Westonka Skates Up North Against Powerhouse Programs

The Westonka girl's hockey team traveled to northern Minnesota where they played Grand Rapids and Pequot Lakes. In front of a home crowd at the Civic Center, which was filled with pictures of former Grand Rapids players that have gone onto play for team USA and professional hockey, the Mound girls lost 2-0.

Grand Rapids scored midway through the first period to take a 1-0 lead. Few Westonka shots made it to the net in the first period when Grand Rapids played strong defense and kept Westonka out of the scoring zone.

The Lake Minnetonka girls filled the penalty box in the second period but had success killing five penalties. Midway through the second frame, Grand Rapids scored a full strength goal when they cycled the puck down low in the Mound zone, which allowed Kaya Baker a clear shot in front of the net.

Westonka had several good scoring chances in the third period but could not find the back of the net and ended up losing 2-0.

The next day, the team traveled to Breezy Point and beat Pequot Lakes 4-1.  

Grace Holmen and Jess Nkhata combined for two goals in the first period, and Emily Halvarson scored off a rebound from Morgan Niccum in the second period. Late in the third period, Abby Brustad hit “LT” Moynagh with a perfect pass that allowed LT to streak in on a breakaway—where she buried the puck between the goalie's pads.

Playing their first home game since the trip up north, the Westonka girls lost 1-0 to Rogers on Dec 20. In a hard-fought game where Westonka had several good scoring chances, the White Hawks could not find the back of the net.  

Rogers scored the only goal of the game midway through the first period.

Next up for Westonka is a home games Dec. 29 against St. Michael-Albertville and then conference game against Litchfield Jan. 3.

Information provided by the girl's hockey program.