It’s been all smiles for the Holy Family Fire as they are now 8-0-0 and ranked No. 1 for the first time in program history. LPH PHOTOS BY ROBERT BRENT
Fire beat defending champion Pioneers to stay undefeated
It took eight years, but the Holy Family Fire reaching No. 1 in the Class AA girls hockey rankings was well worth the wait.
It is the latest notch in the belt for a program that continues to solidify itself as a perennial powerhouse in Class AA hockey. Last season they defeated fellow metro powerhouse Minnetonka to advance to their first state tournament in program history where they finished third and came within on goal of the state championship game.
This year they came in with high expectations, returning a solid group of players including senior goaltender Kayla Swartout, and adding the talent of U of Wisconsin commit Maddy Kimbrel.
Katya Sander and teammates celebrate after Holy Family’s first goal of the day.The result has been eight straight wins to start the season, including a 3-2 overtime win over top-ranked and defending state champion Hill-Murray on Saturday.
The Fire came out buzzing and doubled up on shots against the Pioneers in the first period 10-5. Kimbrel was the only one to light the lamp 10:14 into the period on a power play, assisted by Katya Sander and Audrey Nichols. The Fire took a 2-0 lead late in the second despite being doubled up on in shots by the Pioneeers (18-9) when Addy Cowan scored their second power-play goal of the day, assisted by Kimbrel and Nichols.
But the Pioneers answered when Gwynn Skoogman finally beat Swartout with Emily Pohl and Jaycee Chatleain assisting.
Gwynn Skoogman tied it for Hill-Murray in the second period.
The Fire held the 2-1 lead despite pressure from the Pioneers potent offense. Hill tied it at the 13-minute mark when Hannah Rychley buried her team-leading 11th goal to continue her 7-game goal-scoring streak.
Swartout and Pioneer goalie Piper Tam kept the game tied through regulation, and the Pioneers continued to mount pressure, only to be turned away by Swartout. Then at 6:41 of the overtime period, Nichols found Angie Cody on the back door where she slammed home the game winner, sending Holy Family fans into a frenzy at a packed arena at The Vic.
The win improved the Fire to 8-0-0 while the Pioneers fell to 8-1-0. Hill outshot the Fire 47-29 and Swartout continued her stellar play and now sports a .949 save percentage.
“Kayla has been the backbone of our program since she took over the net for Sedona (Blair) her sophomore year,” said Fire Head Coach Randy Koeppl. “She’s a natural leader, has the perfect attitude to lead a team and will not be outworked. Over the last couple weeks she has taken her game to a completely different level that we haven’t seen out of her.”
With the win the Fire took over the top ranking in Class AA, and while it carries significance for the team and the program, Coach Koeppl knows there is a lot of hockey to be played.
“The win feels good for the program,” he said. “It’s the first time we’ve been ranked number one in the state in our eight-year history. We also understand that it is still very early in the season and a lot will change over the next couple of months.”
Holy Family’s Taryn Richter and Hill-Murray’s Jaycee Chatleain battle for a loose puck.
The Fire, now with a definite target on their back as the team to beat, will go on a 5-game road trip beginning at No.6AA Bemidji Friday and at No. 11AA Moorhead Saturday. They then will travel to No. 15A Hutchinson Dec. 16, No. 8AA Benilde-St. Margaret’s Dec. 18, and No. 4AA Centennial/Spring Lake Park Dec. 20.
Koeppl also knows how talented the defending champion Pioneers are.
“I have no doubt that Hill will be one of the last teams standing in February,” he said. “They are a phenomenal team up and down the roster.”
Beating them Saturday gives the Fire another jolt of confidence that seems to be becoming contagious.
“This win gives us the confidence that we can play with them, but we still definitely need to get better,” he said.
The Pioneers will likely get back on the winning track this week with a pair of games against conference foes Simley and St. Paul/Two Rivers before facing Cretin-Derham Hall Saturday.
Minnetonka, Centennial/SLP and Edina maintained their slots in 3-4-5 this week. Bemidji jumped a spot to No. 6 ahead of Maple Grove who suffered a loss to Centennial/SLP. Bemidji remains unbeaten at 7-0-0 and will get their biggest test Friday against the No. 1 Fire.
Benilde-St. Margaret’s stayed put at No. 8 and Woodbury and Andover each jumped a spot with Andover sneaking into the Top 10 and Moorhead falling to No. 11.
Let’s Play Hockey Girls Class AA Rankings
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Other Teams Receiving Votes: Stillwater, Apple Valley, Rosemount, Prior Lake, Roseville/Mahtomedi, Rochester Century, Cretin-Derham Hall, Eagan, Forest Lake, Duluth, Brainerd.