Champlin Park/Coon Rapids girls hockey team played two games last week to end its regular season, falling to Andover on Jan. 30, before beating Wayzata at home on Feb. 3.
Andover
CPCR girls hockey opened last week with a 4-1 loss on Jan. 30 to Andover at Andover Arena.
Andover represented CPCR’s final Northwest Suburban Conference game of the season. The Huskies have competed for the conference title this season, entering the week two points behind Centennial/Spring Lake Park.
The loss meant CPCR ended the 2023-24 season with a 7-5-1 NWSC record.
Lily McKenzie scored the Bluebirds only goal of the day, cutting Andover’s lead to 2-1 at the time. McKenzie’s short-handed goal came amid a relatively low shot count for both sides. CPCR had 18 shots while Andover made 26.
Wayzata
CPCR responded well with a 3-1 win over Wayzata on Feb. 3 at Coon Rapids Ice Arena to end the regular season with a 15-8-2 overall record.
Wayzata girls hockey has struggled in Lake Conference play, holding a 2-7 record, 6-14-2 overall. The Trojans’ troubles carried into the new year, going 1-6-1 in their first eight games of 2024.
The game started fast but still required patience. After the opening several minutes were staggered by regular freezes of the puck, a more flowing game developed between the Bluebirds and the Trojans. As the first period continued, CPCR met Wayzata’s early chances and made it a closer game on the shot count, eventually leading 12-8 at the break.
Neither team, however, could score. CPCR benefited from chances created by Caitlin Easton, Callie Alphin, and June Semling, while goaltender Madelyn Wostrel worked hard to keep Wayzata out.
There were 15 more shots between both teams in the second period, but it was still not enough to find a deciding goal as the game remained 0-0. The second period required hard work from both teams defensively. Both the Bluebirds and the Trojans killed two penalties and both goaltenders had to deal with one-on-one situations. Despite the lack of goals, the night was proving to be a high-energy affair as both teams played exciting periods of hockey.
CPCR finally struck true in the third period with a goal from Lily McKenzie, who skated herself into a good position before slotting home a short-range shot. The goal came after the Bluebirds managed to kill two overlapping penalties.
Wayzata scored a minute later with 8:30 left to play to keep the game unresolved at 1-1. CPCR would eventually retake the lead after Semling rocketed a hit set up by McKenzie to make it 2-1. McKenzie then took advantage of a Wayzata empty net in the second-to-last minute to make it 3-1.
Champlin Park/Coon Rapids took part in the Section 5AA tournament the following week.
Champlin Park boys
Champlin Park boys hockey hosted two opponents from the northland last week, starting with a 6-4 win on Feb. 2 over Duluth East.
Coming out on top of a wild matchup that saw both sides take leads, tie up the score, and see big shots saved, Champlin Park benefited from goals by Brent Solomon, Will Burnevik, Evan Long, and Ty McGee.
Solomon scored twice.
The Rebels beat Cloquet/Esko/Carlton 6-2 the next day. Burnevik and Trevor Aberwald scored two goals each in the big win, while Nick Carlson and Tristan Wekseth added one goal each.
Champlin Park will play two games the following week, hosting Anoka on Feb. 8, before traveling to Holy Family on Feb. 10.
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