For Curt Giles, the definition of a tough hockey player has changed.

“The old-school tough hockey player, knocking guys around, is long gone,” Giles said after his Edina Hornets thumped Elk River (5-1-0) 5-0 on Friday night at Braemar Ice Arena.

"To me, a tough hockey player is a kid that goes into the corner with another player and comes out with the puck the majority of the time,” Giles said.

Edina defenseman Ben Brinkman could be the ideal embodiment of that brand of toughness, combining a solid physical frame with a finesse rarely seen in defenders.

“Brink’s a really good player,” Giles said of Brinkman, who was invited to try out for the U.S. National Team Development Program’s Under-17 squad last April.

Brinkman rebounded with a goal and an assist in Friday night’s win after being turned inside-out by Grand Rapids senior Micah Miller on the eventual game-winning goal in Thursday’s 5-3 loss to the Thunderhawks.

Giles said that he prefers to see players work the bugs out of their system before the home stretch of the season.

“That’s the growing pains we like to see early in the season in tournaments like this,” Giles said.

Jett Jungels scored twice for the Hornets in Friday’s win, with Bram Scheerer and Lewis Crosby adding single goals.

Goaltender Garrett Mackay made 32 saves to earn the shutout for the Hornets (4-2-0).  

The Hornets have responded well to a season-opening loss to Holy Family Catholic, currently ranked No. 6 in the latest Class AA state coaches’ poll, winning four of their last five games and outshooting Grand Rapids in Thursday’s loss.

“They’re really good kids (and) they’re dedicated to working hard,” Giles said of his No. 7-AA Hornets.

The hooting and hollering coming from the Hornet locker room after the game provided the perfect backdrop for Giles’ comment that his players enjoy being teammates.

“You can hear them right now,” Giles said. “They just love to be here, and they love to be together.”