"Hopefully, make it to the 'nino," says senior defenseman Addison Trapp, as an affectionate reference to the newly named Grand Casino Arena, formerly Xcel Energy Center.
An online search finds "The Grand," "The GC," and "The Jackpot" as other monikers. In addition to sticking with "The X."
The Tigers returned to state in 2025 for the first time since 2021. Last winter's seniors Addison Moudry and Kennedy Meier were eighth graders on that team.
Coach Jon Holmes says, "Once you go, you get a taste. And that was the big thing last year… (Moudry and Meier) knew what it was like. However, none of the other ones knew. They wanted to go. Everyone wants to go."
In last season's section final, the Tigers overcame Northfield's advantage of having played at state in 2024, "Those girls had been there. They knew what it was like to be in that environment. They knew what it was like to have the feeling of stepping on to the ice at the X, to be treated like absolute royalty. And us having that (this season) is an advantage."
Trapp says the team must manage expectations, "We really just try to stay humble. Holmes talks to us all of the time about it. It's mostly we're just trying to beat ourselves. We work every day to beat ourselves. So, it makes us overall better against other teams."
Senior Makena Underwood says the motivation is evident, "It's definitely held us to higher standards, speaking for the team. But for me, focusing on keeping my training at a high level and practicing as hard as I can every time."

Stop the puck
She shared goaltending duties last season with Moudry (9-5-2, 1.96 goals against, .920 save percentage) who is now at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Underwood (9-4-1, 2.90, .896) has committed to Division I Saint Michael's in Vermont.
She started hockey as a forward but one weekend during youth hockey, "My dad was out of town, and they were asking who wanted to wear the (goalie) gear and I said, yes. My mom knew my dad didn't want me to wear it, but she let me bring it home. Ever since then…
"I love playing goalie. As hard as it sounds. It's such an individual position. But having the team around me has brought me so much joy and gotten me through hard times," Underwood added.
Holmes said, "This year we'll probably go a more traditional route where Kena's going to have primary time and space in that net. I think it's a relief (committing to college)…Ok, I know where I'm going. I can just concentrate on having a great year. I can be a good leader."
He says there are three other goalies in the program seeking time on varsity and JV.
Trapp lost her sophomore year two winters ago to a knee injury, "Which changed my perspective on the game. It honestly helped me with seeing everything off the ice to seeing it on the ice and the plays. It's helped me vision wise."
"I feel we have a lot of very good talent, communicating and moving the puck well. And not just one person being able to do everything in the (defensive) zone. I feel like we have really good passing."
"We do well with communication as well up in the forward side. We move very well and mesh. Everyone on our team can play together no matter who you're with. It's also the bond that we have outside of hockey that brings us closer together," Trapp indicated.

Scoring punch
Holmes says the depth on the forward lines could lead to some surprising scoring, "We got three lines that can go. That third line, I think, matches up well with anyone's first line. So, if they're out there against a third line, they should have opportunities to score."
Top producers for the Tigers last season were Jenna Goblirsch (20 goals, 21 assists, 41 points), Taylor Risch (20-12, 32), Amelia Goblirsch (12-19, 31), Payton Blom (5-16, 21), Lexi Giller (6-12, 18), and Josey Empey (5-9, 14).
Defensively, he says it's a solid crew returning, including seniors Trapp and Charlotte Mahowald, "The other four have gotten some time and they've played already, even as tenth and ninth graders. They're ready to go."
Among the Tigers losses in '24-'25 was a regular season setback to Edina and a state tournament loss to the Hornets who went on to finish as state runner-up. FHS hosts Edina on November 22. Powerhouse Benilde-St. Margaret's pays a visit to Schmitz-Maki Arena on December 20. State tournament team Centennial was added to the schedule.
"We've gone back and forth over the years on having maybe the top five hardest schedules in the state to sometimes we ease it up," says Holmes. "It's the ebbs and flows of high school. Sometimes you've just got to look and guess on where you think you might be so that you're challenging your team."
Trapp says, "It gets us ready for where we want to be at the end of the season. And when we get there, we'll be prepared. And we'll know what's coming."
Underwood believes their tough training will have them ready, "Always competing in practice is a really big thing for us. And using our time to our full potential is a huge thing. I think that's really going to make us successful, especially if it's late in the third period or overtime. We've trained enough to be able to get through those times."
Holmes points out that with so much experience the staff can take the players to a new level, "Teaching and coaching them now is different than when they were seventh and eighth graders. They had skill then, but they have even more skill now and they have the capacity to understand 'their why.' Ok, what's going on behind the scenes here."
Section 1AA changes include Mankato East (14-10-2 in '24-25) moving out. FHS (18-9-3) topped the Cougars 4-3 in the section semifinals last winter. Austin and South Central (a co-op consisting of eight school districts including Waseca and Faribault) shift to Class A. Newcomer Winona joins Lakeville South, Northfield, Owatonna, Rochester Mayo, and Rochester Century/John Marshall and Farmington in 1AA.
Holmes was named the Minnesota Girls Hockey Coaches Association Class AA Coach of the Year after last season. Underwood noted, "He's such a mentor to me. I look up to him so much. We're just endlessly proud of him. He pushes us every day. He holds us accountable but is also that person that you can go to and talk to when you're going through a hard time."
Holmes responded, "Humbled, I feel like last year the award came my way not because of wins" after going 0-2 at state.
Instead he said, "Emphasizing the idea that hockey is a conduit for us to build Farmington. Hockey is really a conduit for us to go to the community and cultivate relationships. Whether you're in hockey, whether you're in band, the speech (or) debate club, we're all here for each other. We've been doing that off the ice the last few years, especially with this group."

The schedule
FHS opens the season at Owatonna on Tuesday, November 11 at 7 pm. Their home opener is Friday, November 14 with Rosemount at 7 pm. The Irish won the South Suburban Conference last winter at 14-2. The Tigers were second at 11-3-2. They split the season series. Rosemount also qualified for state, taking fourth place.
Tuesday, November 18 features a road trip to Shakopee. Lakeville South arrives in Farmington on Thursday, November 20. That's followed by the Edina game that Saturday afternoon at 2 pm. Blake comes to Schmitz-Maki a week later for another matinee start.
The 21st annual Louis Schmitz Holiday Classic is December 29-31 with Northfield, Lakeville North, Owatonna, Fergus Falls, and Fort Francis participating.
Home Tiger games can be seen free of charge on FHSTigersLive. Quite a few of the road SSC games are also available through Game Time Media.