By Mark HaugenHockey fans won’t have to wait long to see their Luverne High School teams in action.The girls, coming off a stellar 17-3-1 campaign last year, open their season Friday by hosting Austin at 7 p.m. at the Blue Mound Ice Arena. They will follow with two more home appearances, Nov. 18 against Sioux Falls Blue and Nov. 20 against New Ulm, before their first road trip Nov. 27 at Waseca.The boys’ team opens its season Nov. 19 at home against Mankato East at 7 p.m. and then retains the home-ice advantage the next afternoon against Holy Family Catholic.In other winter sports, the Cardinal girls basketball players hit the court Nov. 19 on the road at MCC, the first of five away games before their home opener Dec. 9 against Marshall.The Luverne boys’ basketball team opens its season at home on Nov. 27 against Fulda and then is on the road for three straight contests.Luverne’s gymnasts don’t open the season until Dec. 2, hosting West Central, the first of four home performances.The wrestling Cardinals will debut at home on Dec. 2 as well against West Central.The Hills-Beaver Creek basketball teams open their seasons with the conference jamborees. The girls play Nov. 13 at Okabena, and the boys Nov. 20 at Worthington Community College.The H-BC girls open at home on Nov. 19 against Lake Benton, and the boys host Pipestone on Nov. 27.The Adrian girls’ basketball team also opens with a jamboree Nov. 13 at Minnesota West before an away game Nov. 30 against Southwest Christian. The Dragon home opener is Dec. 2 against Edgerton.The Adrian boys’ basketball squad has its jamboree Nov. 20 at Minnesota West, a scrimmage at Windom on Nov. 27, and then opens at home against Luverne on Nov. 30.Adrian’s wrestlers hit the mat Dec. 4 in a tournament at Slayton and then are home on Dec. 7 against Emmetsburg.In Ellsworth the Panthers girls’ basketball team starts play on Nov. 16 at SWSC, plays at Hills-Beaver Creek on Nov. 22 and then opens at home Nov. 23 against Southwest Christian.The boys’ team hits the home hardcourt right away, hosting Canby on Dec. 2.All the local teams will be featured in the Star-Herald’s Winter Sports Preview Dec. 2.