Prep Blog: Edina Hockey Tournament Highlights Weekend Match-Ups
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – We're a week away from Christmas and high school students are ready to mentally check out for the holidays.
Once the final exams are over and winter break starts, break out the video games, Ipods and DVDs. Or for the high school athletes, it's the start of the busiest time of the winter sports year. We're approaching holiday tournaments, conference play in most sports and a chance to see some of the state's best in their sports face off.
This weekend's top events include a rare December conference basketball game between a pair of top 10 teams, a hockey tournament in the west metro featuring state powers and one of the biggest downhill ski races in the state. Here's a look.
Edina Invitational (Braemar Ice Arena)
The Edina Invitational boys hockey tournament got started Thursday night at Braemar Ice Arena, but a pair of games Friday night highlight the event.
Eden Prairie (5-1) vs. Grand Rapids (4-3)
Eden Prairie was a state tournament team last year, getting to the semifinals at Xcel Energy Center before a crushing 5-4 loss to Lakeville North in double overtime. The Eagles are talented again this year, are off to a 5-1 start and face Grand Rapids Friday night. Eden Prairie enters the contest ranked No. 7 in AA, while the Thunderhawks are ranked No. 10. Grand Rapids is looking to end skid after losses to Warroad, Duluth Marshall and Lakeville North. Eden Prairie just had a five-game winning streak snapped with a 2-1 loss to Benilde-St. Margaret's. It should be a great game between two teams with a lot of talent.
Edina (5-1-1) vs. Elk River (7-1)
In the second game of Friday's tournament, No. 2-ranked Edina faces No. 6-ranked Elk River in a battle of two teams who have a combined two losses. The Hornets won last year's state championship, while the Elks fell one game short of the state tournament last year. They've won six straight games since an early loss to Benilde-St. Margaret's, including an overtime victory over Blaine. Elk River will have to play a physical style to combat Edina's speed and skill on the ice.
Friday Boys Basketball: Armstrong (8-0) at Maple Grove (7-0)
There's a great boys basketball match-up between two top five teams Friday night in the northwest metro as Maple Grove hosts Armstrong in Northwest Suburban Conference action. Both teams are unbeaten as Armstrong is ranked No. 3 in Class 4A and Maple Grove is ranked No. 5. The Falcons are led by Sean Burns's 19 points per game, and Evan Nolan added more than 11. The Crimson are led by Brad Davison's 15.9 points per game Reed Nikko also scores about nine points per game to go along with seven rebounds.
Friday Girls Basketball: Minnetonka (6-1) at Eden Prairie (4-1)
A pair of top teams in girls basketball face off in conference play Friday night as No. 10-ranked Eden Prairie faces No. 3-ranked Minnetonka. The Eagles are led by Emma Boehm's 14.6 points per game. The Skippers are led by Courtney Fredrickson's 15 points per game and Lizzie Odegard adds about 11. Eden Prairie has won four straight games since a season-opening loss to Eastview. Minnetonka won four straight to open the season, then lost to Champlin Park but rebounded Tuesday with a win at Chanhassen.
Wild Mountain Hosts Large Ski Invitational
Hundreds of high school alpine skiers will be in Taylors Falls on Friday for the Wild Mountain Invitational. It's one of Minnesota's biggest and most competitive high school downhill ski competitions. It's a good early test for many of the state's best athletes to see who will be contenders at the state championships at Giant's Ridge in February. Racing starts at about 9:30 a.m. and goes all day at Wild Mountain, and many of the state's top teams and individuals will be there.
Last year's top eight teams on the boys' side were The Blake School, Forest Lake, Orono, Stillwater, Edina, Chanhassen, East Ridge and Minnetonka. On the girls' side, Minnetonka won a state title last year and was followed by The Blake School, Minneapolis Southwest, Mankato West, Mahtomedi, Lakeville North, Orono and Mounds View.
Tune into WCCO-TV's High School Sports Rally at about 10:20 p.m. Friday as Mike Max, Frank Vascellaro and David McCoy will have all the action covered.