8 p.m. [6] Andover (17-10-1) vs. [3] Holy Family (24-3)
Pregame: Lakeville North vs. Hill-Murray
Between today’s U.S. Olympic women’s hockey gold medal game and the Class 2A girls hockey state quarterfinals, I’m ready to hear a lot of “Free Bird” played over hockey rink loudspeakers.
During Wednesday’s 1A quarterfinals, the U.S. national team’s goal celebration song was played here at Grand Casino Arena when the lamp was lit. And, of course, the formidable U.S. women take on Canada for gold today in Italy at 12:10 central time, so expect to hear some guitar shredded from across the Atlantic.
For several players in today’s 2A quarterfinals, that song might be familiar. Centennial/Spring Lake Park’s Alaina Gnetz, Bemidji’s Bailey Rupp, Hill-Murray’s Addy McLay and Emily Pohl, and Holy Family’s Katya Sander and Maddy Kimbrelall won gold with Team USA at this year’s U18 World Championships and will now compete for a Class 2A title.
The day starts with Pohl, McLay and the top-seeded Pioneers (23-3-1) taking on No. 8 Lakeville North (17-9-2) at 11 a.m.
We’ve dove into why the defending state champs’ line of junior forwards Pohl, Jaycee Chatleain and Elliana Engelhardt is so dangerous, but that’s far from where the Pioneers’ scoring stops. Sophomore Gwynn Skoogman has returned from a knee injury that kept her out of 17 games. Freshmen Anna Pohl and Hannah Rychley also lead the Pioneers’ scoring charge.