Some of the state's most legendary players came from Minneapolis and St. Paul. Herb Brooks, Reed Larson, Jack McCarten, Mike Ramsey to name just a few...the heritage from parks and playgrounds like Edgecumbe or Keewaydin or ponds like Lake of the Isles and Lake Phalen is tremendous.
Last year, Minneapolis burst onto the scene winning the PeeWee A state championship in Faribault and taking third in PeeWee B. Their Squirt A team made a run to the Finals of the Fargo Squirt Tournament, too.
This year it was St. Paul's turn. Johnson Como qualified for the State Bantam B tournament and Highland Central won both the Bantam A and PeeWee A state crowns. Highland Bantams knocked off Wayzata 3-2 in Coon Rapids and the PeeWees won state by beating Mahtomedi 2-1 in Crookston.
Hockey participation numbers are way up on both sides of the river, this can only be a good thing for the future of urban hockey in Minnesota.
Stillwater's Seth Eisele watches Jack Burnson's tip go past him in the third period, the eventual GWG for Rapids.
Bantam AA: Grand Rapids > Stillwater (3-2)
Bantam A: Highland > Wayzata (3-2)
Bantam B: Wayzata Navy > North St. Paul (4-3, OT)
Commentary: Grand Rapids and Highland emerged over the weekend as good teams into great ones. Saw both play over the weekend, they both had speed, depth and great goaltending. Wayzata Navy hadn't lost since December, not a huge shock that they won, but credit to NSP for extending them into OT. Great seasons for all of these Bantam Finalists.
PWAA: Edina > Rochester (6-2)
PWA: Highland > Mahtomedi (2-1)
PWB: White Bear Lake > Edina White (5-4)
Commentary: Edina's Grant Silianoff scored more goals than 6 of the teams in the AA state tourney, the kid was a superstar. Highland beats district rival Mahtomedi for the fourth time to win state and White Bear rolls off 9 straight playoff wins to win state over Edina. What a thrilling weekend for all of the State Finalists.
Squirt A: The OMG Squirt A team won every game they played this year, including their last in a 4-0 win over Edina Green. Kyle Kukkonen had the Hatty for the Crimson, Brock Faber added a late ENG goal to ice it. Jack Weineke had 17 saves and the shutout.
U10A: Edina Green knocked off Minnetonka in an epic battle of the state's top two teams. They played to a tie in regulation and then one overtime period. Green eventually won in the shootout when Sarah Swan made a huge save to win it for the Hornets.
Regional Tournament of Champions - U10A Edina Green
