Mounds View/Irondale junior forward Sarah Johnson possesses a unique skill set that allows her to pick apart defenses.

That’s been quite evident through six games. Johnson has 13 goals and seven assists. After the team totaled four total wins a year ago, MVI is 5-0-1.

Head coach Sami Miller said the team is “feeding off what Sarah is doing,” and she is elevating the entire roster’s level of play.

“Yeah, the points she’s putting up are out of this world, especially with the amount of attention she gets,” Miller said. “… 
It’s not easy to be able to score and assist the way she does, with the amount of pressure she has on her from other teams.”

Miller said the pieces of Johnson’s game that jump out on the ice are her puck possession, size and speed. It’s a combination of skills, Miller said, that she has never seen from a girl of Johnson’s age during her time playing or coaching hockey.

Johnson led MVI in goals(16) and assists(17) in her sophomore season. Johnson said she had a harder time dealing with the pressure opponents put on her last year, so improving her mental game has led to increased production.

“It’s helping me to read the ice better,” Johnson said. “I’m predicting or anticipating what plays I want to make a little more in advance.”

Miller echoed Johnson’s sentiments, complimenting her advanced hockey IQ and ability to deal with sometimes seeing three or four defenders.

Johnson also stepped up her leadership role for MVI this season, as she was named a captain. Her maturity shone through when she was asked about her hot start to the season.

“I turn it back on my teammates,” Johnson said. “I feel like I’ve had so much good support, and like, everyone’s making the smart play, and I feel like I have a lot of like passing options.”

MVI is benefitting from only graduating three seniors from last season’s squad. Miller said the roster continuity has allowed the team to acclimate to the varsity pace and craft chemistry on the ice.

Johnson said the relationships they have built off the ice have led to MVI’s strong play to open the season.

“I feel like it’s now finally reflecting onto the ice,” Johnson said. “I can trust passing to people. I can trust in my teammates.”

The focus on team culture over the offseason, and Johnson’s sensational start, has MVI aiming higher this season. Miller said her squad has proven itself, and she does not want to put a ceiling on how far this team can go.

“I don’t think a conference championship or anything like that would be out of the question,” Miller said. “I think that’s something that we could strive towards at this point.”

Related Articles

Last night in HS sports: Stillwater wins boys hockey opener, Rosemount’s Ramlall sisters shine

Friday’s Prep Bowl state title game predictions

High School Football: Moorhead, Edina prove there’s more than one way to win in 6A

Last night in high school sports: Goblirsch twins star for Farmington girls hockey

Last night in high school sports: Aarnio stars as Chisago Lakes girls hockey stays undefeated

By PATRICK AFTOORA-ORSAGOS and JULIE CARR SMYTH, Associated Press

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — An Ohio officer who shot and killed a pregnant Black mother in a supermarket parking lot after she was accused of shoplifting has been acquitted of all charges, including murder.

Related Articles

The US stock market holds steadier, for now, following its wildest day since April

Google and US government battle over the future of internet advertising

A Chicago street vendor couple has a defiant response to immigration arrests: Stick to the routine

Today in History: November 21, Navy intelligence analyst accused of spying for Israel

Coast Guard reverses course on policy to call swastikas and nooses ‘potentially divisive’

Blendon Township police officer Connor Grubb could have faced up to life in prison.

The Blendon Township police officer had pleaded not guilty to murder, involuntary manslaughter and felonious assault in the death of 21-year-old Ta’Kiya Young. Bodycam recordings showed Young refusing to exit her car and then turning her steering wheel to the right, before her car began slowly rolling forward against the body of Grubb, who fired one shot into her chest through the windshield.

Franklin County Common Pleas Judge David Young, no relation to Ta’Kiya, dropped four of 10 counts relating to the death of Young’s unborn daughter, agreeing with defense attorneys that prosecutors failed to present proof that Grubb knew Young was pregnant when he shot her.

Jurors were shown the bodycam video on the first day of the two-week trial, and heard testimony from a use-of-force expert, an accident reconstructionist, a police policy expert and Sgt. Erick Moynihan, the officer who with Grubb had ordered Young out of her car.

They never heard from Grubb, whose side of the story was contained in a written statement read into the record by a special agent for the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation. He attended the trial, but prosecutors were unable to question him directly.

FILE – Blendon Township police officer Connor Grubb listens while appearing via video from jail for his arraignment hearing, Aug. 14, 2024, at the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas in Columbus. (AP Photo/David Dermer, File)

Grubb and Moynihan had approached Young’s parked car on Aug. 24, 2023, about a report that she was suspected of stealing alcohol from a Kroger store in the Columbus suburb. She partially lowered her window and protested as both officers cursed at her and yelled at her to get out. Bodycam video showed Grubb had his left hand on the car’s hood while pointing his gun at her with his right. Young could be heard asking them, “Are you going to shoot me?”

Then, she put on a turn signal and her car rolled slowly forward toward Grubb, who fired a single bullet into her chest, the recording showed.

In the statement, Grubb said he had positioned himself in front of Young’s vehicle to provide backup and to protect other people in the parking lot. He said he drew his gun after he heard Young fail to comply with Moynihan’s commands. When she her car moved toward him, he said, he felt the vehicle hit his legs and shins and begin to lift his body off the ground as he shot.

