The Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul Saturday night looked like an early St. Patrick's Day celebration with many fans dressed in green and white witnessing Cullen Monson scoring two goals to lead the Edina Hornets to a 4-2 win over the Hill-Murray Pioneers in the Class AA championship game.
It was the eight state championship for Edina and 11th overall for the Minneapolis suburb, including three as Edina East.
Edina and Hill-Murray last played for the state championship in 1988 with the Hornets winning 5-3. The two schools played each other during the regular season on Jan. 5 with the Pioneers beating the Hornets 2-1 in overtime.
Hill-Murray got the early lead on their first shot of the game, coming from Josh French as the puck went off of Edina goalie Willie Benjamin's left pad and into the net. The Hornets scored the period's next two goals. The first came on a power play goal when Dylan Malmquist went into the right slot, changed directions and scored. Monson's first goal put Edina ahead for good after he rebounded Parker Reno's shot.
In the second period, Bob Brauer set up the Hornet's first goal, going behind the net and feeding to Munson on the left doorstep and he picked up his second goal. They got their final goal after Anthony Walsh blocked a Hill-Murray shot and he drove down the ice like the team bus heading to Braemar Arena to score an unassisted goal. The Pioneers tallied 47 seconds later as Zach LaValle found French in the left slot and he fried the puck through the crease. The scoring concluded since neither team scored in the third period.
In the third place game, Duluth East beat Wayzata 7-3. Moorhead won the consolation championship at Mariucci Arena over Eastview 5-3.
The Class AA championship attendance was 17,739. Total tournament attendance was 117,748.
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