Eden Prairie sophomore Casey Mittelstadt, who verbally committed to the Gophers before ever playing a varsity shift, justified the attention with two huge goals Wednesday at Mariucci Arena.

Mittelstadt scored both Eagles goals in a 2-1 overtime victory over Minnetonka in the Class 2A, Section 6 championship game.

He staked Eden Prairie to a 1-0 first period lead after carrying the puck into the Skippers’ zone and scoring unassisted. In overtime, he sent a pass from Nolan Sullivan into the net to clinch the Eagles’ second consecutive section title.

“As a sophomore the game seems easy for him at times,” Eden Prairie coach Lee Smith said.

The past few days have been anything but easy for the Eagles, who competed without three key players who were suspended after a fight in the section semifinals against Benilde-St. Margaret’s. But an ability to regroup made the team strong enough to succeed.

“Everybody here trusts all our teammates,” Mittelstadt said. “We play as a team.”

Minnetonka, which beat Eden Prairie two out of three times this season, tied the game 1-1 at 6:57 of the second period. Maxwell Cavanaugh sent a puck across the top of the crease for Dominic Picciano to slap into the net.

A Skippers’ chance hit the pipe at the end of regulation.

“We’re just not the most dynamic offensive team and you’ve got to score more than one goal,” Minnetonka coach Brian Urick said.

First Report

Eden Prairie repeated as Class 2A, Section 6 champions with a 2-1 overtime victory against Minnetonka in the Class 2A, Section 6 championship game Wednesday at Mariucci Arena.

Sophomore Casey Mittelstadt won it for the Eagles at 4:38.

Eden Prairie competed without three key players who suspended after a fight in the semifinals against Benilde-St. Margaret’s.


Photo gallery: Eden Prairie 2, Minnetonka 1 (OT)