Grand Forks Central hockey looking like a state contender once again
GRAND FORKS, N.D. (BVM) — When Grand Forks Central was ready when it hit the ice a month ago for its first game of the season.
Even with the changes to the offseason due to COVID-19, both players and coaches had been looking forward to that first game because of who it was against. The Knights were playing crosstown rival Grand Forks River, which beat Central last season in overtime in the state semifinals on its way to winning state.
“Playing them early I think gave us a little more incentive to be prepared for that first game,” Central head coach Grant Paranica said.
The Knights beat Red River 4-1 to open the season and have been on a tear since. Central is 6-1 and once again one of the top teams in the state.
“We’re happy with the direction we’ve been going thus far,” Paranica said.
Even with the added hurdles of preparing for a season during a pandemic, the Knights have taken it in stride, adjusting when they need to but always focusing on improvement.
“I think the disruption that we had probably affected the coaches more than the kids,” Paranica said. “We have a yearly season plan that we like to do certain things at certain times of the year and that was thrown off a little bit so we had to adjust. I think the kids are very adaptable and so far I feel we’re back on track.”
A huge factor in Central’s ability to stay on track is its senior leadership. The Knights have 12 seniors this season, including three of the team’s top four leaders in points from a year ago. Forwards Braden Panzer, Chase Spicer and Joey Kennely are once again leading Central in total points.
Panzer also leads the team with eight goals and Spicer leads in assists with 11, but for Paranica, it’s their leadership that has stood out.
“The biggest thing is the leadership,” Paranica said. “Those two have been very good at that.”
Central also returned senior goalie Kolby Elseth, who is coming off a 22-5 season in the net.
“Any mistake that we make he can cover up for us,” Paranica said. “It’s a tremendously important position on the ice.”
More than just helping the team get through COVID-19, those veterans players are motivating the Knights to not make the same mistakes they did last year in the postseason.
Central was coming off three straight state championship wins when it played Grand Forks Red River in the state semifinals last year, but according to Paranica, the team didn’t play like a three-time state champion.
“We played not to lose instead of to win,” Paranica said. “I think that was the difference in that game.”
“You got to give a lot of credit to Red River the way that they had played in that game. I think they had a plan and a belief in themselves in what they were doing and they executed that very well.”
One year removed and the Knights are ready to make up for that and live up to the expectations that have been set for Grand Forks Central teams.
“It’s still early in the year, but there is an expectation,” Paranica said. “I think the kids know there is an expectation at Grand Forks Central just because of history and success we have had in past years. They all have a sense that they want to live up to that too.”
The Knights have won 28 state championships as a program and in the last seven years have made it to the state championship five times, winning three of them. They have taken third In the recent years when they have not made it to the state championship game.
For the players out on the ice, it is a badge of honor and one that they love to have. It means something to them and to those that have come before them to be Grand Forks Central hockey players.
It also means that night in and night out, you have a target on your back and this season is no different. The Knights welcome it as they work towards getting back to the state championship game.
“We know everyone is going to bring their best game to us and we want that,” Paranica said.
