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She first stepped onto that rink as an eighth grader during the Minnesota State High School League Girls Hockey State Tournament, representing Lakeville North. Years later, she would get to celebrate two professional championships in the building. Flaherty's path to professional hockey began the way many Minnesota hockey stories do. Growing up in Lakeville, she spent w inters skating outdoors w ith her siblings and many hours at the rink through the Lakeville Hockey Association. She learned to skate at Ames Arena and stuck with Lakeville from Mites all the way up through high school. Between time spent at her own practices and those of her siblings, hockey was a part of her daily life. It built a sense of community that only grew stronger as she advanced through the Lakeville program. "I would say sometimes it felt more exciting than a college game," Flaherty said. "It almost felt like the whole town showed up to watch those games. Fans are wrapped all the way around the boards just for a regular season game." The high school hockey atmosphere was especially impactful. Some of her favorite memories came from riva lr y ga mes bet ween La kev ille Nor th a nd Lakeville South. Yet , t here wa s more t ha n r iva lr y f ueling the electric atmosphere of high school hockey. Many of the players had g row n up together, creating a strong sense of connection. There were some tea m mates she spent severa l yea rs skating w ith before reaching the high school level. "You play on the same team from the time you learn how to skate all the way through high school, so you really grow up together," Flaherty said. That made reaching the State Tournament even more meaningful. Flaherty only got to play in the tournament once, getting the opportunity to play on the same team as her sister Taylor. 17 CONSECUTIVE WALTER CUPS. Flaherty won two with Minnesota and a third with Montreal, becoming the first and only player to accomplish the feat. N O V / D E C 2 0 2 6 | M H J ON L I N E . C O M ears before Maggie Flaherty lifted the Walter Cup inside what is now Grand Casino Arena, she had already skated on that ice. 2025 2026 Photo / Getty Images, PWHL, Lakeville North Girls Hockey 2024 Flaherty tallied 136 points in five seasons for Lakeville North High School. No matter how many professional trophies Maggie lifts, her foundation was built right here on the blue line at Lakeville North. The grit, the character, and the team- first pride she showed as a Panther are exactly what made her a historic champion—proving to every young skater in our community that greatness starts right here at home." —BUCK KOCHEVAR, Lakeville North Head Coach