Live score recap: East Grand Forks tops Northern Lakes in Minnesota high school boys hockey Class 1A quarterfinal

Get game updates from the 2025 MSHSL boys hockey state tournament matchup between the Green Wave and the Lightning

The Xcel Energy Center during the Minnesota (MSHSL) girls hockey state tournament in St. Paul. / Jack Butler

ST. PAUL, Minn. — The No. 4-seed East Grand Forks Green Waves (14-13-2) defeated the No. 5-seed Northern Lakes Lightning (19-9-1) 3-0 in the 2025 Minnesota (MSHSL) high school boys hockey state tournament Class 1A quarterfinals on Wednesday at the Xcel Energy Center.

• Minnesota high school boys hockey state tournament: Day 1 scores, recaps, live updates (3/5/2025)

The game was a 5-on-5 stalemate, but the Green Waves’ special teams propelled them to the Class 1A semifinal on Friday. East Grand Forks went 2-for-3 on the power play and killed three Northern Lakes power plays, including a 5-minute major late in the third period. 

“I thought that was the best hockey we played all night,” East Grand Forks coach Tyler Palmiscno said. “Our penalty kill has been pretty good down the stretch here. We wen’t to six forwards and shift length was 15 to 20 seconds. … It was absolute relentlessness.”

The Green Waves entered the state tournament with a .500 record. They had a stretch of four straight losses just over one month ago thanks, in part, to a difficult strength of schedule. 

“There were times throughout the year where I was quesitoning putting that schedule toegther,” Palmiscno said. "I think you’re seeing the fruits of that a little bit. We were never able to take a night off. … We had to play our best every night to have a chance to win.”

The Green Waves needed to be their best on special teams to defeat the Lightning, a team coached by Mike Randolph, the winningest high school hockey coach in Minnesota.  

“I love this game, and I’m surrounded by guys who love this game and will do anything to play this game,” Randolph said. 

Northern Lakes is a co-op of Pequot Lakes High School, Aitkin High School, Crosby-Ironton High School and Pine River-Backus High School. Some players drive 55 minutes for practices. 

A trip to the state tournament caps off a season well worth the miles. 

“There were a lot of fun nights listening to loud music in the car or going to Califlronia Burrito and getting burritos after practice,” senior Jerome Martin said. “It just adds a lot memories. I wouldn’t change it for the world.”

East Grand Forks moves on to play No. 1-seed Hibbing/Chisholm in the Class 1A semifinal on Friday at 1 p.m. at the Xcel Energy Center, 

“I’m guessing there will be no one left in Hibbing on Friday at one o’clock when that puck drops,” Palmiscno said.

Live score recap: East Grand Forks tops Northern Lakes in Minnesota high school boys hockey Class 1A quarterfinal

Teams are on the ice for introductions.

FIRST PERIOD UPDATES

East Grand Forks wins the opening face-off and we're underway.

Five minutes into the game and Northern Lakes with a 4-1 shots-on-goal advantage.

Neither team able to sustain any pressure so far. The game is tied with 7:23 remaining in the first period.

About as even of a period as you can have so far. Shots-on-goal are tied at seven with three minutes remaining.

END OF FIRST PERIOD: Northern Lakes 0, East Grand Forks 0

A physical game so far. Northern Lakes has 10 shots-on-goal to EGF's 8.

SECOND PERIOD UPDATES

The second period is underway.

Both teams with opportunities early in the period but nothing to show for it.

Northern Lakes goalie Sam Suja makes a save on a 2-on-1 chance for EGF. He's got 11 saves for far — 12:30 remains in the period.

POWER PLAY FOR NORTHERN LAKES! EGF's Noah Frize gets two minutes for tripping — 10:51 remains in the period.

East Grand Forks kills the penalty.

EGF just missed a wrap-around chance. The game is tied at zero with six minutes remaining in the second period.

POWER PLAY FOR EAST GRAND FORKS! Josiah Reier gets two minutes for roughing — 3:51 remains in the second period.

GOAL EAST GRAND FORKS! Jace Van Eps scores on the rebound on the power play. East Grand Forks leads 1-0 with three minutes remaining.

END OF SECOND PERIOD: East Grand Forks 1, Northern Lakes 0

EGF with a 19-18 leads in shots-on-goal so far in the game.

THIRD PERIOD UPDATES

The third period is underway.

POWER PLAY FOR EAST GRAND FORKS! Wyatt Balmer gets two minutes for cross checking — 15:51 remains in the period.

GOAL EAST GRAND FORKS! Cole Schmiedeberg with the pass to Jace Panzer on the power play. Tucker Lovejoy also with the assist. EGF leads 2-0 with 14:11 remaining.

POWER PLAY FOR NORTHERN LAKES! East Grand Forks' Cooper Hills receives a 5-minute major for boarding —11:51 remains in the period.

East Grand Forks kills the 5-minute major. Northern Lakes had its chances, including a shot off the post, but nothing went in for the Lightning.

POWER PLAY FOR NORTHERN LAKES! Judd Pesch gets two minutes for holding — EGF leads 2-0 with 4:09 remaining.

Northern Lakes takes a timeout with 2:58 remaining in the game. The Lightning trail 2-0.

Northern Lakes with the empty net out of the timeout.

EGF kills the penalty.

GOAL EAST GRAND FORKS! Tucker Lovejoy scores an empty net goal for the Green Wave. EGF leads 3-0 with 1:33 remaining.

FINAL: East Grand Forks 3, Northern Lakes 0

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