The tradition of Edina's boys hockey state tournament success can be seen in the comic book villain Thanos' line, “I'm inevitable.” Sorry, big guy, but here on Earth, winning a state title takes more than colorful gloves and a snap of fingers. The hockey world demands more.
Here are five examples of how Edina/Edina East's 14th hockey title became a reality.
It's just a blow
For most of the second period, second-seeded Chanhassen (25-6) won the battle against top-seeded Edina (26-4-1). From 10:10 of the second period, when senior Tyler Smith redirected a shot from the puck by Ben Curtis for the game's first goal, the Storm kept up the pressure, leading Edina in the period. They won 14-5. However, the Storm could only score one goal despite dominating the second period. Chanhassen's only crime was leaving Edina bruised (figuratively) and with a bleeding pulse.
Hornets head coach Kurt Giles said, “What I really hope for as a coach is that if we can get out of this period where we were pushed into a corner like they were and ended with a one-point deficit, we can rebuild our team and move forward. That's true.'' “Then it's only one shot.”
“This group of kids we've put together this year was the easiest group I've ever had to prepare for a hockey game. They're motivated and they want to win. I understand,” Giles said. [on Saturday] Very, very bad. ”
veteran leadership
Giles, who just completed his 25th season on Edina's bench, knows that control of the game is in the hands of the young players. The Hornets overcame that opportunity multiple times this season after losing 2-1 to Minnetonka in the 2022-23 title game.
This season's playoffs showed Edina's composure when they were on the back foot. Benilde St. Margaret's College entered the third period of the Section 6 semifinal with a 1-0 lead. Wayzata then led 1-0 going into the second period.
Panic at Chanhassen game? no.
“We weren't going to lose without a fight,” said Edina senior forward Jackson Nevers, a finalist for the Mr. Hockey Award and a veteran of last season's loss in the championship game.
Edina schedule and results
Edina player statistics
Edina team stats
Edina's list
Bertram looks at the beach ball
Edina senior goaltender Joey Bartram may have taken away some of the bragging rights that his father had for years. Matt Bartram was a goaltender who helped Edina win the 1988 state title. He made 14 saves in a 5-3 championship win over Hill-Murray.
Saturday night, it was Joey's turn to shine. He made 33 saves and allowed just one goal on the Hornets' road to the state championship. “He's amazing,” Joey said, sharing his experience of this state championship with his father.
“He always had an advantage for me in the state championship,” Joey said. “And now I know. I'm with him.”
In the final minutes of the game, Bertram continued to make saves, never allowing the Storm an equalizing goal despite multiple chances. At the postgame press conference, one of the reporters asked him about that moment, and he said the puck seemed to look like a beach ball.
“You're just there, that's why you play there,” Bertram said. “So I was just going out and having fun. I was watching it a lot. So it definitely made it a lot easier.”
Coach Kurt Giles' follow-up comments drew laughs.
“I'm glad he saw it like a beach ball because it looked like a peanut to me,” Giles said.
Fine adjustment of the line
Shortly before the sectional playoffs, Giles made some necessary tweaks to his front line combination. On the top line, winger Mason West and center Jackson Nevers swapped positions. Giles felt West could cover the necessary ground in the middle and give Nevers a little more freedom to get up and down the ice.
Effective at doing the dirty work, John Warpinski found a home on the second line along with Freddie Schneider and John Halverson.
take a break yourself
Grand Rapids coach Grant Crafton said after his team lost 5-2 to Edina in Friday's semifinals. “It's a strong team with speed. They know how to capitalize on mistakes and work hard for what they get. That's unacceptable.”Away from them. ”
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