AA QF - #6 Andover vs. #3 Edina

[karl(east)]

#6 ANDOVER VS. #3 EDINA
8:30 Thursday
Two of the more successful programs this decade meet in the nightcap, though this will be their first ever Tourney meeting; somewhat surprisingly, they have no recent regular season history, either.

Andover (11-14-3, Unranked, 5-seed in 5AA)
State appearances: 6 (two in a row)
Championships: 1 (2022)
Key section wins: 3-2 over #9 Maple Grove, 9-5 over #15 Centennial

Andover started 0-9 last season and 2-6-2 this season, and yet here they are in a sixth Tourney in seven years. Don’t be deceived by the record: this was a top 15 team preseason, it has some legitimate talents like Cam Langfeld (10), Jack Rykkeli (19), and KJ Sauer, (9), all of whom have performed on this stage before. Brody Peterson (7) also had a productive year, and they get some good push from the blue line, where Chase Nadeau (8) and Owen Lutgen (4) lead the way. Sophomore Wyatt Riemer (1) has claimed the goaltending job, though his numbers don’t match some others in this field; a sub-70% penalty kill is also worth flagging. Coach Mark Manney knows this drill and had his team peaking in the run through a winnable 5AA; a January one-goal loss to Moorhead shows they can trouble some of the very best. They aren’t going to sneak up on Curt Giles and Edina, though, and they’ll have to find a way through the Hornets’ stout defense.

Edina (21-6-1, #5, 2-seed in 6AA)
State appearances: 44 (6 as Edina East/West in 70s and 80s; four in a row)
Championships: 14 (1969, 1971, 1982, 1984, 1988, 1997, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2019, and 2024 as Edina; 1974, 1978, and 1979 as Edina East)
Key section wins: 3-2 over #11 Holy Angels, 3-1 over #12 Wayzata

The Tourney’s most reliable entrant is back for a fifth straight season; while Wayzata’s upset of top-ranked Rogers eased their trip to State, they still had to beat two quality teams in a loaded 6AA to get here, and a 1-0-1 record against Minnetonka shows they can skate with anyone. This is a more top-heavy Hornet edition than some in the past, with Mr. Hockey finalist Tucker Johnson (8) feeding 33-goal junior Bode McConnell (10) creating a reliable formula; the status of fellow top line forward Dylan Donnay (9), who was injured in sections, bears watching. Brady Peterson (16) and sophomore Nash Paine (6) give them some scoring depth, but this team’s core is on its defense. Becker Wenkus (14) had a very productive year, and Drew Botts (3) and freshman Brooks Suter (22) also contributed going forward, while Sam Peckham (7), Dylan Dubuc (5), and Miller Wenkus (15) helped to shut things down. Multi-sport star Chase Bjorgaard (1) has been reliable in net. If this feisty team can stick to its strengths and get enough offense, they’re a threat to win it all.

[Rich Clarke]

Hopefully Donnay will be back after a week of recuperation, but Dubuc has been out for a while. Does anyone know his status?

As far as I could see Giles played Becker Wenkus, Botts, and Peckham regularly and rotated Miller Wenkus and Suter. If anyone knows anything about Dubuc's situation please share!

Thanks.

[O-townClown]

Great preview, Karl.

I inquired about Dubuc, a personal favorite, and heard injured and unlikely to play.

Velner was injured on Thursday two years ago. After not playing much, sophomore Dubuc went every other in the semi before not seeing much (any) ice against Chanhassen. An unsung hero in a season where Bertram and Cowan were shining in the spotlight. No way Hornets win that year without him.

[Rich Clarke]

Thanks. O-Town. I feel the same way. Edina is deep enough on defense that they should be ok, but it's a shame a three-year player misses the state tourney. Any word on Donnay?

[Nostalgic Nerd]

I'm sure they have enough against Andover, but is Edina gonna have problems if Bode doesn't do the scoring?

[Nostalgic Nerd]

Hahaha Edina girl cheerleaders came out first and were booed.

[headsupsticksdown]

Sorry to say it but Edina looks dialed in. Wow.

[ryguyMN]

When Bode gets on the score sheet, it’s a good day for Edina.

[headsupsticksdown]

Not only that but it could be 3-0 already. Forecheck is relentless and bodies flying!

[ryguyMN]

Bode x2

A permanent power outage is the only thing that can save Andover at this point from this game getting ugly.

[ryguyMN]

Bode x3

Hey Alex Bump, look out!

[blueliner5]

Andover one and done.....Leopold might want to think about lacing them up in disguise

[headsupsticksdown]

Dunno if it’s the opponent (not that Gentry was much of a match), but Edina looks REALLY good. Definitely living up to their name buzzing all over the place.

[Nostalgic Nerd]

If it's over for Andover well ya made it to the tourney again.

[buttonupyrovercoat]

I don't know, time for 6 more power plays at least

[Nostalgic Nerd]

Andover putting a chink in Edinas armor.

[buttonupyrovercoat]

with a thumb on the scale

[SCBlueLiner]

Andover gets one in the first 7 minutes the pressure will really be on.

I'm just cheering for a tight game with a great finish.

[ryguyMN]

Rough sequence for the stripes in the 3rd. Missed Edina hold in front of the Edina net, followed up with a missed Andover major for head contact.

[Nostalgic Nerd]

I don't know, time for 6 more power plays at least

Andover might have that many PP by the end of the game lol.

[grindiangrad-80]

Best Thursday games in recent memory.

[east hockey]

Worst time of the year for a power outage in Proctor. Two, actually. The first one kept me from seeing the end of regulation and the OT in the Rapids game. The second one took out the 3rd period of the Moorhead game and ALL the Edina-Andover game. Hopefully the freezing drizzle and winds will abate and we'll keep power for tomorrow's semi-finals!

Lee

[Nostalgic Nerd]

Oddly to me anyway Edina is 1-0-1 vs Tonka this season. I think Moorhead has way too much skill for Edina.

[Brodziak Fan Club]

Oddly to me anyway Edina is 1-0-1 vs Tonka this season. I think Moorhead has way too much skill for Edina.

Agreed.

I thought Ben Clymer nailed it last night when he talked about Joey Cullen getting impatient. The Hornets are going to need to frustrate him and the rest of the Spuds tonight, who sometimes tend to keep the puck on their sticks too long. Edina has proven the ability to execute a game plan with a conservative forecheck, essentially shortening the game. I think that’s what they’ll need to do tonight. Feet constantly moving, draw penalties, stay out of the box themselves. An ideal final score would be 3-2. In 2023 Edina played a near perfect state championship game against Minnetonka in which a Matt VanderVort shot was inches from sending the game to overtime. It will take a similar effort tonight. 51 minutes, no lapses.

[Doc Holliday]

Edina is a funny team. 1st period they showed that they can play with anyone. 2nd period, they let Andover hang around & it almost bit them. I think they were fortunate to get the 2nd goal waved off. Correct call in my opinion, but more fortunate from a way the game was going at that point aspect. After that, other than the late breakaway in the 3rd, I didn't really think there was much of an imminent threat from Andover. Andover goalie made some great saves to keep them in the game & keep it within striking distance.

It's like they get bored sometimes. Reminded me of the 2019 STA game & 2024 Grand Rapids. Get up quickly, but then start doing stupid things to kind of keep the opponent hanging around.

If they take penalties, Moorhead will make them pay. If they stay out of the box, I really think the game can go either way.