A QF Game- #4 East Grand Forks vs #5 Northern Lakes

[ClassAGuy]

March 5th, 2025 | 8:00 PM CT | Class A Quarterfinals | @ Xcel Energy Center, St Paul MN

#4 Seed (8A) East Grand Forks Greenwave (13-13-2)
East Grand Forks enters the state tournament for the first time since 2021 and for their 14th appearance overall. EGF was able to get past Warroad and end their reign in 8A recently. It was not an easy for the Greenwave who were the Preseason #1 team all the way to being outside the Top 10 Ranking by season end. However, they played their best when it mattered most and they are now back at St Paul for the first time in 4 years. They will be difficult matchup for anyone they draw as they play a heavy style and will look to muscle their way to Title #3.

EGF Leaders- Seniors #7 Hunter Varnson (8-24-32 pts) & #9 Jace Van Eps (11-12-23 pts) and Juniors #6 Tucker Lovejoy (17-9-26 pts) & Sophomore #17 Jace Panzer (8-15-23 pts) lead the way up front. Seniors #2 Cole Bies (5-15-20 pts.), #11 Judd Pesch (2-9-11 pts) & #27 Nick Corbett (2-11-13 pts) anchor the blueline as they all have tons of varsity hockey experience under their belt.

EGF Goalie- Sophomore #1 Noah Schindele (12-10-2) 2.69 GAA .898 SV% won the job in net as the year went along but goaltending always seems to be the Achilles heel of EGF, but Schindele has been at his best in the last few games as he came up big in sections to allow the Greenwave to get back to State.

EGF’s “Man’s Game” - No other Class A State Tournament team will play the style that you will see East Grand Forks employ. Coach Tyler Palmiscno famously referred to it as a “Man's Game” style of play. When you face the Greenwave be prepared for a rough and tough game as EGF will play a heavy game as they try to check their opponents into submission using waves of depth that will not blow you away with skill and flash but they will make you earn every inch of ice. Playing against it is an experience that can leave teams timid and tentative by the time the 3rd period rolls around allowing their depth to shine.

EGF Special Teams- The Power Play is at 22.2% and Penalty Kill is at 81.9 %

#5 seed (6A) Northern Lakes Lightning (19-8-1)
Northern Lakes was able to qualify for the state tourney for just the 2nd time ever in their programs history. This was a team with high expectations coming into the year and they were able to get past their 6A nemesis Alexandria and now will look to get their 1st State Tournament win in program history. The Lightning has been a team that has changed their identity as the year has gone along as with the hire of Coaching Legend Mike Randolph they went from more of an offensive team to a more defensive one and they will hope to make history this week.

Lightning Leaders- Seniors #24 Drew Paulback (38-23-61 pts) & #9 Jerome Martin (17-16-33 pts) and Junior #14 Jacob Peterson (14-12-26 pts) all have been very productive this year. On the blueline Senior #13 Preston Verness (4-9-13 pts.) & Sophomore #27 Grant Vershey (1-14-13 pts) have led the way for a team that has really bought into a defensive style of hockey this winter.

Lightning Goalie- Sophomore Sam Suja (18-6-1, 1.95 GAA & .923 SV%)the transfer from Colorado was a key piece that was added to begin the year to help transition this team into a more defensive group. He has been outstanding in net all year and has 8 shutouts this season.

Lightning 2-3 Forecheck- Northern Lakes was known as an explosive offensive team. Then this offseason they made a big splash when they hired coaching legend Mike Randolph who brought with him his defensive mindset and the 2-3 forecheck. It took some time but the Lightning eventually bought in and they are now (15-5-1) since January 1st. Coach Randoph tinkered with the lineup throughout the season and made moves like converting one of their top returning dman Senior #25 Wyatt Balmer (4-30-34 pts) into a center and they are now all fully locked into the defense 1st approach.

Lightning Special Teams- The Power Play is at 31.8% and Penalty Kill is at 83.3%

[east hockey]

Head says EGF, heart says NL

Lee

[TTpuckster]

Head says EGF, heart says NL

Lee

Has nothing to do with the NL coach, I presume.

[east hockey]

Head says EGF, heart says NL

Lee

Has nothing to do with the NL coach, I presume.

Part that (mostly that), part NL has never won the Class A title. I tend to pull for such teams.

Lee

[ryguyMN]

I put my vote in for NL. I spend time during the summer in the Aitkin and Pequot Lakes area, so it's like a second home to me, and I'm a Rand fan.

[elliott70]

I put my vote in for NL. I spend time during the summer in the Aitkin and Pequot Lakes area, so it's like a second home to me, and I'm a Rand fan.

He is a good coach but I don’t care for the man.

[elliott70]

I asked some Warroad people what happened in the section final.

Answer - simple - EGF is better - when they play as a team.

[TTpuckster]

Wow.

It has become a big rivalry.

But also both teams have a lot of respect for each other.

[ryguyMN]

For the love of everything Class A holy, please make this a good game.

[east hockey]

Let's hope this is the good one we've been waiting for all day.

Lee

[ClassAGuy]

For the love of everything Class A holy, please make this a good game.

Such a disappointing day.... sigh

[TTpuckster]

Probably will be.

At least from the EGF perspective.

They don’t blow anybody out.

So, unless Northern Lakes scores a lot, it should be tight.

[east hockey]

Pretty good so far. Scoreless after 1

Lee

[ClassAGuy]

BHS Hockey 2025 Class A State QF #4
#5 Northern Lakes 0
#4 EGF 0
End of the 1st period
Both teams set the tone early with plenty of big hits on both sides as East Grand Forks & Northern Lakes fight for every inch of ice. This one looks like a battle in the nightcap

[TTpuckster]

Pretty good so far. Scoreless after 1

Lee

Sometimes it looks like Randolph is doing a trap game.
Thoughts?

[east hockey]

Man, you could see that coming even before the PP. 1-0 EGF with 3:26 left in the 2nd

Lee

[ClassAGuy]

BHS Hockey 2025 Class A State QF #4
#5 Northern Lakes 0
#4 EGF 1
End of the 2nd period
East Grand Forks started to play downhill more that period and got rewarded with a PP goal. However, that goal woke Northern Lakes up who had a great push to end the period!

[raidergrad72]

Easily the game of the day and our poll votes bear that out.
Pulling for Northern Lakes.

[TTpuckster]

What they lack is a pure goal scorer.

What has helped them is that the goaltending has been a lot better than it was at the beginning of the year.

[ryguyMN]

Fun game. Still very much up for grabs. The EGF goal seemed to make NL turn it up a notch.

[ryguyMN]

2-0 EGF. “Penalties will haunt”

[east hockey]

That five minute major was Northern Lake's last gasp.

Lee

[raidergrad72]

That five minute major was Northern Lake's last gasp.

Lee

I think you're right. 2pp goals by EGF and Lakes did next to nothing on the major.
Erickson just said it, EGF penalty kill is textbook.
The late great Gorilla Monsoon of the pro wrestling world often said, "stick a fork in him, he's done. Gorilla is picking his fork.
Empty netter. Game over. Stick that fork. 3-0.

[ryguyMN]

Well, AA, it’s your turn now. I’ll take a one goal game at this point. Not going to get greedy and ask for OT.