Maple Grove scoring leader Larson fired up to take her team further

In many ways, the season starts Thursday for the No. 2-ranked Maple Grove girls' hockey team with a game at Benilde-St. Margaret's.

While the Crimson (9-0) started the Northwest Suburban Conference season with a flurry, success against Class 2A, Section 6 opponents such as the Red Knights counts as a more true measure of growth.

Dominant in conference play last season, Maple Grove finished with a 10-0 surge. Pitted against Wayzata in the section playoff quarterfinal, Maple Grove played the Trojans to a 2-2 tie after two periods but eventually fell 4-2.

Advancing further in the state's most challenging section, which also features Minnetonka and Hopkins, requires skill and depth, and the Crimson possesses both. The team rolls three lines of forwards, and its seven top scorers are separated by just five points.

Competitive fire, senior Abby Larson said, is also key. More got instilled after last season's abrupt ending.

Larson, the team leader with 13 points, spoke with Star Tribune reporter David La Vaque about a fast start this season, working hard under coach Rob Potter, who is a former NHL conditioning coach, and a desire to make a deeper playoff run.

Q: You started the season 9-0 and allowed a total of seven goals. What's been clicking so well for this team so far?

Q: Last week the team had 11 total goals in three games and six different players scored at least one. How important is that balance?

A: It's really important. We never have a certain first, second or third line. Anyone can start the game. And everyone on each line works together, so it really doesn't surprise me when anyone scores.

Q: Coach Potter is known for working his teams hard. Has this team bought into the idea of sweat equity to be successful?

A: Yeah, definitely. We all did his camp this summer and worked really hard. We do dryland after practice.

Q: Is there a drill you won't miss next year?

Q: You play at Benilde-St. Margaret's on Thursday. Is that a game you expect to learn a little more about where this team stands?

A: Yeah, we scrimmaged them in Duluth and actually beat them. So it would definitely be nice to play well against them and see where we're at.

Q: As one of the seniors, how do you try to lead on and off the ice?

A: On the ice I try to skate short, hard shifts. I try to work as hard as I can, do as much as I can and get off the ice.

Q: You rode a big winning streak into the playoffs and lost in the first round to Wayzata. What did you learn from that experience?