Happy Thanksgiving everyone. We’ve reached the final weekend of the month and there is plenty of hockey on tap, including a showdown between Marian and sixth-ranked Wisconsin-Stevens Point tonight.
Friday
Concordia at Bethel
The Royals face a Falcons team that has won three of its last five.Brandon Picard leads the Falcons with three goals and three assists. Ridge Gerads, though, has been solid in goal for the Royals, tallying 172 saves. Bethel 3-2
Marian at Wisconsin-Stevens Point
The Sabres get an early-season test against one of the top teams in the country. Marian has won its last two and has scored 26 goals and has one of the best goalies in the game in Hunter Vorva. The sixth-ranked Pointers haven’t been their usual selves out of the gate but are still dangerous, especially with goal scorer Luke McElhenie in the lineup. Wis.-Stevens Point, 5-4
Saturday
St. Thomas at St. Scholastica
The Tommies are ready to pick up another road win. Their balanced offense and solid defense have been vital to their success up to this point. Brett Gravelle leads the way offensively for St. Thomas. The Saints are looking for a signature win here. Carson Rose is off to a great start for the Saints. St. Thomas, 5-2
St. Olaf at Lake Lake Forest
Little has gone right for the Oles out of the gate. St. Olaf has just one win and has been outscored 36-16. It will be a challenge to say the least going up against the Foresters, who have won five of their first eight and feature goalie Boyd DiClemente. Lake Forest, 5-1
Marian at Bethel
Marian will have to be careful on the road after an intense battle with the Pointers the previous night. The Royals have struggled offensively, managing just 13 goals. That will have to change to pull out a win in this one. Marian, 4-1
Adrian at Aurora
The eighth-ranked Bulldogs travel to battle the Spartans, who are off to an impressive start. Aurora has lost just once in its first nine games and has given up only 14 goals.The Buldogs have won their last three. Dino Balsamo of Adrian and Riley Doyon of Aurora are two of the best goal scorers in the league. An upset could be on tap. Aurora, 4-3
Friday and Saturday
Finlandia vs. Northland
These two teams square off in a showdown of former NCHA foes, starting with Friday’s game at Northland. The Lions have struggled out of the gate, going winless in its first eight. They have managed to score just nine goals.The Lumberjacks now play in the WIAC. They have won twice but are the better team on both ends of the ice. Northland, 4-2 and 3-1
