Prior Lake boys hockey faced one of its most challenging stretches of the season over the past two weeks, navigating a home matchup, three games at the Tradition Holiday Invitational and a road test against another state power.

The stretch began Dec. 30 at Dakotah Ice Center, where the Lakers hosted Park of Cottage Grove. 

Prior Lake jumped out to an early lead, scoring first when junior forward Tyler Sporney finished a setup from junior defender Aiden Lavigne and junior forward Bryce Lovett. The Lakers made it 2–0 on the power play as junior forward Lukas Grabow scored with assists from junior forward Gavin Lind and Lavigne.

Park answered late in the opening period to cut the deficit to one. After a scoreless second, the Wolfpack scored twice in the third to take the lead before adding an empty-net goal to seal a 4–2 win. 

Prior Lake held a 30–19 advantage in shots, but was unable to capitalize. Senior goalie Joe Gannon stopped 15 of 18 shots before the empty-netter.

Lakers struggle in talent-rich Tradition Holiday Invitational

Prior Lake entered the Tradition Holiday Invitational looking to upset some of the top-ranked teams in one of the state’s toughest regular-season tournaments. 

The Lakers opened the event Jan. 1 against rival Shakopee, holding strong early before the Sabers pulled away late. Shakopee is now ranked No. 4 in Class AA by Let’s Play Hockey.

After a scoreless first period, Shakopee scored early in the second, but Prior Lake answered when junior forward Noah Kurth scored his first varsity goal, assisted by sophomore forward Brayden Lake. 

Shakopee responded with two goals later in the period to take a 3–1 lead.

Lake cut the deficit early in the third with his second goal in his first two varsity games, but Shakopee controlled the final minutes, scoring three times to earn a 6–2 victory. 

Shakopee outshot Prior Lake 29–19, while junior goalie Preston Kulics made 23 saves.

The Lakers again skated in a tight contest Jan. 2, this time against No. 11-ranked Cretin-Derham Hall. The teams were scoreless after one before Prior Lake broke through early in the second as Lake scored again, assisted by Kurth and senior defender Jack Willmert.

Cretin-Derham Hall answered with two goals later in the period to take the lead and added an empty-net goal late in the third to secure a 3–1 win. 

Shots were nearly even, with Cretin-Derham Hall holding a 22–16 edge. Kulics finished with 19 saves.

The invitational concluded Jan. 3 against Lakeville North in a game defined by sustained pressure from the Lakers. 

After a scoreless opening of more than 12 minutes, Lakeville North struck first. Prior Lake responded less than a minute later on a power-play goal by Sporney, assisted by sophomore forward Luke Watkins and senior defender Brendan Chayer.

North answered quickly, but the Lakers tied the game late in the first period when sophomore forward Beckett Solis scored on the power play, assisted by Willmert and Lavigne, making it 2–2.

Despite a 12–2 shot advantage in the second period, Prior Lake was unable to break through. Lakeville North scored twice early in the third to build a two-goal cushion before Kurth scored late, assisted by senior forward Parker Wenkus and Grabow. 

Prior Lake finished with a 42–19 edge in shots, but fell 4–3, with Kulics stopping 15 of 19 shots.

The Tradition Holiday Invitational again lived up to its reputation, featuring four of the top five teams in Class AA. Moorhead (No. 2) and Edina (No. 3) both finished 3–0 during the event. Moorhead was led offensively by Brandon Mickelson and Max Cullen, who tied for the tournament scoring lead with eight points apiece, while Edina forward Bode McConnell led all players with six goals.

Slump continues in Hill-Murray road loss

Following the tournament, Prior Lake returned to action Jan. 7 with a road matchup at Hill-Murray, another state power ranked No. 7 in Class AA, and came away with a 3–0 loss. Hill-Murray scored once in each period, including an empty-net goal late in the third.

Despite the result, Gannon was sharp in net, stopping 27 of 29 shots.

Up next

Prior Lake travels to conference opponent Eastview on Jan. 10 before returning home to Dakotah! Ice Center on Jan. 13 for a matchup against No. 14-ranked Lakeville South.