Holy Angels hasn’t lost in more than a month.
Gentry Academy’s winning streak against Minnesota opponents dates to the beginning of last season, an incredible stretch of 29 games that included a run to last season’s state Class 1A championship.
Wednesday’s Stars versus Stars matchup (the teams share the same nickname) at TCO Sports Garden in Vadnais Heights is the first in a home-and-home series the concludes Saturday at Richfield Ice Arena, Holy Angels’ home rink.
Gentry Academy (10-2-0) has been hovering near the bottom of the state’s top 20 in Class 2A for the past several weeks and currently sits at No 19.
A sweep of the series would likely launch Holy Angels (11-1-1) into the top 20 for the first time this season.
The teams figure to be evenly matched. Both feature a couple of dangerous forward lines, several standouts on defense and top-caliber goaltenders.
Senior Carter Hermanson leads Holy Angels with 26 points, and senior Ricky Nelson is the top goal scorer with 15, including three hat tricks. Senior Bryce Hess, a transfer who played junior varsity for Edina last season, ranks among the state’s top five in save percentage (.937) and goals-against average (1.50).
Holy Angels’ lone loss, a 3-2 setback against Woodbury, came on Dec. 4.
Gentry Academy owns wins this season over the top-ranked teams in both Wisconsin (Hudson) and North Dakota (Grand Forks Red River). Gentry’s two losses have come against Hudson (the second of the teams' three scheduled meetings) and Notre Dame Academy, another Wisconsin powerhouse.
Junior Wes Berg leads Gentry Academy in goals (11) and points (17), while junior Reese Shaw is the team’s assist leader with 11. Senior speed merchant Barrett Hall has 13 points in 10 games.