A quick check of Pelican Rapids’ state tournament history reveals … there is none. Maybe this will be the year the Vikings, in just their fourth season as a varsity program, break through as they've reached the midpoint of their season unbeaten.
Alan Villagomez is one of the scoring leaders for Pelican Rapids (7-0-1, 4-0-0), which beat Crookston and St. John’s Prep by a combined 15-1 last week.
The road to state in Class 1A, Section 8 has gone through Bemidji in recent years, and the No. 7-1A Lumberjacks (6-1-1, 2-0-0), who have qualified for the last three state tournaments, appear to have the talent for another extended postseason run.
The Lumberjacks' Ethan Mock (12 goals) and Silas Hess (nine goals) form one of the state’s most dangerous scoring tandems.