#1 Maple Grove boys hockey rides top line to 5-1 win over #10 Andover

Chris Long

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It takes an entire team to earn the #1 spot in the Minnesota boys high school hockey rankings, but Maple Grove’s top line continued their scorching hot start to the season in a 5-1 win over #10 Andover on Thursday night.

Chris Kernan and Sam Jacobs each scored twice, with linemate Kyle Kukkonen earning assists on all four goals as the Crimson backed up the #1 ranking coach Todd Bergland said marks the program’s first time topping the statewide poll.

Click the video box on this page to watch KSTP Sports extended highlights from Thursday night’s boys hockey game between #1 Maple Grove and #10 Andover

Henry Nelson scored the other Crimson goal while goalie Jack Wieneke made 27 saves to earn the win.

Garrett Schifsky scored Andover’s lone goal tying the game 1-1 in the second period before Maple Grove closed with four unanswered.

Maple Grove's Sam Jacobs (21) is swarmed by Chris Kernan (27), Kyle Kukkonen (9), Jacob Hicks (23) and Cal Thomas (22) after scoring a goal against Andover on Thursday, February 4th 2021.[KSTP Sports]

A four-goal night for the Crimson’s top line of Jacobs, Kukkonen and Kernan actually slightly lowered their per-game average for the season. They’ve scored a staggering 25 goals in their first six games (Jacobs 13, Kukkonen 8, Kernan 4).

Kukkonen’s four assists give him a state-leading 17 – nearly three per game – over the first six games of the season. His 25 points this season currently lead all Class AA players statewide.

As a team, Maple Grove has outscored opponents 50-11 so far.

The victory keeps Maple Grove perfect at 6-0 this season. It was Andover’s first loss in their seven games this season.