Warroad survives, Edina streaks to Minnesota boys hockey championship games

Cretin-Derham Hall vs Edina_0431.jpg — Edina forward Bobby Cowan (21) celebrates his goal with teammates against Cretin-Durham Hall in the first period Friday, March 10, 2023, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

By Eli Swanson

March 10, 2023 at 10:56 PM

Minnetonka, 4, Andover 1

Gavin Garry had two goals as Minnetonka heads to to the Class AA state boys title match after defeating reigning state champions Andover, 4-1, in the semifinal round on Friday, March 10 at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

Minnetonka won their last state title back in 2018, which also happened to be the last time the team made a state tournament appearance.

Gavin Garry had two goals for the Skippers.

The No. 1 Skippers are set to play No. 3 Edina for the Class AA title at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Xcel Energy Center.

Edina 4, Cretin-Derham Hall 1

Freshman forward Mason West crashed the net to deliver a hard-nosed, game-winning goal early in the second period of a 4-1 Hornets Class AA semifinal win on Friday night at Xcel Energy Center.

The Hornets will have the chance to add an 11th state championship on Saturday night. Edina East also won three state championships in the 1970s.

Hermantown vs Mahtomedi_1730.jpg — Mahtomedi forward Charlie Drage (11) celebrates his goal against Hermantown with fans in the third period Friday, March 10, 2023, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

Mahtomedi 2, Hermantown 1

With time winding down and the score tied in the state semifinal against Mahtomedi on Friday at the Xcel Energy Center, Hermantown was pushing the puck up the ice for a final opportunity before the game went to overtime.

Zephyrs’ senior Charlie Drage intercepted a pass from Josh Kauppinen to George Peterson and put a shot past Hermantown goalie Dane Callaway with 49 seconds remaining.

The goal put the Zephyrs in front and they held off Hermantown’s furious attack over the final moments of the game for a 2-1 win and a spot in the state Class A championship game Saturday.

Warroad 4, Orono 3 (2OT)

No. 1 Warroad's perfect season lived on as they earned a 4-3 double overtime Class A semifinal victory over No. 4 Orono at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. Senior defender Erick Comstock sealed the deal for Warroad with a back-door goal just 16 seconds into double overtime off a pass from teammate Jayson Shaugabay.

The Warriors will now look to complete their perfect season Saturday in the Class A title game against Mahtomedi.

Warroad's first goal was a bit of a flukey one that got them on the scoreboard just 1:01 into the game, thanks to the bouncy boards at the Xcel Energy Center. Junior Peyton Sunderland took a shot that went high and hard off the end boards and it bounced back, hit Orono Brock Peyton, and went into the back of the net. That was Sunderland's first goal of the season.