Warroad and Minneapolis start off Hockey Day bright and early when the puck will drop at 9:30 a.m. on Jan. 18 at Parade Stadium. The game will be televised on Fox Sports North.
Warroad is 15-1-0 on the season after it suffered its first loss in a 5-4 defeat vs. Roseau on Jan. 9. Warroad led 4-1 after two periods, but could not protect the lead as junior Judd Ginther scored the game-winner for Roseau 15:14 into the final period. They rebounded well after that loss, winning 9-0 at home over Crookston on Saturday, Jan. 11.
Let's Play Hockey
ranks them as the third best Boys Class A team in the state.
Warroad averages 5.94 goals per game and score on 41.9 percent of its power play chances. Its offense is led by senior Grant Slukynsky, a Northern Michigan-commit. Slukynsky leads the state in both assists and points, and is tied for fourth in goals. He has recorded 24 goals, 35 assists and 59 points on the season. He has recorded points in all 16 games this season, including recording three or more points 12 times. He had a nine point; four-goal, five-assist; performance against Detroit Lakes on Jan. 4. Junior Anthony Foster has tallied 21 goals of his own. Senior goalie Zach Foster owns an 12-1-0 record between the pipes, with a 1.81 goals-against average and a .899 save percentage. Warroad Thief River Falls 4-3 in overtime on Thursday, Jan. 16 in its final game before Hockey Day.
Minneapolis is 7-7-2 this season. It averages 2.69 goals against per game and has a 91.5 penalty kill percentage. Senior Ben Murray leads the team with 14 goals and 20 points, while sophomore Zander Zoia leads them with 13 assists. Sophomore Alex Lamont and freshman Cole Kloek have split time in goal this season. Kloek is 5-2-0 this season, with a 2.43 goals-against average and a .899 save percentage. Lamont has a 2-5-2 record, with a 2.68 goals-against average and .894 save percentage. Minneapolis defeated Waconia 5-0 in its final game before its highly anticipated matchup against Warroad.
