Balance, depth and discipline have carried the Proctor/Hermantown girls hockey team into the heart of the season as one of northern Minnesota’s best teams.
Proctor/Hermantown is 13-5-2 overall and 4-1-1 in the Lake Superior Conference, pairing a four-goals-per-game offense with one of the stingiest defenses in the region. The Mirage are averaging 4.05 goals per game while allowing just 1.75, a margin built on steady five-on-five play and special teams that rarely beat themselves.
The numbers are emphatic. Proctor/Hermantown has outscored opponents 81-35 through 20 games, posted five shutouts and limited opposing shooters to a .880 save percentage against its goaltenders. The Mirage penalty kill is operating at 85 percent, and the power play has converted 19.5 percent of its chances.
That structure has translated to consistent results against a demanding schedule that included Warroad, Edina, Andover, Benilde-St. Margaret’s and Breck. Proctor/Hermantown owns wins over Apple Valley, Cloquet/Esko/Carlton (twice), Dodge County and Thief River Falls, along with road victories at Blaine and Hibbing/Chisholm.
The Mirage offense does not rely on a single line. Eleven skaters have recorded double-digit points, led by junior forward Avery Milbridge, who has 28 points on 16 goals and 12 assists in 20 games. Senior Grace Nichols has added 25 points, while sophomore Mya Gunderson has 24 points and junior Ella Kaups has chipped in 21.
Junior Aubrey Miner and sophomore Natalie Heitzman have combined for 37 points, and senior Peighton Paulson has contributed 15, underscoring the depth that allows Proctor/Hermantown to roll lines without losing pace or pressure.
On the blue line, seniors Sarah Stauber and Ashlee Pruse anchor a group that moves the puck efficiently and limits second chances. Stauber has 12 points, Pruse has 11, and sophomore Taylee Manion has produced 10 from the back end. The Mirage have allowed just 35 goals on 423 shots.
In net, senior Lillian Clemons has provided the backbone. Clemons owns a 1.29 goals-against average with a .932 save percentage and two shutouts in 16 appearances. Suri Langley and Avery Kuras have also seen time, giving Proctor/Hermantown flexibility without drop-off.
The Mirage have been particularly strong in the middle period, outscoring opponents 40-10 in the second, a reflection of conditioning and in-game adjustments that tilt momentum decisively.
With conference positioning tightening and the postseason approaching, Proctor/Hermantown has built its resume the old-fashioned way — defend first, share the puck and wear teams down shift by shift. The results suggest a group built not just to compete, but to last.