Edina’s well-documented skill and talent were on full display in the opening game of the Class AA State Tournament, and the bright lights and big stage of the Xcel Energy Center only highlighted those traits further. 

Senior forward and Mr. Hockey finalist Sammy Walker racked up five points, scoring a shorthanded goal late in the first period and helping on four other scores, leading the second-seeded Hornets (27-2) to a 7-1 win over Lakeville North. 

Seven Hornets registered at least one point in the win, a testament to the depth and selfless play of coach Curt Giles’ squad. 

“That’s the fun thing about these kids is that they’re so unselfish,” Giles said in the postgame press conference. 

“They don’t care who gets the goals, they don’t care who gets the points, they just want to compete,” Giles added.

Northern Michigan commit Jett Jungels scored twice and assisted twice, and Mason Nevers added two goals of his own. Both Jungels and Nevers flank Walker on Edina’s top line, and one of Jungels’ assists found the stick of the Minnesota commit for his highlight-reel tally. 

Walker poked the puck around a Lakeville North defender and found a new level of speed, rocketing past the Panther in two strides before burying a wrist shot past Lakeville North goaltender Will Johnson. 

“I didn’t have a lot of options, so I just kind of threw it out into the middle, beat him to the puck, and the rest is history,” Walker said matter-of-factly. 

Brett Chorske and Lewis Crosby also scored goals for the Hornets in the win, while Shane Griffin netted the only goal of the game for the Panthers (16-11-2).