• MINNETONKA 3, WAYZATA 1: The Class 2A, No. 5 Skippers' defense clamped down and shocked a Wayzata crowd Thursday night by outshooting and outscoring the 2A, No. 1 Trojans. Minnetonka got the offense rolling quickly in the first period with goals from Max Coatta and Austin Burt. Wayzata's Matthew Freytag cut the deficit to 2-1 in the second period, but the Skippers scored on an empty-net goal late in the game to seal the victory. Paul Ciaccio stopped 21 shots for Minnetonka, now to 3-0 in Lake Conference play. • HILL-MURRAY 3, ST. THOMAS ACADEMY 1: The Pioneers knocked off the visiting Cadets, handing 1A, No. 1 St. Thomas Academy its first Classic Suburban loss of the year. Hill-Murray chipped away at the Cadets' defense, adding a goal each period and keeping the puck away from the Pioneers' net. Goalie John Dugas of the Pioneers had a shutout until a last-second, shorthanded goal by Henry Hart of the Cadets. Hill-Murray improved its conference record to 6-1. • HASTINGS 3, WHITE BEAR LAKE 2: Two early second-period goals gave the Raiders all the momentum they needed in their close victory over Suburban East foe White Bear Lake. Mark Huneke, Matt Koch and Blake Berg each scored for Hastings while sophomore goalie Matt Radke stopped 16 shots. • WOODBURY 4, STILLWATER 0: The Royals tallied four goals en route to a shutout victory over Stillwater, but it didn't come easy. Woodbury goalie Evan Broadbent stopped 48 shots in his team's first conference victory of the year. The Royals were outshot 48-25. • CENTENNIAL 5, MAPLE GROVE 4: A late-game comeback by the Crimson fell short against the Cougars' multi-faceted offense. Five different players scored for Centennial, which continues to move up in the Northwest Suburban Conference. Maple Grove, beset by off-ice issues, has lost two of its past three games. • ST. MICHAEL-ALBERTVILLE 5, BUFFALO 3: The Bison matched the Knights goal for goal in a busy second period, but couldn't find answers for early and late goals from St. Michael- Albertville. Connor Spetz scored twice for the Knights, who continue to vie for the top spot in the Mississippi 8.
about the writer
The Wild’s Brock Faber played in the 2022 Games in Beijing when he was still at the University of Minnesota and NHL players stayed at home. In 2026, he’s back.
