The long-held playoff mantra of “survive and advance” aptly describes the 2025-26 Lakeville North girls’ hockey season, which concludes this week with the Panthers back in the Class 2A state tournament for the first time since 2023.
The “advance” portion has been marked by notable drama.
Lakeville North players Allie Ablen (lett), Maizee Storey (center) and Mali Carlson (right) celebrate a goal during the Panthers’ 2026 sectional playoff run.(Courtesy of Mark Hvidsten)
Seeded third in their section, the Panthers got a 1-0 overtime shutout from junior goalie Beth Bigalke to knock off No. 2 seed Rosemount in the semifinals, then required two overtimes and another clean sheet from Bigalke to beat top seeded Apple Valley in the section final.
“She let one (puck) go in all sections, so she’s been amazing,” said senior defender Carly Hanson of Bigalke, who brings a .925 saves percentage and a 1.58 goals against average into the Panthers’ quarterfinal matchup with defending champ and top-seeded Hill-Murray at 11 a.m. Thursday at Grand Casino Arena.
The “survive” part came last fall, when head coach Buck Kochevar’s 21st season behind the Lakeville North bench looked unlikely for a time. A complaint was filed against Kochevar by a small group of parents regarding the coach’s communication with his team, and was fueled by disagreements over playing time.
After a six-month investigation by the school, Kochevar was asked to resign his coaching position in early October. He declined, and was placed on administrative leave.
Just a few days later, a Lakeville School Board meeting witnessed 19 Panthers players and several parents testify publicly in support of Kochevar staying on as coach. His administrative leave was lifted the next day.
“All I know is that’s not the way I wanted to go out, and it wasn’t going to be that way if I had anything to do with it,” Kochevar said, stressing that he felt it was vital to push back against what is seen as a growing youth sports culture where coaches have been targets. “That’s when you have the community back me, the school board back me, the girls, the parents and my staff. I did it for all coaches. If you live the job, you’re gonna fight for it, and hopefully that sent a little message to everybody.”
With that drama in the past, the team quickly jelled on the ice. Kochevar brought together an interesting mix of senior leaders like Sidney Petterssen, who leads the team with 20 goals and 18 assists, and a group of raw but talented eighth-graders who have delivered a dynamic element to the team.
The section tournament drama was nothing new for Lakeville North, which brings a 17-9-2 record to the tournament. The Panthers are battle tested, having played in 15 one-goal games this season.
“They seem like they’ve done it before,” Kochevar said when asked about the level of nerves in facing powerful Hill-Murray. “Maybe the 15 one-goal games have something to do with that. We didn’t win all of those games, but we sure made it interesting.”
Kochevar is the son of an Iron Range sports legend. His father, Bobo, coached football, hockey and baseball in Eveleth, including the 1993 Golden Bears team that won the state Tier II boys’ hockey title. In a nod to his hometown, and to other coaches who have found success on the ice and in the face of critics, Kochevar said on Thursday he may wear a pin commemorating the life and career of the late Willard Ikola, the Eveleth native who coached the Edina boys to eight state titles, and sometimes dealt with off-ice challenges from critics who questioned his style.
And after all of the drama, he and the Panthers are three wins away from fulfilling another dream of a proud Iron Ranger, to hoist the traveling trophy shared by the state’s four prep hockey champions each summer.
“I’ve set a lot of coaching goals, but the one I’ve always wanted to hold up high is the Eveleth Trophy,” Kochevar said. “I have dreams about it, but it hasn’t come to reality. I told that to my mom and she said, ‘I think your dad’s looking down.’ He raised the player and the coach.”
It all sounds like a screenplay-worthy scene in the Panthers’ cinematic season.
Thursday’s Class 2A quarterfinals in St. Paul
No. 1 Hill-Murray (23-3-1) vs. No. 8 Lakeville North (17-9-2), 11 a.m.
No. 4 Edina (20-4-3) vs. No. 5 Bemidji (20-5-1), 1 p.m.
No. 2 Centennial/Spring Lake Park (24-3-1) vs. No. 7 Farmington (22-4-1), 6 p.m.
No. 3 Holy Family (24-3) vs. No. 6 Andover (17-10-1), 8 p.m.
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