FELDY: Merry Christmas, Faceoff Faithful! (Yes, I'm sticking with Merry Christmas instead of the generic and P.C. 'Happy Holidays' that most stores and businesses are focing employees to go with these days.)
I'm nn vacation for a few more days, so unless Phersy remembers that he can post to this blog, there won't be many posts until the high school tournaments get in swing next week. I might even make a post on the Twins moves (or lack of moves) so far this offseason, if I can string my thoughts together. I'll try to post something Sunday or Monday in advance of the Kiwanis hockey festival. The previews for that tourney will run in Saturday's print edition of the P-B, so pick one up. Or pick up multiple copies to share with your friends and family, or simply to wrap your last-minute purchases in. (hey, newsprint is a lot cheaper than a roll of wrapping paper)
All right, on to today's high school hockey games. Century and JM are off; Lourdes is at Holy Family Catholic in Victoria; Mayo plays host to Lakeville North.
TONIGHT'S GAMES
LAKEVILLE NORTH at MAYO
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When: Tonight, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Graham Arena I
Records: North 3-2-0, Mayo 3-3-0
Last game: North defeated Rochester Century, 6-1, on Tuesday; Mayo lost at Farmington, 8-1, on Tuesday.
Spotlight players: North goalie Charlie Lindgren is (rightfully) the most talked-about player on the team, but junior F Blake Winieckiis off to a strong start, averaging more than 2 points per game (11 points in five games). Winiecki, at 6-feet-1, 180 pounds, opened some eyes in North's first game this season, when he netted a hat trick agains No. 2-ranked Eden Prairie in a 7-4 North loss. ... Mayo junior D Steve Serratorenotched his first goal of the season in the Spartans' loss at Farmington on Tuesday. Mayo could use more scoring from Serratore and fellow D Jack Dingle, especially if the second and third forward lines struggle to produce points.
Of note: A Mayo victory would give Spartans coach Lorne Grosso his 616th career victory, tying him with legendary Edina coach Willard Ikola for most by a coach of a Minnesota high school hockey team. ... The Mayo alumni game will take place at Graham Arena following the varsity game.
LOURDES at HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC
When: 7 p.m. tonight
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Where: Victoria Recreation Center
Records: No. 3 Lourdes 8-0-0; HFC 3-2-0.
Last game: Lourdes beat Northfield, 7-2, on Tuesday; HFC lost to Providence Academy, 5-4, on Dec. 14.
Spotlight players: Lourdes senior D Sam Slightamrecorded his first two points of the season (both assists) in the Eagles' 7-2 victory against Northfield on Tuesday. It's a good sign for the unbeaten Eagles that their four football players (who missed the first two hockey games due to Lourdes deep run in the football playoffs) are rounding into shape. Slightam's big, physical presence adds a lot to the Eagles' blue line. ... Holy Family senior D Brady Riesgrafcan make plays from the blue line. He has a team-best 17 points (5-12--17) through just five games, including a whopping 9-point game in HFC's season-opening victory against Mankato East on Nov. 30. Riesgraf has three assists in each of his past two games -- a 6-2 win against New Prague on Dec. 9 and a 5-4 loss to Providence Academy on Dec. 14.
Of note: Lourdes defeated HFC in the state Class AAA football championship last month. ... This will be the fourth game against a Section 1A team for Holy Family Catholic, which is in Section 2A. HFC is 2-1 so far against Section 1A.
