Buffalo Looks for Revenge as it Travels to Take on North Wright County in Monticello

Everyone knows the history. 

St. Michael-Albertville-Monticello and Buffalo all teamed up back in the last decade to create the Wright County Blades, the first-ever girls' hockey varsity team for the northwest suburbs. 

And together, the squad qualified for the state tournament. 

Now, in the last several years, that cooperation has turned into a rivalry, as Buffalo splintered off prior to the 2008 season.

The two have shared at least a portion of every Mississippi 8 Conference crown since. North Wright County has qualified for a state tournament appearnace on its own. And this year, Jason Johnson has the team poised for another trip to the Xcel Energy Center.

First comes tonight, when the Bison (15-6, No. 15 in the standings) travel to Monticello to take on the RiverHawks (16-3-1, No. 11) in a game that could decide the conference championship, particularly if the Knight-laden team takes home another win.

North Wright County traveled to Buffalo early in the season, back on Dec. 6, and blanked the Bison 4-0. 

Kaleigh Hamann led the way in that contest with two goals, but it was senior Dani Sibley who had the game-winner, a first period tally that would stand up as Alex LaMere, a junior, racked up 29 saves in a shutout win. 

Sibley, with 45 points, is again the team's leading scorer, as she was in 2011-2012. This year, she's getting a huge hand from fellow senior Rachel Heiber, who has racked up 32 points, second on the team. Another senior, Maddi Sjelin, a four-year contributor like Sibley, is third. 

LaMere has filled in admirably for the departed Amanda Koep, who graduated after starting two years for the Hawks. LaMere has racked up a 94 percent save percentage and a record of 10-2-1. She's allowed just 17 goals in her 13 games played. 

For Buffalo, the squad goes as senior Katie Rooney does. One of the state's prolific scorers, Rooney has 56 points, best in the conference. Her 30 goals are seventh in the state. 

Teammate Lindsay Roethke is the playmaker, with 28 assists on the season, good for 10th in Minnesota. 

Face off tonight is 7 p.m. at Moose Sheritt Ice Arena in Monticello. The Hawks will host River Lakes (Roccori area) in Section 8AA action at 7 Thursday night at the Moose. They'll return to STMA Arena next on Feb. 2 when they host Moorhead to close out the regular season.