FTP's Top 5 Games: Tuesday, January 15th

Honorable mention:

Benilde-St. Margaret's at Totino-Grace, 7:00 PM
Duluth Denfeld at Hibbing/Chisholm, 7:30 PM
Eastview at Apple Valley, 7:15 PM
Mound-Westonka at Holy Family Catholic, 7:00 PM
Park Rapids Area at Northern Lakes, 5:00 PM
Rochester Century at Rochester Mayo, 7:30 PM

5. #10A South St. Paul (9-3-1) at #13A Red Wing (8-5-2), 7:00 PM

Red Wing's game with the Packers on Tuesday night will be their sixth game of a nine game home stand. In their first five at home, they went 1-3-1. So much for home ice advantage.

South St. Paul is 3-0-1 in their last four contests.

Red Wing is down right now and I don't expect a very good Packers team to let up on them.

Fearless Prediction: South St. Paul


4. Grand Rapids (7-6-1) at Cloquet/Esko/Carlton (9-4-2), 7:30 PM

It's just another Northwoods rivalry. Right? With Duluth East starting to make moves in Section 7AA, the Thunderhawks and the Lumberjacks are still trying to find out who they really are. Both are 2-2 in their last four games. Both tied in their first meeting on November 27th, 2-2. Cloquet has beaten Duluth East this year, 4-2. Grand Rapids lost to the Hounds last week, 2-4. So, it only makes sense that Grand Rapids beat Cloquet Tuesday night, right?

Cloquet/E/C will win because Tuesday is January 15th and Jamie Langenbrunner, former Jack, wears the #15 sweater for the New Jersey Devils. That makes about as much sense as the entire Section has this year so why not .....

Fearless Prediction: Cloquet/Esko/Carlton


3. Academy of Holy Angels (7-4-0) at #5AA Hill-Murray (13-2-0), 8:00 PM

The Stars are 3-0 in their last three games. Hill-Murray is 4-0 in their last four games including nice wins over strong Class A teams St. Thomas Academy and Mahtomedi.

I think many people still don't know how strong Holy Angels really is. They have beaten one decent Class AA team this year in Duluth East but had lost to three other decent AA teams. They are 3-4 overall against Class AA teams this year. They were beaten pretty bad against Moorhead in the consolation game at the Schwan Cup, 1-7. The Stars have a great chance to get back on the competitive radar if they can come away with a win at Aldrich against the Pioneers.

Fearless Prediction: Hill-Murray


2. #10AA Bloomington Jefferson (9-3-3) at #8AA Rosemount (12-4-0), 7:30 PM

This is game #2 of their home and home series between these two Lake Conference foes.

Rosemount lost their first meeting on Jaguar ice, 3 to 5, way back on November 27th. The Irish have won their last three games including a win against #10AA Burnsville.

Jefferson had won three straight including wins over #11AA Eastview and Grand Rapids before losing to Burnsville this past Saturday.

Jefferson has scored more than 4 goals only twice this year. Once against Rosemount and the other, 6-1, against winless rival Bloomington Kennedy. On the other hand, the Irish have scored 5 or more goals nine times this season. Defensively, the Jaguars have only allowed more than 4 goals once in a game and that was in a overtime loss at the beginning of the season to Burnsville, 4-5.

Jefferson has won only ONE game away from BIG this year. Rosemount is 6-2 on home ice.

Fearless Prediction: Rosemount


1. #1AA Roseau (13-0-0) at #1ND Grand Forks Red River (ND) (10-0-1), 7:30 PM

Roseau is about to find out what they are made of when they face a very tough and #1-ranked in North Dakota team in Grand Forks Red River on Tuesday night. The Roughriders only blemish was a tie, 3-3, with their only Minnesota opponent so far this year, Bloomington Jefferson, back on December 21st.

The Roughriders are led in scoring by Senior forwards Eric Meland and Nick Schaefer with 28 and 23 points respectively. Between the pipes, Senior goaltender Pat Arnason has faced 158 shots stopping 145 of them, a 91.8 save percentage.

The Rams of Roseau are led by Junior defenseman Aaron Ness and Senior forward Ben Nelson with 38 and 32 points respectively. In goal, Mike Lee has been impressive with a 1.25 GAA and a 92.5 save percentage.

It should be a very good game where the outcome should not be more than a one goal difference when the final horn sounds.

Fearless Prediction: Roseau