Edina's Frank Fabbro makes a save Sunday against Orono.
Edina White and Orono White each had great seasons. Edina was number one for most of the season - at one point they carried a 38 game unbeaten streak. Orono White won the District 3 regular season and finished second in District playoffs, but won the very tough West Region.
Orono beat St. Paul (Blue) 2-0 in the Quarterfinals and Park Cottage Grove 3-1 to gain the finals. Edina beat eventual Consolation Champ, Mahtomedi 9-2 and third place Eagan Green 9-1 to make their way to the championship.
In patented Edina fashion they got off to a fast start. John King came out of the corner and found Tournament MVP Jeremiah Konkel in front and the Edina Winger buried it to make it 1-0. Late in the first, Edina big man Cole Nasby got a pass in the high slot and his shot found the nylon to give the Hornets a 2-0 lead after 1.
Edina celebrates after Brady Giertsen's Goal Sunday.
On the first shift of the second period, Brady Giertsen scored for Edina to give the Hornets a big 3-0 lead. Later in the second, Orono big man James Baran - the player who is just referred to in the stands as "Watch 14" - made a wide move that took him around the net to where Baran snuck it past Edina Goalie Frank Fabbro. With the game still in the balance, Edina's Oliver Parmeker chipped a pass to the neutral zone and Jeremiah Konkel outraced the Orono defense and beat the goalie and scored as he crashed into the net. After 2 periods Edina lead 4-1.
With the score still tied in the penalty filled third period, Orono pulled their Goalie with three minutes to play. Aaron Brekken scored in the high slot for Orono to cut the lead to 4-2 - a goal that instantly made the game a bit interesting. Down 4-2, Orono continued to attack. With just over a minute left, Edina Goalie Fabbro made a huge save on a point blank shot by Baran to keep the score tied at 4-2. Hard worker Matt Mason got rewarded for his toils and added an Empty Net Goal to finish off the Spartans 5-2.
Oliver Parmeker - Edina - Jeremiah Konkel - Edina - John King - Edina -Frank Fabbro - Edina, James Baran - Orono - Thomas Roher - Orono -Hadley Stephenson - Orono, Tommy Meisinger - Eagan, Jackson Nelson - Park Cottage Grove, Joey Pierce - Ely
Tourney MVP: Jeremiah Konkel, Edina