EDEN PRAIRIE CRUISES PAST ELK RIVER 5-2

Eden Prairie rebounded after suffering its first loss of the season at the hands of Benilde-St. Margaret’s on Dec. 11 with a decisive 5-2 win over Elk River on Thursday night in the first round of the 34th Annual Edina Holiday Classic at Braemar Ice Arena.

The Eagles, ranked No. 2 in the latest Class 2A coaches’ poll, netted a pair of goals 28 seconds apart in the first period, with junior forward and Minnesota commit Casey Mittelstadt snapping a rebound past the Elks’ Ben Meyers.

Junior defenseman Nicky Leivermann scored midway through the second period, while senior forward and Notre Dame commit Michael Graham tacked on a goal late in the period.

Junior forward Spencer Steen converted after taking a beautiful between-the-legs pass from Mittelstadt, pushing the lead to 5-0 for the Eagles (5-1-0).

Elk River would get on the board, however, with senior forward Al Schwab and junior forward Jenson Zerban finding the net for the No. 13-2A Elks (5-2-0). 

TALENT-RICH GRAND RAPIDS DOWNS METRO FOE EDINA

After skating to a 1-1 draw with six shots each after one period, something had to give in the battle between Grand Rapids and Edina.

It turned out what gave was the Hornets’ defense, as the Thunderhawks scored four unanswered goals in the second period en route to a 6-4 win over the Hornets in the nightcap of the Holiday Classic’s first round on Thursday night.

While the Hornets managed a pair of goals in the last 1:16 of regulation, the game did not feel as close as the final score may have indicated.

Senior forward and North Dakota commit Mitchell Mattson scored two goals and added two assists to lead the No. 8-2A Thunderhawks (6-2-1).

Grand Rapids also got goals from junior defenseman Jack Bowman, sophomore forward and Gopher commit Blake McLaughlin, and senior forwards Alex Adams and Eric Soderberg.

Junior forward Ben Copeland scored twice for No. 5-2A Edina (5-3-0), with junior defenseman Luke Johnson and sophomore forward Lewis Crosby adding a goal apiece for the Hornets.

Holiday Classic action continues on Friday, with Eden Prairie taking on Grand Rapids at 6 p.m. and Elk River tangling with host Edina at 8:30 p.m. 

On Saturday at 6 p.m., Grand Rapids battles Elk River and at 8:30 p.m. Edina faces Eden Prairie to wrap up the tournament.