanced production, depth and discipline from the defending Class A state champions, which graduated just five players.

Junior Sara McClanahan (9-22-31) and senior Lucy Burton (14-14-29) will head a group of forwards where several players are capable of topping 25 points. Junior C.C. Wallin (8-16-24) anchors the blue line for the Bears, while junior Anna Kruesel and sophomore Olivia Bizal will rotate in goal. The duo combined for 11 shutouts last season.

2. Breck (2015-2016 Record: 23-5-0)

Unfortunately, the Mustangs compete in the same section as Blake, which typically means that the two best teams in Class A meet before the state tournament. For the past four seasons, including 2015-2016, the Mustangs have fallen to the Bears in the Section finals.

The Mustangs return a bevy of talent on offense, with senior forward Grace Zumwinkle (36-15-51) back in the lineup, which, like Blake, lost just six senior forwards/defenders to graduation.

The one question mark for the Mustangs will be in goal, where they graduated a pair of Division I netminders in Jenna Brenneman to Clarkson and Sydney Scobee to Vermont.

3. Warroad (2015-2016 Record: 25-4-1)

Last season’s third-place finisher returns a great deal of speed, and its top two scorers from 2015-2016.

Senior Mariah Gardner (35-58-93) is back, pairing with junior Madison Oelkers (30-41-71). Both are Minnesota State commits. The Warriors will rely heavily on the accelerated maturation of the 13 freshman and eighth graders that suited up at the varsity level last season.

Also returning is starting senior goaltender Emma Brunelle (17-4-1), who posted six shutouts last year.

4. St. Paul United (2015-2016 Record: 23-6-1)

After finishing as runners-up last March, the United return three of last year’s four leading scorers, and lost just two defenders to graduation.

Senior forward and Cornell commit Joie Phelps (29-34-63) teams with junior Sam Burke (24-28-52) and senior Lauren Boettcher (21-27-48) on offense, while junior Olivia Williams-Ridge (18 assists) takes care of the defense.

Replacing departed goaltender Catherine Johnson poses a question for the United, who will likely look to sophomore Kenzie Giese (4-1-0, 1.68 GAA).

5. New Prague (2015-2016: 19-10-1)

The Trojans broke the damn by advancing the State Tournament last season, and return two of last year’s three leading scorers to the ice this November.

Junior forward and Minnesota commit Catie Skaja (40-41-81) put on an absolute show in last season’s consolation bracket of the state tournament, scoring eight goals and totaling 11 points. Offering the other primary scoring option for the Trojans is sophomore forward Kaitlyn Blair (18-18-36).

Senior goaltender Sydney Culshaw is back between the pipes after playing in every game for the Trojans. 

Last year's Class A runner-up, St. Paul United returns three of its four leading scorers. Credit: Nick Wosika.

Last year's Class A runner-up, St. Paul United returns three of its four leading scorers. Credit: Nick Wosika.

High school Girls Class A Preseason Ranking*

1. Blake

2. St. Paul United 

3. Breck 

4. Warroad 

5. Proctor/Hermantown 

6. Thief River Falls 

7. Mound Westonka 

8. Alexandria 

9. New Prague 

10. Northfield 

11. Red Wing 

12. Hibbing/Chisholm 

13. Orono 

14. Owatonna 

15. South St. Paul 

16. Princeton 

17. New Ulm 

18. Moose Lake Area 

19. East Grand Forks 

20. Hutchinson 

Receiving votes: Duluth Marshall, Mahtomedi

*Associated Press polls for Minnesota girls’ high school hockey, courtesy Let's Play Hockey newspaper.

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