GRAND RAPIDS-GREENWAY

Lightning

Coach: Brad Hyduke, 11th season

2019-20 record: 10-13-2

Conference: Lake Superior

Section: Section 7AA

Key departures: G Emily Trast; F Ellie Tillma; D Kayden Broking; D Hannah Mark

Key returners: Sr. F/C Claire Vekich (25-22—47, three-time All-Area

First Team selection); 8th F Mercury Bischoff (12-19—31); sr. D Kaisa Reed (4-11—15); so. F/C Kalle Reed (4-8—12); fr. F Molly Pierce (2-8— 10); sr. F Amber Elich (3-2—5); jr. D Jade Rohloff (2-2—4); so. D Jazzy Bischoff (1-4—5); jr. G Kenzie Cole (five games, 3.49 GAA); jr. G Kenny Martinson (two games, 0.00 GAA)

Outlook: Hyduke expects defending state champion Andover to be the team to beat in Section 7AA, but the section will be wide open after that with the Lightning, Forest Lake, Elk River, North Wright County and an improved Duluth squad vying for top four seeding.

Grand Rapids-Greenway was among the youngest teams in Class AA hockey last year and returns most of its scoring. That includes arguably the area’s best all-around athlete in Claire Vekich, the Lightning’s top-scoring defenseman and a tandem of junior goalies who are very skilled.

In the area, Hyduke sees Proctor-Hermantown as a deep and skilled team that is the clearcut favorite in Section 7A and a potential challenger to Breck and Warroad for the Class A state title.

“The waiting was expected and ultimately worth it — the state of Minnesota is in a much better place to successfully pull off a sea son from COVID-19 standpoint, and importantly, our season will be 3 1/2 months long and likely include a state tourney,” Hyduke said. “The message to the girls is this: We can and should be giddy and excited about our delayed return, but now it’s time to channel that excitement into the season — get better individually and as a team, and set goals heading into the playoffs in late March.”

Jon Nowacki, News Tribune

Schedule

Home games at IRA Civic Center

Jan. 14 — Duluth Marshall

Jan. 16 — North Wright County

Jan. 19 — Bemidji

Jan. 21 — at Superior

Jan. 22 — Alexandria

Jan. 25 — at Duluth

Jan. 28 — at Hibbing-Chisholm, 7 p.m.

Feb. 2 — Brainerd/Little Falls, 7:15 p.m.

Feb. 5 — at Roseau, 7 p.m.

Feb. 11 — Proctor-Hermantown, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 13 — Alexandria, 2 p.m.

Feb. 18 — Cloquet-Esko-Carlton, 7 p.m.

Feb. 20 — Northern Tier, 2 p.m.

Feb. 23 — at Duluth Marshall, 7 p.m.

Feb. 25 — Hibbing-Chisholm

(at Hodgins-Berardo Arena, Coleraine), 7 p.m.

March 2 — Proctor-Hermantown, 7 p.m.

March 5 — at Cloquet-Esko-Carlton, 7:30 p.m.

March 9 — at Eveleth-Gilbert Area, 7 p.m.

March 12 — Duluth, 7 p.m.

Roster