Usually, when one of the Lakeville teams is good — top-10 in the state good — the other is nowhere to be seen in the rankings. Which is to say there isn’t so much a balance of power in the south metro suburbs as there are earthquake-like shakeups in talent.
That’s not the case this season, as Lakeville South are not only neighbors geographically but also in the rankings — Lakeville South is No. 11 and Lakeville North No. 14 in Class 2A in this week’s Legacy Hockey Power Rankings. The teams have identical 12-3-0 records and, unless Hastings tosses sledgehammer in the works, seem destined to meet in the Class 1AA section final for the 10th time in the last 15 seasons.
Not that this rivalry, one of the state’s best, is defined by rankings or records. The teams play all-out, high-intensity hockey in front of huge crowds no matter what type of seasons they’re having. There’s so much emotion involved in these games — adrenalin often trumping skill and execution — that there’s no telling who might win these matchups.
As for individual talent, Lakeville South is fueled by its all-junior trio of Tanner Ludtke, Ashton Dahms and Aidan Willis. Add junior Tate Pritchard to the mix, and the four forwards have combined to score 40 of the team’s 69 goals.
Junior Kyle Doll (13 goals) and senior Luke Jech (12 goals) handle much of the scoring for Lakeville North, which has used senior Finn Jacques exclusively in goal.
Viewers: 1-for-4
Legacy: 2-for-4
Viewers: 23-for-38 | 61 percent
Legacy: 24-for-38 | 63 percent