Great outdoors beckons Blaine

Having won two important games last week, Blaine's boys' hockey team now treks north for a day of pomp, circumstance and hockey outdoors.

Qualifiers for each of the past two state tournaments, the Bengals will play defending Class 2A champion Roseau on Saturday on Lake of the Woods' Baudette Bay.

"We're certainly going up there to try and win," coach Dave Aus said. "But if any game since I've been here is more of an event, it's this one. This is what's great about high school hockey."

An old-time hockey atmosphere is planned, complete with players walking single-file on to the playing grounds with their skate laces tied around their sticks.

But the present holds special meaning, too. The two teams will get a gauge of their abilities in this game. Aus has been impressed with Roseau's goaltending and defenseman Aaron Ness -- the only blueliner among the state's top-50 highest scorers.

"He's in a different league," Aus said of the future Gopher.

Ness' Rams started this week 21-0. Blaine was 14-5 but has gone 8-2 in its past 10 games.

"It's a great opportunity for us," Aus said. "We've got a chance to beat them with the way we're playing right now."

The game starts at 1:30 p.m. and will be showed at 11 p.m. on tape delay on Fox Sports North as part of the second annual Hockey Day Minnesota.

Joe Namath and Mark Messier, step aside. Totino-Grace girls' basketball coach Shannon Hartinger now tops the list of sports world guarantees.

The due date of Hartinger's second child was Jan. 17, two days after what everyone figured would be a North Suburban Conference showdown with St. Francis. Totino-Grace came in 11-2, and St. Francis was 14-1.

"I told the kids: 'Don't worry. I'll be there,' " Hartinger said. "Parents were telling me, 'You can't promise them that.' I said, 'Yes, I can.' "

Hartinger made the game, Totino-Grace won, and she gave birth to a son, Hans, on Jan. 17.

Hartinger's team has kept winning, putting the Eagles on course to deliver an outright conference championship.

Totino-Grace is 15-0 in conference play and have a key game Thursday night against Benilde-St. Margaret's, last season's conference co-champion. The Eagles defeated the Red Knights 50-37 on Dec. 21.

"Winning that championship is a goal," Hartinger said. "We do not want to share it this year."