Call it an Edina-sty.

Already the most decorated program in boys’ hockey annals, Edina added a 12th state title (including the three Willard Ikola-coached Edina East teams) with a 8-2 dismantling of Lakeville North in Saturday’s Class 2A championship game.

The Hornets captured their third title in five years and became the first large school back-to-back champion since Bloomington Jefferson won three consecutive crowns from 1992-94.

Repeating as champions, Edina coach Curt Giles said, “was in the back of our brains because other people talked about it. But we didn’t talk about it at all.”

The Hornets spoke volumes by closing the season on a 13-0-1 run.

“There’s a rap on Edina kids that they are spoiled and that they are handed everything,” Giles said. “That’s not true. These kids played hard every single night.”

Edina rebuilt its engine this season, welcoming 12 new faces – all of them eager to build on their youth hockey successes. They fit seamlessly. Six different players scored Saturday at Xcel Energy Center. The top three forward lines each chipped in at least two goals.

“It was real tough to pick this team but the coaches didn’t miss,” senior defenseman Tyler Nanne said. “Everyone contributed.”

Nanne set up the first Edina goal, making a pass to Garrett Wait, who sent the puck to Casey Dornbach coming down the slot for a 1-0 lead. Lakeville North tied game 1-1 on Max Johnson’s rebound goal but Ben Foley restored a 2-1 Hornets’ lead on the ensuing shift.

Miguel Fidler extended the Edina advantage to 3-1 but Johnson struck again and cut the Panthers deficit to 3-2 after one period.

Seizing control in the second period, Edina added three goals in a little more than four minutes from Fidler, Parker Mismash and Kieffer Bellows for a 6-2 advantage.

Edina was skilled and fast, moving the puck and working together with efficiency.

The Hornets were also in-your-face and unapologetic, drawing penalties for roughing, unsportsmanlike conduct and a major penalty for boarding. And the seventh goal was celebrated with the same voracity as the first.

“You want kids who have an edge but are under control,” Giles said. “It’s a real fine line. Sometimes they step over the line but not by too much. You want them emotionally involved in the game and it’s better to have to tone guys down that to have to get them going.”

Edina’s unbridled intensity was too much for a North team that survived two consecutive overtime games, including Friday night’s two-overtime battle of attrition with Eden Prairie.

“We had guys who were physically fatigued,” Panthers coach Trent Eigner said. “I’ve read that fatigue makes cowards of us all. If you’re not mentally prepared for a team like that, it’s going to be a challenge all night long.”

But Eigner, whose team was held to 14 shots on goal, said, “the guys in the white jerseys had more to do with that than fatigue.”


Photo gallery: Edina wins second consecutive 2A title


Postgame Press Conference: Edina 8, Lakeville North 2