Both Eden Prairie and Grand Rapids traded metaphorical punches in Friday night’s Class AA semifinal, but it was Thunderhawk senior Keaghan Graeber that delivered the knockout blow.

Graeber assisted on the eventual game-winning goal at the 7:56 mark of the third period to lift Grand Rapids to a 3-2 victory over the Eagles.

While being hauled down to the ice in the Eden Prairie zone, Graeber managed to shove the puck one-handed into the slot area, where Connor Stefan buried the game-winner past Eden Prairie’s Nick Wiencek.

Perhaps even more impressive, Graeber had no idea that Stefan was trailing him.

“Honestly I didn’t (know),” Graeber said after the game. “I just knew I needed to get the puck to the net because that’s what we’ve been working on all year.”

The Thunderhawks (22-7-1) have also embraced the bruising aspect of the game.

“I know that physical is going to be a part of (every) game,” Graeber said. “So I just kind of expected it, and I think when we played the body we got the better of them.”

Eden Prairie head coach Lee Smith said that the physical tone of the game was the result of a crowded playing surface.

“That’s just the nature of the way that game had to be played,” Smith said. “It was two teams fighting for what little ice there was out there.”

No. 1 seed Eden Prairie (22-5-2) took a 1-0 lead on a goal by Ryan Lesko early in the first period, but the Thunderhawks answered with John Stampohar’s power play equalizer with just 1:09 left in the first.

Jack Jensen tied the game for Eden Prairie at 2-2 late in the second period.

Junior goaltender Zach Stejskal made 47 saves for the Thunderhawks, earning a few congratulatory words from head coach Trent Klatt.

“I love him,” Klatt said with a smile. “Zach has had a wonderful season and been a backstop for us all year,” Klatt continued. “I’m just happy he got this opportunity to show he’s capable of doing it. He really rose to the occasion tonight.”

The fifth-seeded Thunderhawks will face No. 3 seed Moorhead in the Class AA state championship at the Xcel Energy Center at 7 p.m. on Saturday.

CLASS AA

St. Thomas Academy 4, Hill-Murray 0 - Box Score

Wayzata 2, Maple Grove 1 - Box Score

CONSOLATION FINAL

St. Thomas Academy vs. Wayzata, Noon, Mariucci Arena

THIRD PLACE

Lakeville South vs. Eden Prairie, 4 p.m. Xcel Energy Center

CHAMPIONSHIP

Grand Rapids vs. Moorhead, 7 p.m., Xcel Energy Center

CONSOLATION FINAL

Delano vs. East Grand Forks, 10 a.m., Mariucci Arena

THIRD PLACE

Northfield vs. St. Cloud Cathedral, 9 a.m., Xcel Energy Center

CHAMPIONSHIP

Monticello/Annandale/Maple Lake vs. Hermantown, Noon, Xcel Energy Center