It is hard to write any more superlatives about Casey Mittelstadt. A week ago his coach told YHH that he had the best offensive skill of any player he has ever coached. In the past two weeks he's broken the heart of four really good hockey teams. On Saturday night, he hopes to make it five.

In their way is conference rival Wayzata. A team they split with during the regular season. 

On Friday the Eagles jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, but faced an onslaught from Grand Rapids. Micah Miller and Alex Adams scored 11 seconds apart for the Hawks and then drew a penalty. At the TV timeout heading into the power play the Grand Rapids band got their fan base and team into a lather. All of the momentum was pointing toward the Halloween Machine. Then in one fateful play, Michael Heitkamp innocently rattled a puck off the back of his own net and the puck took a funny bounce onto the stick of Mittelstadt and he scored short-handed to give the Eagles a lead they would never let go. "They are a great team, that plays fast, you just can't take any plays off," said Grand Rapids first year head coach Trent Klatt.

After the game, Eden Prairie coach Lee Smith explained to the press what a great job Klatt did with his team this year, "he set the bar pretty high in year one."

Casey after the game on being compared to Kyle Rau, "it's an honor, I've looked up to him ever since I was a mite...I went to watch him as a Bantam and he had four or five goals, he was incredible."

Wayzata wins in a scrum. The Trojans did a great job keeping Stillwater at arm's length. 

Both goalies (Alex Schilling, Wayzata and Josh Benson, Stillwater) played well...they controlled puck well all night.

Late in the game, down 1-0 Stillwater started to press and pinch. A puck popped loose and sophomore Griffin Ness beat Benson top shelf for a 2-0 lead.

Stillwater answered 35 seconds later when Jackson Cates scored...then at the buzzer both Jackson and Noah Cates joined a mass of bodies in front trying to smash the puck in the net to no avail. 

"I couldn't be prouder of our team." - Matt Doman, Stillwater head coach

Wayzata played all four lines Friday and at times all six defensemen. Unheralded defensemen Logan Lindstrand and Jack Carlson both played great controlling pucks and play all night. 

Saturday marks the first trip to state finals in Wayzata HS history

No penalties were called in the entire game.

Wayzata goalie Alex Schilling, "I can't wait for tomorrow night"

Final SOG: Stillwater - 22, Wayzata - 24

Hermantown got a quiz today from SPA, not a test. 

Kudos to Will Kelly on a pretty goal that beat Luke Olson.

The HT first line of Jesse Jacques, Ryan Sandelin and Cole Koepke is one of the top 3 in the state (tourney or no tourney). 

Ryan Sandelin had 2G/1A for Hawks...he plays with speed and sandpaper. Logan Judnick had 2G, he's played really well for the Hawks the last two games.

Hawks will see Breck Saturday, they are no strangers to one another. 

Matt Funk on Hermantown's dominance at Class A, "They are great for high school hockey. They are great for Class A. To be the best you have to beat the best."

SPA's Danny Reich got a birthday present today...he played in the tourney, filling in for Andy Beran late in the third.

Coach Plante on the streak, "it's petty hard to block that out. It's on our resume, it's our legacy at Hermantown."

Breck was never challenged.

Bad upset pick of TRF. 

Breck team speed too much for TRF. 

Ethan Johnson had a few nice rushes, so did Kristopher Joppru for TRF. 

Chase Ellingson makes everyone better...today it was Tyler Scott who had 2 goals.

Now if Ellingson could do something about the beachware the Mustang fans sported today. Day 1 was neon, day 2 was beach...tomorrow they should wear all red symbolizing the blood that their opponent will shed in the finals.

Breck will face SPA (a team they swept this year in IMAC conference play) or Hermantown.

Coach Les Larson on Tyler Scott, "hockey is a sport of high character kids, he (Tyler) is that player...he's a great kid."

Saturday's final marks the third time that coach Larson will man the Breck bench in the title game. The previous two the Mustangs won (2009, 2010).