In what will be the Grand Rapids boy’s hockey teams first trip back to the state tournament since 2017, Grand Rapids is looking ahead to Thursday’s game against White Bear Lake in hopes of victory, but wherever tomorrow does take them, they’re appreciative of the journey.

“Every group that does this is a special group,” said Grant Clafton, Grand Rapids’ first year head coach. “It takes special people, and that’s a special group of guys.”

“It’s amazing,” said Carter Casey, Grand Rapids goaltender. “I mean, it’s just great for the community. You saw the crowd that we brought here tonight. It was just amazing. They’re the backbone of our team for sure. It’s just amazing. I think we’re really excited. We’ve worked hard all year for this, so we’re going to go see what we can do against the state’s best.”

The Thunderhawks now try to replicate the magic that head coach Grant Clafton knows all too well.

Puck drop from the Xcel Energy Center is Thursday night at 8 p.m. against White Bear Lake.