This battle for supremacy in dueling lake country areas presents all sorts of intrigue, not the least of which is whether Detroit Lakes has the horsepower to challenge longtime Section 8A kingpins East Grand Forks and Warroad.
The No. 12-1A Lakers (3-2-0) raised some eyebrows Dec. 4 when they took No. 5-1A East Grand Forks to overtime before losing 5-4. They then outscored their next three opponents, Kittson Central, Park Rapids and Prairie Centre, by a combined 20-1.
Jordan Fields and Spencer Bergman, both senior forwards, share the team points lead with seven, and Bergman has the most goals with five.
No. 11-1A Northern Lakes (2-1-0) knocked off Brainerd 4-2 Dec. 9 to claim a new traveling trophy — the Lakes Area Battle Paddle — in the resumption of the previously long-dormant series.
The Lightning, who reached the state Class 1A tournament for the first time last season, have four players with two goals each. Taylor Berg, Tyler Seeling and Zach Ehnstrom are the points leaders with four each.