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BHS: Class 2A State Preview

By Peter Odney , 03/07/19, 7:00AM CST

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A full preview of all four Class 2A quarterfinal games to be played on Thursday.


With a record of 24-2-1, Edina enters the Class 2A State Tournament as the No. 1 overall seed.

Game One

White Bear Lake (21-4-1) vs. No. 2 Blaine (22-2-2)

One season after graduating all of its top line and a hefty amount of scoring production, White Bear Lake is making its 19th trip to the state tournament thanks in large part to the rapid maturation of a group that won the 2017 Bantam AA state championship.

Senior forward Blake Meister (10-28-38) leads the team in scoring, followed by sophomore forward Lleyton Roed (15-19-34), senior forward Chase Bill (13-19-32), and junior forward Billy Rose (8-21-29). Goaltenders Tyler Steffens and Evan Foss have rotated evenly throughout the season, helping the Bears allow just 48 goals this season. 

Blaine enters the tournament as the No. 2 seed, powered by the forward-duo of Bryce Brodzinski and Carsen Richels. Brodzinski, a Mr. Hockey candidate, ranks among the state’s leading scorers with 35 goals and 84 total points, with Richels right behind him with 39 goals and 77 points. Cole Hansen joins Brodzinski and Richels on the first line, giving the Bengals not only one of the most potent top units in the state but one of the biggest. Brodzinski is 6-foot-1, Richels is 6-foot-2, and Hansen measures at 6-foot-1.

The Bengals have outscored the opposition 140-39 so far this season, allowing just 17 total goals in the second and third periods combined in 26 games. 


Blake Meister leads White Bear Lake with 10 goals and 38 total points.

Game Two 

Lakeville South (14-12-1) vs. No. 3 Eden Prairie

New coach Janne Kivihalme has only been at the helm of Lakeville South for one season, but the team has already adopted the native Finlander’s steady and mistake-free style of play. Seeded fourth in Class 2A, Section 1, the Cougars romped to an 8-1 upset of No. 1 seed Hastings before shutting out crosstown rival Lakeville North 4-0 in the section finals. 

6-foot-4, 205-pound forward Cade Ahrenholz bullied his way to seven goals and eight points during the section playoffs, upping his season totals to 15 goals and 29 points. Senior forward Adam Harvey is tied with Ahrenholz for the team-lead in scoring with 13 goals and 29 points. The Cougars finished the regular season on a 1-5-1 skid, and have a record of 1-3-1 in games that reach overtime. 

Five of Eden Prairie’s nine losses have come against Lake Conference opponents, pointing to the fact that the Eagles play one of the toughest slates in the state. The Eagles are 3-3-1 against teams competing in the state tournament and have a 7-6 win over No. 2 seed Blaine on their resume.

Senior forward and Mr. Hockey finalist Jack Jensen leads the Eagles in scoring with 34 goals and 59 points, followed by fellow University of Minnesota verbal commits John Mittelstadt (14-29-43) and sophomore defenseman Luke Mittelstadt (4-28-32).

While all three goalies on the Eden Prairie roster have received playing time this season, it appears that Axel Rosenlund has taken over primary starting duties. Rosenlund won all three Section 2-2A games for the Eagles while stopping 59 of 63 shots. 


Adam Harvey has totaled 13 goals and 29 points this season for Lakeville South.

Game Three 

Moorhead (21-6-1) vs. No. 1 Edina (24-2-1)

Like White Bear Lake, Moorhead lost a significant chunk of production with the graduation of offensive dynamos Carter Randklev, Cole O’Connell, Jack Stetz and Division I verbally committed defenseman Ethan Frisch (North Dakota) to the USHL.

Also, like the Bears, the Spuds are peaking at the right time, having gone 13-0-1 in their last 14 games after suffering a loss on Jan. 5 to Wayzata. Senior forward Kyler Kleven (14-26-40) leads a tough and physical Moorhead lineup, with Isaac Henkemeyer-Howe (11-26-37) and Nolan Westra (21-17-38) giving the Spuds an offensive boost. Goaltender Hudson Hodges stopped 60 of 62 shots and posted two shutouts during the Section 8-2A playoffs. 

Since a 3-2 loss against Hill-Murray on Jan. 19, Edina has won 11 consecutive games, relying heavily on one of the best defensive cores in the state. Mike Vorlicky, Jake Boltmann, and Nick Williams are all verbally committed to Division I programs, while Mason Reiners could be in the future.

Up front, Northern Michigan verbal commit Jett Jungels has totaled 29 goals and 57 points this season en route to being named a Mr. Hockey candidate. Liam Malmquist (26-29-55) and Minnesota verbal commit Mason Nevers (19-33-52) follow Jungels in Edina’s list of leading scorers. 


Kyler Kleven of Moorhead has 14 goals and 40 points this season.

Game Four 

No. 5 Duluth East (18-6-2) vs. No. 4 St. Thomas Academy (24-3-1)

After enduring a 1-3-1 stretch in January, Duluth East has rattled off seven straight wins entering their 24th state tournament appearance, including a thrilling overtime win over Section 7-2A No. 1 seed Andover in the section final.

The 2018 state runners-up lost point-producers Garrett Worth and Ian Mageau to graduation, but Ryder Donovan’s recent surge has helped ignite the Hounds. Donovan, a Wisconsin verbal commit, leads the team with 15 goals and 42 points. While Donovan leads the team in scoring, the postseason play of senior Ricky Lyle has been nothing short of outstanding, as the gritty forward has muscled his way to eight goals and 13 points in three playoff games. 

The last state tournament run for St. Thomas Academy co-head coaches Tom and Greg Vanelli features a Cadet power play unit clicking along at a 33% success rate entering the 11th state tourney appearance in 15 seasons for the brothers.

Heavy on senior production, forwards Ryan O’Neill (19-30-49), Brendan McFadden (15-24-39), Luke Herzog (16-25-41), and Rob Christy (19-20-39) are all in their final seasons with the Cadets and spearhead a roster that has just three underclassmen. 


Ricky Lyle has scored at a torrid pace this postseason, racking up eight goals and 13 points in three playoff games for the Hounds.

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