Moments later, after the car came to a stop against the building, they broke the driver’s side window. Police said they tried to save her life, but she was mortally wounded. Young and her unborn daughter were pronounced dead at a hospital.

A full-time officer with the township since 2019, Grubb was placed on paid administrative leave after the shooting.

Young had two young sons, ages 8 and 5, who are being raised by Ta’Kiya’s grandmother, Nadine Young. Attorney Sean Walton, representing her family, told the AP shortly after the shooting that Young had not stolen anything. He said his law firm found a witness who saw Young put down bottles of alcohol as she left the grocery store.

“The bottles were left in the store,” Walton said. “So when she’s in her car denying that, that’s accurate. She did not commit any theft, and so these officers were not even within their right to place her under arrest, let alone take her life.”

Your daily look at what happened across the East Metro high school sports scene last night.

Girls basketball and boys hockey got underway, creating a busy night alongside a bevy of girls hockey results.

Here’s a peek at what happened across the area:

Boys hockey

Stillwater 3, Centennial 2 (OT):  Luca Frascone scored 75 seconds into overtime to deliver a season-opening win for the Ponies. Gavin Bajda tallied 32 saves for the Ponies, who also got goals from Tyson Miller and Tate Batchelor.

Gavin Cunningham scored twice for Centennial.

Blaine 5, Woodbury 1: Cooper Bayer scored twice for the Bengals, while Tanner Ferdig, Wilson Guse, Grady Bautch and Sam Coleman each had two helpers.

Jack Oleson scored the Royals’ lone goal, while Michael Pietruszewski stopped 40 of the 45 shots he faced.

Girls basketball

Rosemount 91, Champlin Park 75: Amisha Ramlall scored 33 points to pace a high-octane Rosemount offense that posted 45 points in the first half and 46 in the second.

Amisha’s sister, Ashna, scored 21 points for the Irish.

Reese Hagenbart had 33 points for Champlin Park.

Totino-Grace 76, St. Croix Lutheran 49: The Crusaders fell Thursday, but it wasn’t for a lack of effort from Callie Oakland. The Northern Iowa commit tallied 31 points and 21 rebounds in the defeat.

Girls hockey

Park 4, St. Paul/Two Rivers 0: Addie Corkish netted a hat trick to move the Wolfpack to 2-1 on the season, while Gabriella Stepka logged a 19-save shutout.

Apple Valley 6, Shakopee 0: Riley Ambuehl had a hat trick while Makayla Gore tallied two goals and three assists as the Eagles improved to 3-0 in South Suburban Conference play.

Brinley Gretz had a goal and three assists. Apple Valley out-shot Shakopee 35-11.

Have a result, stat, milestone or photo for “Last night in high school sports?” Email dmizutani@pioneerpress.com or jfrederick@pioneerpress.com anytime between the conclusion of the event and 7 a.m. the following morning to be considered for inclusion.

Related Articles

Friday’s Prep Bowl state title game predictions

High School Football: Moorhead, Edina prove there’s more than one way to win in 6A

Last night in high school sports: Goblirsch twins star for Farmington girls hockey

Last night in high school sports: Aarnio stars as Chisago Lakes girls hockey stays undefeated

High School Hockey: St. Thomas Academy aims to ‘be the villain’ and return to state tourney

The Twins made a series of roster moves on Friday morning, hours before the deadline to tender arbitration-eligible players a contract for the 2026 season, first acquiring catcher Alex Jackson, who was a candidate to be non-tendered by the Baltimore Orioles, in exchange for minor league utilityman Payton Eeles.

To make room on the 40-man roster for Jackson, the Twins designated outfielder DaShawn Keirsey Jr. for assignment. Keirsey spent much of the 2025 season in the majors but played sparingly, primarily appearing in games as a defensive replacement or pinch runner.

Jackson, once the sixth overall pick in the 2014 draft, has played parts of six seasons in the majors for five different teams. Last year, he played in 36 games for the Orioles, hitting .220 with a .763 OPS with five home runs and eight RBIs.

The Twins have employed a catching split for the past three seasons between Ryan Jeffers and Christian Vázquez. But with Vázquez now a free agent, Jeffers is likely to step into a bigger role and Jackson serves as a potential backup. Eeles, 26, was signed out of independent ball and has yet to reach the majors after spending much of the past two seasons at Triple-A.

Additionally, the Twins agreed to terms with reliever Justin Topa, who was arbitration-eligible.

They have until 7 p.m. to tender contracts to the rest of their arb-eligible players or non-tender them, which would make them free agents. That list includes Jeffers, Bailey Ober, Joe Ryan, Cole Sands, Royce Lewis and Trevor Larnach. Larnach, who is due a projected $4.7 million per MLB Trade Rumors, is the biggest question mark of the group.

Related Articles

Twins, Saints set for ‘Field of Dreams’ games

Twins trade for pitcher, add six to 40-man roster

Twins’ new coaching staff includes Toby Gardenhire, new hitting coach

Twins finalize coaching staff, adding some familiar faces

New Twins manager Derek Shelton adding to coaching staff