Moorhead Girl’s Hockey Ready for Run at State

THE SECTION 8AA TOURNAMENT BEGINS TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4.

MOORHEAD, Minn. (KVRR) –After a 3 to 2 win over #6 Andover Saturday, Moorhead girl’s head hockey coach Ryan Kraft said, “This is how we have to play if we want to reach our end goal, which is making it back to a state tournament and challenging those teams down there for maybe a state championship.”

The Spuds are ready to make their push at just that: winning their section and returning to the Xcel Energy Center after a one-year absence. The Spuds enter sections with a 17-7-1 record and the number one seed for the fourth straight season.

“We started off strong and then went through a little slump,” said senior forward Olivia Kortan. “Now, we’re coming back out of it and to end our season on a win I think is really going to help.”

After spending most of the regular season ranked in the top-10, the Spuds closed the season unranked. But Saturday’s win over Andover showed this team is ready and capable to compete for a title.

“I mean, I think it means everything,” said senior goaltender Taylor Kressin. “It gives us a lot of momentum going into playoffs. I think, you know, we saw a little bit of a rut, but I think this was a great way to work ourselves out of it. I think we finally saw us play up to our full potential, which is great timing now that we’re going into playoffs.”

The Spuds are trying to bring Moorhead their first ever state championship. Having a good goaltender certainly helps in trying to achieve that.

“We feel we have the best goalie in the state,” said Coach Kraft. “I mean, she has been absolutely our rock, our backbone and we’re certainly glad that she’s on our team.”

The numbers certainly attest to it. The senior netminder is 6th in the state in save percentage, saving 94.7% of the shots against her. And some of the saves this season just make your jaw drop.

“Some of them feel normal now, but other ones, she is just insane,” said sophomore forward Anna Bjorkman. “To have her back there is really a key part of our team and everyone’s really thankful for her.”

On the other side of the ice, the Spuds own a balanced offensive attack with four players scoring 10-plus goals this season and seven with over 15 points.

“This is my most balanced team in the six years that I’ve had,” said Coach Kraft. “Top to bottom, we’ve got three, really, maybe four strong lines.”

Anna Bjorkman added, “I’ve got to play with some of the best upperclassmen…they’ve taught me a lot, they’ve helped me through these first two years of my high school career. It’s great. It’s really awesome to play with them.”

Sections begin Tuesday and the Spuds will host Sartell/Sauk Rapids, a team they beat 12-1 earlier this season. But as any team will tell you, everyone is 0-0 and a brand new season begins this week.

“It’s going to take a lot of hard work and grit,” said Bjorkman. “We’re going to have to work for it and want it, but this team has it.”

Puck drop is at 6 P.M. Tuesday, February 4 in Moorhead.

to view the full Section 8AA bracket, click HERE.