Dating back to 2011 many of the Minnetonka Bantam AA players had never beaten Edina in their youth careers. The number of losses, including a demoralizing loss in the Fargo International Squirt Tourney, eight as PeeWee AA's and again this year two losses and a tie began to mount. On Sunday, in many of these players final youth game they beat their rival and took home the state championship. The first championship for a boys Minnetonka team at any level and at any age including high school.

The Skippers lost to number one rated Centennial in the Moose Goheen Tournament in White Bear Lake on January 28. From that day forward, they did not lose again. Going undefeated in their last 14 games, sweeping the West Region in St. Cloud and now the State tourney in Duluth.

The Skippers got two goals in the second period, one by first year speedster Jack Bayless who beat an Edina defender with his feet and hands and then beat Hornet Netminder Josh Solomon on the backhand to give the Skippers a 1-0 lead. Mitch McGannon added the eventual game winner with a wide angle wrist shot that beat Solomon underneath his blocker to give Tonka a 2-0 lead at the second intermission.

The third period was as good of a contest as you will ever see in youth hockey. With benches the size of a elementary school ruler, the top players from both teams laid it all on the line. Diving for pucks, checking anything that could move (sometimes even their own teammates) - these kids played this game like it was truly their last. Edina, down by two, yanked Solomon looking for the equalizer. Standout Edina Defenseman Peter Tabor found some space on the back door and beat All Tournament team Goalie Charlie Glockner to cut the Skipper lead to 2-1 with 1:09 remaining. The final minute was complete chaos for both teams. With under 30 seconds to go, Minnetonka's Grant Doctor and Josh Luedtke collided on the Tonka blueline. The collision freed Edina superstar Ben Brinkman for a clean breakaway on Glockner to tie it. Brinkman faked to his backhand and fired forehand at the last second and Glockner stopped him with his right pad. Probably the biggest save of his life. 

Ryan Elder would get a loose puck for the Skippers and find the open net 10 seconds later to lift Minnetonka to the state title winning 3-1. Elder was named tournament MVP by YHH.