Girls Hockey: BLF Warriors ready to tackle Hockey Day Minnesota – Brainerd Dispatch

SHAKOPEE — In the midst of a busy week, the Brainerd/Little Falls Warriors will experience Hockey Day Minnesota firsthand.

The Warriors have three games the week of Jan. 20, but none have been more anticipated than their matchup with Shakopee on Thursday, Jan. 23 at Valleyfair Amusement Park as part of Hockey Day Minnesota 2025.

“The girls have been anxious to get to this day since we found out on August 1st,” Warriors head coach Tate Rusk said. “I think the girls will be ready. We prepared a week and a half ago. We have an outside practice in and we get another practice in on Wednesday. We are all very excited to get down there and represent the community.”

The junior varsity team will play Shakopee at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, January 22 as the first hockey game on Hockey Day Minnesota. The varsity puck drop is scheduled for 7:30pm on Thursday, January 23rd following the Prior Lake and Eden Prairie contest.

“It’s been talked about for a while to be a part of Hockey Day Minnesota,” Rusk said. “It’s going to be a great experience for me and these girls and very rewarding.”

Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch

Shakopee is the host school for Hockey Day Minnesota 2025. The Sabres, coached by Jaime Grossman, will enter with a 13-9-1 record. They have scored 3.04 goals a game and have allowed 2.78 goals a game.

“Jaime reached out and asked if we wanted to be their opponent for Hockey Day Minnesota, and you’re never going to say no,” Rusk said. “Once we got the green light, we had to keep it a secret until August 1. We went down to Valleyfair to announce it. We are extremely excited and grateful that Shakopee extended the invitation to us.”

The Warriors hosted the St. Cloud Crush Tuesday, January 21st. The results of that game can be found in the Wednesday, Jan. 22, Brainerd Dispatch E-edition. BLF entered the match against St. Cloud with a 6-12-2 record.

The Warriors score 1.75 goals a game and have allowed 2.30 goals. BLF goalkeeper Ericah Folden has a save percentage of 93%. Kate Boberg and Brianna Finnegan are the Warriors’ leading scorers with 11 points.

The Warriors plan to leave the Essentia Health Sports Center at 5 a.m. Wednesday to pick up the Little Falls students at 5:30

Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch

BLF has a morning skate outdoors on the Valleyfair rink at 9 Wednesday. After watching the junior varsity game, the Warriors will have a team dinner and prepare for the varsity game the next day.

BLF will be in the Twin Cities on Friday, January 24th when they play at Rogers. The Warriors conclude the regular season on Tuesday, Jan. 28 at Moorhead. BLF is currently ranked fifth in Section 8-2A according to the quality scores formula.

“We’re going to try to do a good job of enjoying and understanding that being a part of Hockey Day Minnesota is a big part of their career,” Rusk said. “Not many teams get that opportunity and I really want them to enjoy it and take it all in. Then we turn the page and it’s going to be good.”

CONRAD ENGSTROM can be reached at 218-855-5861 or [email protected]. Follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/the_rad34.

Who: Brainerd/Little Falls vs. Shakopee
Time: 19:30
When: Thursday 23 January.
Where: Valleyfair Amusement Park in Shakopee