There are four outstanding Bantam teams this year at Bantam AA. Edina, Centennial, Grand Rapids and Minnetonka. Two of them faced off Friday and another two face off Sunday. On Friday it was Grand Rapids and Edina in Grand Rapids. On Sunday, it will be Edina and Minnetonka. YHH was hoping to declare a real number 1 on Monday. Those plans were, well, just plans. 

In the second period, Grand Rapids took advantage of Edina penalties and made the game interesting. Michael Heitkamp scored on a great individual effort when he held the puck until he got a scoring lane and buried a wrist shot to make it 4-2. On another Power Play, Blake Mclaughlin got on the scoresheet with a prett goal when he fired a wrist shot from the top of the circle to make it 4-3. A minute later Kinnunen would get his second of the game even strength on a pass from Nathaniel DeGuiseppi. Late in the second, Jack Jensen would get his second of the game on a tip in that was ruled a goal after a brief discussion from the officials to determine that it didn't go off of his skate. 

The early part of the third period was plagued with penalties that got the game out of rhythm. With the Thunderhawks trailing 5-4, Michael Heitkamp made a pretty toe drag past an Edina defender and fired a hard wrist shot that deflected off the goalie and into the net to tie it 5-5.

Both teams had their chance in the final eight minutes, but neither team was able to score. An amazing first test for both teams, as they will see many more as they build their teams toward a run at a state title in Duluth.

Players to Watch: four kids had two goal games: Jensen, Heitkamp, Bjorn Swanson and Luke Kinnunen...they all had great games. On top of those four, Grand Rapids had two other stars, Gavin Hain and Ryker Brazerol who contributed. Edina got great play from Defensman Ben Brinkman on the blue line.