Centennial's dynamic hockey linemates Gabbie Hughes and Anneke Linser finish each others plays so often, Blaine coach Steve Guider calls them "the most potent scoring duo in Minnesota."
The longtime friends finish each other's thoughts, too. In three varsity seasons, they've combined for 140 goals, 131 assists, two section final appearances — and zero state tournaments. When the juniors were asked about their shrinking number of chances to lead the Cougars to state, Hughes and Linser passed their responses back and forth like a puck.
"The urgency has changed," Linser said.
"When we were eighth-graders and we really didn't understand it, why all the seniors were so nervous for sections," Hughes said, adding, "As the years go on … "
"You realize you don't have as much time." Linser said.
"We want it way more," Hughes said.
"We don't want to think about next year," Linser said. "We want to do it now."
Time once seemed infinite. As U-10 players, Hughes and Linser started on their own lines. Then Linser shifted to right wing on Hughes's line and something clicked. Later, when Hughes returned after stints on boys' teams, she found her sixth sense with Linser on the ice didn't fade.
