12 area girls hockey players to watch

Nov. 25—GRAND FORKS — Last winter, the Warroad girls hockey program came up just short of winning a fourth-consecutive Minnesota Class A state championship.

The Warriors lost in overtime to Dodge County in the state championship in St. Paul.

Many of the key pieces from that state tournament team are back this season, and that was reflected in the Herald's Player to Watch list for Minnesota and North Dakota girls hockey.

Warroad led the list with four selections, including forwards Jaylie French, Karlee Kalbrener, Taylor Reese and goalie Payton Rolli.

Here are 12 players to watch for the 2025-26 season from the Herald's coverage area:

Lila Dalager, Thief River Falls: The junior forward's goal total has grown each of the last three years from 10 to 14 to 22 last year. She has four goals and nine points in six games to start this year.

Jaylie French, Warroad: The junior forward was a Minnesota all-state pick last year after racking up 25 goals and 36 assists.

Jasmine Hovda, Roseau: The senior Minnesota all-state forward is a St. Cloud State signee. After scoring 18 goals a year ago, Hovda has 10 goals in six games to start this season.

Karlee Kalbrener, Warroad: The junior forward had seven goals and 30 assists last season. She has two goals in four games to start this season.

Ella Ketring, Roseau: The junior forward had 17 goals last season and 12 as a freshman. Through six games to start this year, she has five goals and seven assists.

Alaina Marto, Grand Forks: The freshman forward is the KnightRiders' top returning goal scorer, finishing with 10 goals and five assists as an eighth-grader last season.

Delaney Parker, Devils Lake: The sophomore goalie was a North Dakota all-state selection last season after registering a 90.7 save percentage.

Taylor Reese, Warroad: The senior forward was a Minnesota all-state selection after scoring more than 20 goals for a second-straight season. She finished last season with 26 goals and 17 assists.

Payton Rolli, Warroad: The senior goalie and Minnesota Gophers commit enters a third-straight season starting in net and has posted save percentages the last two years of 92.3 percent and 94.3 percent. Last season, she had a goals-against average of 1.15.

Kylie Schmaltz, Grand Forks: The senior split time last season with another standout goalie, finishing with a 9-2-0 record, 91.2 save percentage and a 1.44 goals-against average.

Blake Schultz, EGF Senior High: The senior forward was an all-state honorable mention last year after scoring 39 goals and adding 21 assists. Schultz has scored at least 30 goals and racked up at least 50 points in three straight seasons.

Adley Vigness, Crookston: The sophomore defender was an all-Section 8A first team selection last year with four goals and 10 assists. Through five games this year, she has two goals.