CEnTENNIAL vs. ROSEMOUNT

7 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 23
Rosemount Ice Arena, Rosemount

This is something of an odd-couple matchup, albeit a great one. Centennial, located in the far northern suburbs, plays out of the Northwest Suburban Conference. Rosemount, meanwhile, is in the distant south and is a member of the South Suburban Conference.

No. 17-2A Centennial (4-1-0) drew the short straw and gets to make the 37-mile drive through the heart of the metro for what should be a hotly contested showdown between two teams off to sensational starts.

Centennial has scored six or more goals in all four of its victories, three of which have ended in running time because of the six-goal-or-more margin of victory. The Cougars possess a potent mix of veteran and rookie talent at forward. Seniors A.J. Carls and Owen Van Tassel (each of whom have 10 points) form a formidable duo, and sophomore Harper Searles is among the team’s scoring leaders with seven points.

Centennial senior Jack Fuller has played every minute in goal so far and is tied for the state lead with his 1.20 goals-against average and ranks fourth with a .943 save percentage. 

Rosemount (3-1-0) is coming off Saturday’s 4-3 triumph over No. 14-2A Prior Lake, a win in which the Irish rallied from a 3-1 deficit late in the second period with three unanswered goals. Forward Caden Hegarty, a 6-3 junior, scored the winner against the Lakers and leads Rosemount with seven points.

The Irish have a tradition of producing top-caliber defensemen, one that continues with the duo of Owen Hendrickson and Carson Liebaert, seniors who rank second on the team in scoring with five points each. Both were selected to play in the Upper Midwest High School Elite League this fall.

Which team will win?
Legacy pick: Centennial