Junior forward Casey Mittelstadt led the Eagles with a goal and four assists in a 6-3 victory over Grand Rapids on Friday night in the second round of the Edina Holiday Classic at Braemar Arena.
Ranked No. 2 in the Class 2A coaches’ poll, the Eagles (6-1) have separated themselves from the showcase's competition with two impressive wins. Eden Prairie faces the host Hornets in the 8:30 p.m. game Saturday in the event's nightcap.
Committing to Minnesota before participating as a sophomore in his first varsity practice, Mittelstadt has aged tremendously through little more than a season of action for the Eagles.
He plays a key role on their power play at the sideboard, where he has three options: Push the puck down low, pass to his teammates at the point or skate across the slot to open up a shooting lane or a pass across.
“Whichever way you go, you want to bait one of their defensemen and set up a two-on-one,” Mittelstadt said.
Displaying his vision and ability to deliver crisp, hard passes, Mittelstadt notched assists on all three power-play goals for an Eden Prairie team that failed to convert only once with the man advantage against the Thunderhawks.
Grand Rapids (6-3-1) played an aggressive penalty kill against Edina last night and it paid dividends as Mitchell Mattson scored a shorthanded goal that spurred the No. 9-2A Thunderhawks to a 6-4 victory over the Hornets.
Eden Prairie coach Lee Smith was confident in his team’s talent and ability to stay cool under pressure.
“I think we took a good look at what they were doing on the kill against Edina and we broke it down,” Smith said.
The Eagles now have a chance to win the tournament title outright for the first time since 2005, the last time they beat the Hornets in the most anticipated matchup of the tournament.
Lee's players were just beginning their hockey careers then, but the significance of the rivalry between Eden Prairie and Edina has been ingrained in them.
“This is one of our most favorite games to play in by far." Mittelstadt said. "It’s gonna be packed - we haven’t won in a while - and tomorrow we just want to get going early and bury a few."
Grand Rapids defensemen Hunter Huson had a goal for the Thunderhawks. Photo by Nick Wosika
