Moorhead Stuns Minnetonka to Earn Back-To-Back Titles

Moorhead Stuns Minnetonka to go Back-To-Back

By Robert Brent

Moorhead erases a 4–1 deficit to defeat Minnetonka 5–4 in double overtime, securing the Spuds’ second consecutive Class AA state championship on Evan Wanner’s game-winning goal at Grand Casino Arena.

The final game of the Minnesota Boys High School Hockey season emanated from Grand Casino Arena Saturday night in the Class AA championship between top-seeded Minnetonka and second-seeded Moorhead.

The two teams played earlier this season, with Minnetonka earning a 4-2 win at the Moorhead Sports Center. That game functioned as a preview to the Class AA state championship, but was played all the way back on December 20th. The Spuds and Skippers look much different now than they did then.

The contest between the two clubs, on paper, is a classic case of the unstoppable force meeting the immovable object. The Spuds are one of the best offenses in the state, scoring nearly six goals a game and boasting a roster of talented skill players. Brandon Mickelson and Tyden Bergeson are both Mr. Hockey finalists, and the Cullen trio are notable scorers as well.

On the other side of the ice, the Skippers featured a seemingly impenetrable defense. That ability to limit scoring starts in net with Chase Jerdee. The senior goaltender registered seven shutouts, 1.55 goals against per game, and a .926 save percentage this season. Minnetonka helps Jerdee out with a strong team defensive structure and some of the most solid blueliners in the state. Danny Browning and Tate Hardacre are both finalists for the Reed Larson Award.

Minnetonka took an early lead in the game, scoring just 2:45 into the game. Jordan Johnson scored the goal on a one-time shot after a cross-ice feed from Danny Browning. The goal came on a power play, and coverage lost Johnson, leaving him alone at the faceoff dot.

The Skippers added to their lead about four minutes later on a tight-angle shot from Ethan Sturgis. Sturgis beat the Spuds’ goaltender five-hole from the goal line. The goal put massive pressure on Moorhead, given how difficult it’s been to score on the Skippers this season. If any team could mount that kind of offense, it would be the Spuds.

Minnetonka widened that gap even further with 5:57 remaining in the first period on a strong effort by Cash Hardie to beat the Moorhead goaltender.

The Skippers held that score for the remainder of the first period.

Moorhead had the opportunity early in the second period to eat into the Minnetonka lead with a chance on the power play. The Spuds’ extra-attacker unit produced several high-quality chances, but couldn’t beat Jerdee and the Skippers’ defense.

The Spuds got on the board with 8:38 left in the second period. The initial shot from Tyden Bergeson leaked through Jerdee’s pads. Michael Herman was there to clean up the play as the puck lay in the blue paint.

Minnetonka pushed its lead back to three goals with just 1:26 left in the period on a tally from Max Aronson. Aronson scored with a shot from the center of the ice in front of the Spuds’ net to cement a three-goal lead going into the third period.

If Moorhead had any hopes of repeating their championship effort from last season, it would require a furious comeback in the third period.

The Spuds got a chance to start that comeback with 11 minutes remaining and a power play opportunity. After generating several near misses, a cross-crease pass finally found Joey Cullen who scored to bring Moorhead back to within two.

The Spuds cut the lead to one with 6:36 remaining in the game after a redirection in front of the net from Zac Zimmerman. The initial shot from the point came from Brandon Mickelson, leaving the Spuds with just one more goal to score to climb back to a tied game.

While the whistles usually go away in big moments like this, Moorhead earned a power play on a tripping call that had to be made, giving the Spuds a golden chance to tie the game with 3:35 remaining.

The Spuds didn’t break through on their power play, but found a game-tying goal with just 35.6 remaining in the game on a goal from Zac Zimmerman. Zimmerman’s marker came after the Skippers’ defenders nearly cleared the zone. Brandon Mickelson held the line by firing the puck at the net. The shot missed, but careened to Zimmerman who fired a shot that shook the foundation of Grand Casino Arena.

The play almost didn’t happen after Minnetonka had nearly scored moments before. A strong effort from Will Arnold kept the puck out of the net and kept Moorhead’s state title defense alive with the team’s going to overtime.

Both teams manufactured some chances in the opening overtime period. The Spuds carried play throughout the first half, but the Skippers turned the tables and produced opportunities of their own later in the extra frame. Neither team found a breakthrough, and the game’s initial overtime ended with a 4-4 deadlock preserved.

The Spuds found the game-winner in second overtime to capture their second-straight state championship when Evan Wanner snapped a shot past the Skippers’ goaltender glove side from the faceoff circle.

Wanner’s goal was the kind that will live on for a school’s hockey program far into the future. Just as Ryan Shaugabay made himself a Warroad hero in the earlier game’s Class A championship, Evan Wanner cemented himself as an icon not just of the Moorhead hockey community, but of the Minnesota High School State Tournament.

Scoring Summary: