Edina boys hockey defeats Wayzata in Section 6AA championship
The Edina players threw their helmets and gloves in the air after the final buzzer sounded. After the trophy ceremony, two Wayzta Trojans threw their second-place medals aside as they left the ice.
Understandable in the aftermath of the Section 6AA championship between two rivals with state title aspirations.
And for the second season in a row, the No. 2-seed Edina Hornets (23-4-1) defeated the No. 1-seed Wayzata Trojans (23-3-2) in the Section 6AA championship at Bloomington Ice Arena to advance to the state tournament. The Hornets fell behind 1-0 to the Trojans after the first period but rallied for the 4-1 victory.
Minnesota boys high school hockey section tournament scores (2/28/2024)
The Trojans were the better team for most of the first period. Their only goal came one minute, 19 seconds into the game with a top corner shot from senior Brittan Alstead.
"They came out flying," Edina senior goaltender Joe Bertram said. "They were ready for us. They got a quick one, but so be it. They’re gonna score, so it’s just about us fighting back, which we have all year."
Bertram responded with shutting out the Trojans the rest of the game. He finished with 19 saves.
The Hornets forecheck kicked into gear, and they generated a flurry of chances, but their reward didn't come until the second period. Sophomore Mason West cleaned up a puck in front of goal to tie the game.
Four minutes later, Wayzata's Carson Clark was called for cross-checking, and Edina's Ryan Flaherty scored on the power play for a 2-1 Hornets lead.
Nothing changed early in the third period. Wayzata was called for its fourth penalty when Eli Molde hooked a Hornet.
"We had to kill with our top guys, and they got tired toward the end of the game," Wayzata head coach Pat O'Leary said.
Wayzata coach Pat O'Leary. Photo by Earl Ebensteiner.
When Wayzata got its chance on the power play midway through the third period, Edina's Barrett Dexheimer took advantage of the Trojans' tired legs and drove the puck to the goal for a shorthanded score.
"I just saw an outlet and went for it and then drove the net as best I could," Dexheimer said.
Bergstrom added: "Just an unbelievable solo effort by [Dexheimer]. He’s the best defenseman in the state right now. It gives the team such a boost to see that happen."
By then, the Trojans' chances to win were slim, and after Edina's final goal by Bobby Cowan, they were none.
"We just didn’t take advantage of the advantages that we had—two breakaways—and they did," O'Leary said.
As O'Leary left the ice, he picked up one of the medals a player had left on the ice.
"It’s such a good group of seniors," O'Leary said. "It was such a great year for us, obviously. I tried to explain to them in the locker room that one game doesn’t define them. I know they don’t like that right now, but we had an unbelievable season. I’m just very proud of the way we played this season."
For Edina, the win gives it an opportunity to win its 12th boys hockey state title in school history when they play at the state tournament next week. A win in an extremely competitive Section 6 helps.
"[Wayzata's] just a great team to play against and great environment," Dexheimer said. "Those are the games you want to play in, right there."
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- Jack Butler | butler@scorebooklive.com | @Butler917
