Bluebirds hockey ends season with battle against Crimson

Third-seed Champlin Park/Coon Rapids girls hockey fell to second-seed Maple Grove 8-1 on Feb. 13 at Roseville Ice Arena. The loss ended CPCR’s 2023/24 season.

The Crimson entered the week with an 18-7-1 record, having dominated their quarterfinal game against Osseo/Park Center the week before.

Both teams showed their intent in the first period, fighting to a deadlock well into the period before Maple Grove eventually opened the scoring through Bella Shipley. It was the only goal of the first period.

The Bluebirds had played hard and had their chances, amounting to three shots on target, but also spent much of the period on the back foot defending against the Crimson Tides. CPCR tested Maple Grove goalie Dani Strom, but was unable to outsmart the defense.

After another back-and-forth opening few minutes, a minute of madness proved to be one of the game’s most decisive on Feb. 13. Maple Grove scored its second in the fifth minute, only for CPCR’s Lily McKenzie to score one for the Bluebirds. Before a full minute could pass, a third Crimson goal went in to make it 3-1. Maple Grove found one more goal on a defensive miscue to conclude the period ahead 4-1.

The Bluebirds held strong in the first 10 minutes of the third period, managing to get the puck in and around Strom’s goal but taking limited shots. CPCR had three shots in the first period, seven in the second and four in the third.

As the game wound down, Maple Grove found four more goals to ensure a confident ticket to the Section 5AA final. Maple Grove’s Hadley Bakker had two goals and one assist, while Shipley had four goals. Kelsey Olson had five assists against CPCR.

Maple Grove’s penalty kill was on display in the second period, managing to not concede during three separate penalties.

CPCR girls hockey head coach Todd Gutterman noted that the season went well, though the Bluebirds had hoped for a deeper post-season run.

“We had our ups and downs but I think it was a good year,” he said. “We expected more out of ourselves at the end, but we’re returning a lot of firepower so that’s exciting for next year.”

Gutterman further explained that the future is bright with the Bluebirds’ young core. All four of CPCR’s top scorers, sophomore Sydney Burnevik, junior Lily McKenzie, freshman June Semling and sophomore Tessa Boden, will return next year. They combined for 150 total points this season.

“I love our youth. They had success when they were coming up,” he said. “Andover’s Andover and Maple Grove and Centennial will return a lot of their players, so it won’t be getting any easier but I also do believe that we’re poised to have another good year.”

Boys hockey

Champlin Park boys hockey concluded the regular season last week with a 6-2 win over Mounds View on Feb. 17. The team heads into playoffs with a 15-9-1 overall record.

Despite receiving as many penalties as they scored goals, the Rebels flow was not disturbed as Trevor Aberwald, Will Burnevik, Nick Carlson, and Brent Solomon collected goals in the big win. Aberwald and Solomon scored two each.

The fourth seed Rebels returned to the ice on Thursday, Feb. 22, hosting fifth seed Totino-Grace in the first round of the Section 5AA tournament.