Athletes are considered for the weekly top performer poll only if their stats are entered on the MN Girls' Hockey Hub by 10 a.m. on Sundays. If coaches or members of their staffs need access to enter stats, please email mnhubs@sportngin.com.

Aliya Gricius, Winona. The Winhawks’ goaltender was tested often during a 4-1 loss to Rochester Century on Jan. 16, handling a barrage of 90 shots like a seasoned veteran — though Gricius is just an eighth-grader. Her 86 saves is sixth most all-time in a regular-season game, according to the Minnesota State High School League. 

Natalie Bergman, Eveleth-Gilbert. It would be hard to imagine a more impressive high school hockey debut than the one Bergman had on Jan. 14, when her Golden Bears defeated Superior 5-4. The eighth-grader recorded a hat trick and one assist in the victory, leading the Golden Bears’ offense. After she tallied her first goal shorthanded, she scored her second goal with less than a minute remaining in the second period. In the third period, she recorded a shorthanded assist followed by another shorthanded goal within an 18-second span.

Aliya Gricius, Winona. The Winhawks’ goaltender was tested often during a 4-1 loss to Rochester Century on Jan. 16, handling a barrage of 90 shots like a seasoned veteran — though Gricius is just an eighth-grader. Her 86 saves is sixth most all-time in a regular-season game, according to the Minnesota State High School League. 

Hailey Hansen, Blaine. The sophomore goaltender, who backstopped the Bengals to a 15-10 regular season record as a freshman last year, faced a tough test in the season opener on Jan. 15, facing 50 shots on goal. Hansen proved unbeatable, as the Blaine defeated Maple Grove 1-0.

Memphis Mertens, Roseau. The junior forward wasted no time earning her place atop the Rams’ offensive leaderboard, recording 13 points through the team’s first four games this season. The early highlight in Mertens' season was her six-point effort in the Rams’ 6-3 victory against Moorhead on Jan. 22. Mertens tallied three goals and three assists, including one goal and one assist on power plays. She’s already more than halfway to her regular-season points total from last year, as she recorded 16 goals and five assists as a sophomore in the Rams’ regular season.  

Bailey Olson, Willmar. Olson picked up where she left off last season, dominating in the Cardinals’ offensive zone. The senior forward posted two-goal, three-assist games both at Litchfield/Dassel-Cokato on Jan. 16 and against St. Cloud on Jan. 19 before recording her first hat trick of the season during a four-point night against Bemidji. Despite the shortened season, Olson is on pace to surpass her impressive 64 regular-season points total from last year.

*Stats and records as of Jan. 24.

MN Girls' Hockey Hub polls are for entertainment purposes only.