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Chisago Lakes 5, Northern Tier 1

The middle schoolers stood out in the Wildcat girls’ hockey team’s 5-1 win over the Northern Tier Stars.  Eighth grader Zoe Neurer had her second hat trick of the season and had points on all five Wildcat goals.  The Wildcats outshot the Stars 59-9 for the game and allowed just one shot on goal in the first period and the third period.  Goalie Kendall Wakefield, a seventh grader, stopped eight of nine shots for her first career win. The game was played Thursday, December 18 at East Bethel Ice Arena.

Neurer scored the first two goals of the game – one in the first period and one in the second period – to put the Wildcats up 2-0.  Brynn Secor scored to make it 3-0 in the second period.  Lexi Smothers scored ten seconds into the third period to make it 4-1.  And Neurer squeezed in her third goal with just three seconds remaining to make it 5-1.  Assisting on Neurer’s goals were Naomi Eaton, Allie Johnson, Secor, and Grace Schulte.

Duluth 5, CL  1

The Duluth Northern Stars took advantage of the fact that Wildcats starting goalie Ava Aarnio was out ill and beat the Wildcats 5-1 on Saturday, December 20 at the Duluth Essentia Heritage Center.  The Northern Stars stymied the usually potent Wildcat offense, allowing just 12 Wildcat shots on goal for the game. Zoe Neurer scored just under two minutes into the first period to give the Wildcats an early 1-0 lead.  But it was all Duluth after that.  Kendall Wakefield started her second straight game in the nets for the Wildcats and stopped 24 of the 29 shots she faced.

Hockey Hullaballoo

The Wildcats (11-5-0) are ranked 12th in the state in Class A.  Lexi Smothers has 20 assists, tying her for fourth in the state.  And Ava Aarnio has recovered from her illness and is expected back in the net for the Wildcats’ next game.

After the Christmas break, the Wildcats will return to the ice on Tuesday, December 30 as they welcome the Hutchinson Tigers to Chisago Lakes Arena for a 7 p.m. clash.

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