Seventh-seed Osseo/Park Center girls hockey took part in the Section 5AA tournament last week, falling 7-1 to Maple Grove in the quarterfinals on Feb. 10 at Roseville Ice Arena to conclude its 2023-24 season.
Osseo/Park Center girls hockey head coach Jeremy Lewis explained after the game that the Stars showed knowledge of the fundamentals and the work ethic that the program has long focused on, regardless of the challenges that played out.
“I love this team regardless, but I also love these girls because they never give up,” he said. “We’ve been up seven and shown the same resiliency as when we’re down by six. We don’t take things for granted and it’s just a great group of girls.”
Lewis noted that when it came to OPC’s goal in the Section 5AA quarterfinal, it reflected the tireless work ethic the team aims to create. The goal was scored by one of OPC’s many young players, freshman Gabby Edlund.
“We always talk about just going in hard on the net and that’s what she did,” Lewis said. “She did well and it paid off. There’s a lot of hard work in this group.”
OPC’s roster this season was young, featuring two eighth graders, six freshmen, and five sophomores. The Stars said goodbye last season to highly experienced seniors like Hailey Eikos, Tessa Strand, and Maggie Albers. Despite that obstacle, the Stars earned the same number of total wins as last season.
Second-seed Maple Grove presented a difficult challenge for OPC. The Crimson finished third in the Northwest Suburban Conference with a 9-3 record, 17-7-1 overall. Maple Grove and OPC faced off in the final conference game of the season. The Crimson won 7-0.
Maple Grove opened the game in dominant form and held the momentum throughout. The Crimson led 4-0 after the first period with goals from Bella Shipley, Hadley Bakker, Lauren Lubow and Kelsey Olson.
With a clear mountain to climb, OPC came into the second period with more energy, putting six shots on Maple Grove goal tender Dani Strom. Amid the improved second period, freshman forward Gabby Edlund scored OPC’s only goal of the night, providing reason for celebration amid the night’s difficult defensive work. The goal was assisted by Charlotte Olejar.
Maple Grove led 7-1 going into the third period, which saw neither team score. OPC junior goal tender Alli Olson ended with 39 saves against Maple Grove.
OPC’s season ends with a 9-13-3 overall record, with their work on and off the ice reflected in hard work across the schedule. The Stars went 3-3-2 in their first eight games and showed well at the end of the regular season, winning three of their last five games in wins against Buffalo, Princeton/Big Lake/Becker, and White Bear Lake.
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