One of the deepest teams in Minnesota High School Hockey this season is, without question, Rosemount. The Irish roll out a lineup filled with experienced veterans, talented youngsters, multi-sport athletes, and a group of hard-working players who buy into the team concept every night.
Rosemount is chasing its first trip to the state tournament since 1992, a drought that has stretched more than three decades. Last season, the Irish had a talented squad that fell in the section semifinals and finishing with a strong 23–4 record. There will be no easy path this year either, as they’ll likely have to battle through heavyweights like St. Thomas Academy and Cretin-Durham Hall to punch their ticket. The Irish are 20-4-1 this season
Head coach Rick Saintey has his group playing as a true unit. You can feel the chemistry and leadership throughout the lineup, with players backing each other up shift after shift. It’s a team that plays with passion, structure, and responsibility in all three zones.
The Irish enter sections on a seven-game winning streak and have not lost since a tight 1–0 defeat to Shakopee on January 20. Rather than relying on a single high-scoring star, Rosemount gets balanced production throughout the roster. Six different players have reached double-digit goals, and on any given night, a different skater can step up as the difference-maker. Gavin McNeill and Connor Schubert pace the team with 37 points apiece.
Statistically, the Irish have been strong across the board. They’re averaging 4.4 goals per game while allowing just 1.92 against. Their power play sits at an impressive 33.9 percent, and the penalty kill has been equally solid at 87.1 percent.
In net, as of late, Rosemount has rotated between sophomore Drew Sherman and senior Sam Clements. Both goaltenders have provided steady, dependable play and are capable of delivering the type of performance needed in the pressure of section playoffs.
With depth, structure, and balanced scoring, the Irish have the makeup of a team that can make a serious push toward the state tournament. But to end that long drought, they’ll have to earn it, because programs like Cretin-Durham Hall and St. Thomas Academy won’t make the road easy.