As a member of Wayzata’s junior varsity team, Jeff Greeninger watched the last two Cable 12 Turkey Trot Tournament championship games from the bleachers.
“I’ve been waiting for my chance to play in this tournament,” said Greeninger, a senior on the Trojans' varsity team.
Always a highly anticipated kickoff to the boys' hockey season, the tournament provides a stage for participating players to showcase their skills and help determine which will fill the open roles in a lineup.
This year the stage belonged to Wayzata, ranked No. 8 in the Class 2A coaches' poll, and No. 2-2A Edina, two teams that rarely show little struggle through rebuilding years and instead simply reload.
A third-liner, Greeninger proved his place on the varsity roster by scoring twice in the second period to boost the Trojans over the Hornets 4-2 on Saturday night at Plymouth Ice Center.
In only his second varsity game, Greeninger showed veteran poise on his second goal as he caught an airborne pass from Tyler Stevens, dropped the puck and swatted it top shelf over Edina goaltender Charlie deGrood.
“It was amazing and easily the biggest goal I’ve scored,” he said. “It’s always nice when you get the better of Edina.”
With only three sophomores on the team, Wayzata boasts an upperclassmen-heavy roster that has proven its resiliency by defeating Maple Grove in overtime and the Hornets to open the season.
Trojans coach Pat O’Leary preached to his team about prioritizing defensive play first and taking advantage of the opportunities given.
“You need timely goals scored - especially from your seniors specifically - because those are the guys you’re going to need at the end of the season,” he said.
Greeninger’s two goals put Wayzata (2-0) ahead 2-1 after the second period, and they carried that momentum into the third where they outshot Edina 9-5.
Sophomore Griffin Ness scored midway through the final period, giving the Trojans a short breath of comfort before Hornets sophomore and Minnesota commit Clayton Phillips answered two minutes later.
Ness pointed out the ongoing rivalry between Wayzata and Edina that brews even in the youth ranks.
“I’ve been played against (Clayton) Phillips and all those guys for awhile now,” he said. “They always give us a high-energy game."
The Trojans employed a dump-and-chase forecheck in the game's waning minutes and focused their efforts on blocking shots and taking care of the defensive end.
Wayzata defeated the Hornets in the championship game for the first time since 2010.
“It’s a great atmosphere, and I think the last three years the championship game has been phenomenal. But it is nice for us to get to the championship and win,” O’Leary said.
Despite the loss, Edina will still be regarded as a juggernaut in the Minnesota hockey scene, and Hornets coach Curt Giles said he was proud of his team’s performance in the tournament.
“You’re looking for your team to come together and take on a good challenge in these first couple games here,” he said.
Wayzata is starting to resemble the Trojans team that won the Lake Conference title in 2010 and looks to continue building confidence in preparation for two league matchups this season with Edina, which has won seven of the past 10 games.
"I just told them, 'You gotta believe you can skate with anybody and beat anybody,'” O’Leary said. "Getting over the hump believing you can beat (Edina) is important.”
Edina sophomore forward Evan Shoemaker and Wayzata senior defenseman Noah Fuhrmann battle for the puck during the second period. Photo by Drew Herron
First Report
Senior Jeff Greeninger scored twice in the second period to give Wayzata a lead it never relinquished en route to a 4-2 win over Edina in the Cable 12 Turkey Trot Tournament championship at Plymouth Ice Center on Saturday night.
The Trojans (2-0), ranked No. 8 in the Class 2A coaches' poll, trailed 1-0 early in the second before Grant Anderson sent a cross-ice pass to Greeninger, who was in the slot and one-timed the puck past Hornets goaltender Charlie deGrood.
Greeninger then scored off a saucer pass from junior Tyler Stevens late in the second.
Sophomore Griffin Ness found the back of Edina's net for the opening goal of the third period. The score proved to be the game-winner as the No. 2-2A Hornets closed to within one on Clayton Phillips' goal two minutes later but couldn't notch the equalizer.
Edina (1-1) pulled deGrood in the final minute, and Billy Duma capitalized with an empty-net goal to wrap up Wayzata’s first win over the Hornets in the tournament since 2010.
Wayzata senior forward Jeff Greeninger scored twice in the second period to help lift the Trojans past Edina, 4-2. Photo by Drew Herron
The Trojans celebrate Jeff Greeninger's second goal in front of their student section. Photo by Drew Herron
