Hill-Murray at Edina
7 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 10

On New Year’s Eve, No. 4-2A Hill-Murray (8-4-0) and No. 2-2A Edina (12-1-2) met in an expected collision in the Schwan Cup Gold Division. But it wasn’t in the championship game as many anticipated. Instead, it was in the consolation final, as each fell in a tough quarterfinal (Hill-Murray to Eden Prairie in overtime and Edina to Minnetonka in a shootout — officially a tie on the Hornets’ record).

The Hornets recorded a 3-1 decision over the Pioneers, jumping out to a 3-0 lead on goals from Garrett Wait (13-25-38), Casey Dornbach (8-7-15) and Matt Masterman (16-4-20). But it was Edina’s defense that was most impressive, holding Hill-Murray to just 14 shots on goal. That kind of defensive intensity has been a calling card, as coach Curt Giles’ team allows just 1.73 goals per game and has officially lost only to No. 1-2A Lakeville North in its 15 games.

Hill-Murray wasn’t hurt much by its 1-2 record in the Gold Division, either, hanging on to the No. 4 spot in the Class 2A coaches poll. Zach Mills (12-12-24) and Marko Reifenberger (14-10-24) lead the Pioneers in scoring, ahead of three outstanding defensemen in Jacob Olson (6-10-16), Davis Zarembinski (3-11-14) and the goal-scorer against Edina, freshman Mikey Anderson (3-4-7).