Grand Rapids-Greenway’s Mercury Bischoff Continues Record-Setting Career into Section Tournament

Three years ago, we did a story on Grand Rapids-Greenway girls’ hockey and their freshman phenom Mercury Bischoff. By that time, she’d already spent two years on the varsity and would go on to finish the year with 49 goals and 74 points. Now, amidst the section playoffs of her record-setting senior season, we take a look back at the senior captain’s career with the Lightning, and the stamp she’ll leave on the program.

Yanmar Arena and Grand Rapids have been home to many great girls’ hockey players, but none have been equal to Mercury Bischoff.

“I’ve had some elite players that have played on U18 teams and USA teams and obviously gone on to play Division I hockey,” said head coach Brad Hyduke. “But in terms of how elusive and hard to play against she is, or to watch teams have to plan the way they do to maybe try to stop her, [it’s been] really impressive what she’s been able to accomplish.”

Bischoff entered her senior season having already scored the most career points in Grand Rapids-Greenway history with 295. Two games in, she passed the 300-point mark. She finished the regular season with a career-best 50 goals and 75 points. Then, after a five-point game in the quarterfinal round of the section tournament, she tied former Lightning standout Emily Erickson’s record of 80 points in a single season.

“I think it’s pretty cool because not many people can make that kind of mark, so I’m pretty proud of myself for being able to reach that, but it’s not really something I think about,” Bischoff said humbly. “I know I’m a skilled player, but I wouldn’t be anywhere without my teammates.”

And they feel the same way.

“She’s so good,” said fellow captain Ryleigh Sherlock. “It’s hard to play against her in practice, but it makes you a better player, you know?”

“I think watching her playing, some of her moves that she does on us, it kind of opens our eyes to things that we’re able and capable to do,” added Mira Rajala, who is also a captain for the Lightning.

But it’s not just her teammates whose eyes she’s opened. Since joining the varsity as a seventh grader, she’s been turning heads and is regarded as one of the best in the state. And in her senior year, she’s one of the favorites to win Ms. Hockey, the title given to the best hockey player in Minnesota in a given season.

“It’s both a career award and a senior season award, and maybe there’s no one more deserving than what she’s been able to accomplish,” said Hyduke.

Hanging from the rafters of the arena, however, is a reminder of one of the few things Bischoff has left to accomplish: making the state tournament. The team’s been close but has fallen to Andover in the section final the past two seasons.

“It’s definitely frustrating,” said Bischoff of losing to the Huskies. “We’ve been right there and then always when we get to that last game, [nerves] just kind of [take] over and we end up losing, but I just think it’d be super cool to experience.”

Regardless of banners raised, records own, or awards won, Mercury Bischoff will certainly go down as one of the best high school girls’ hockey players, not just at Grand Rapids-Greenway, but in the entire state of Minnesota. Yet, she wants her legacy to carry on beyond the ice.

“I just want to be remembered as somebody who worked hard,” she said. “If people are looking up to me, because I always looked up to people, and was like, ‘Oh, that girl, I want to be like her because she’s working hard. She’s a good player.’ I’m just hoping that other people can see the same thing, just make sure that they work hard and that they can get where they want to be when they get older.”

As of Friday, in Minnesota, Bischoff had 228 career goals (fourth most all-time), 147 assists (seventh most all-time), and 375 total points (fifth most all-time). She also led the state in goals with 53 and points with 80. She has already committed to play women’s hockey at Minnesota State, but before heading down to Mankato, she had at least one more hockey game to play.

Grand Rapids-Greenway hosted Elk River/Zimmerman in the Section 7AA Semifinals at Yanmar Arena on Saturday, February 8th, where the Lightning won 6-3. They now face top-ranked Andover once again in the section final on Thursday, February 13th.