A QF Game- #4 East Grand Forks vs #5 Northern Lakes
Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2025 10:01 am
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%
#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%
