Prior Lake boys hockey opened the 2025–26 season with an impressive 6–4 win over Centennial on Saturday at Dakotah! Ice Center.
The Lakers struck early in the first period when a heavy hit by sophomore forward Luke Watkins forced a turnover that junior forward Gavin Lind buried for a 1–0 lead. Centennial tied the game midway through the period, but Prior Lake answered late on the power play. Lind scored his second of the night off a setup from senior defenseman Jack Willmert and junior defenseman Aiden Lavigne to take a 2–1 lead into the first intermission.
Prior Lake extended the lead just seconds into the second period. Senior forward Parker Wenkus scored on a power play, assisted by Lind and junior forward Lukas Grabow. Wenkus added another later in the frame on a feed from Lind, making it 4–1.
Centennial pushed back with two goals during a penalty-heavy stretch, cutting the Laker lead to 4–3 heading into the third.
Lind completed his hat trick with five minutes remaining in the game, finishing a play from senior defenseman Brendan Chayer and Watkins to make it 5–3. Centennial responded with a goal two minutes later, but Prior Lake sealed the victory when Grabow intercepted a pass and scored into the empty net, his first varsity goal, to secure the 6–4 win.
Shots were even at 28–28. Junior goaltender Preston Kulics stopped 24 shots to earn the victory. Lind led the Lakers with three goals and two assists.
Season preview
Prior Lake entered the 2025–26 season looking to take a step forward after an 11–13–2 fourth-place finish in the South Suburban Conference and losing in the quarterfinals of the section tournament. The Lakers graduated their top two scorers — Levi Eiter and Mario Bernard — but return a strong core that logged significant varsity minutes a season ago.
Lind and Wenkus anchor the offense after finishing third on the team in scoring and points last season, respectively, giving Prior Lake an experienced and productive tandem up front.
In goal, Kulics returns to the starting role after a 6–8 campaign a year ago.
Leadership comes from a senior-heavy captain group. Willmert, who recorded 14 assists last season and competed at the Boys HP 17 National Camp in New York over the summer, will wear one of the captain’s patches, with Wenkus wearing the other. Senior forward Mason Stephens and senior defensemen Jake Written and Chayer will serve as assistant captains.
The roster also features some multi-sport athletes. Watkins joins the varsity lineup after a strong fall on the football field as the leading rusher. Written was among Prior Lake’s top tacklers on defense. Both add a physical edge to this group.
The Lakers will face strong competition both in the conference and section. Reigning Section 2AA champion Shakopee and perennial powerhouse Minnetonka look like the early favorites, with both opening the season highly ranked in the state. In the South Suburban Conference, Shakopee and Rosemount begin the season in the top 12 of LetsPlayHockey.com coach’s poll, while Lakeville South — ranked in the top 20 and returning one of the state’s top players in Carter Ernst — adds another tough matchup. Statewide, Moorhead enters as the team to beat after winning last year’s Class AA state championship.
Altogether, the opening-night varsity roster featured eight seniors, 10 juniors and two sophomores.
Up next
It’s a lighter week for the Lakers with the Thanksgiving holiday as Prior Lake returns to action on Saturday with a road game at Eden Prairie — the team’s first section opponent matchup of the season.
