Wayzata at Edina
7 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 16

Wayzata and Edina have similar records heading into Lake Conference play this week, and whichever team wins this game will have a leg up on its opponent as the chase for the league championship begins.

Though Saturday night’s showdown at Edina's Braemar Arena is the first of two regular-season conference meetings, the Hornets  (9-5-2) and Trojans (9-5-1) have played already, meeting in the Cable 12 Turkey Trot Tournament championship game in Plymouth on Nov. 21. Wayzata took that meeting 4-2 in a tight contest that ended with an empty-netter.

Since then, No. 6-2A Edina has been winning at a .667 clip while facing several quality teams.

This Hornets’ group is young after graduating a dozen seniors from last year’s Class 2A state tournament team, and one might expect Edina to be a more polished team in late January and February with a bit more experience under its belt.

Junior Ben Copeland (10-11-21) and Gophers recruit Sam Walker (9-12-21), a sophomore forward, are leading the Hornets in scoring.

Wayzata hosts Eden Prairie on Thursday before traveling to Edina. Following the meeting with the Hornets, the Trojans head to Minnetonka next Thursday in what ought to be the most telling stretch of the season.

Wayzata has struggled to score for much of the season, leaning heavily, at times, on its defense and goaltending. The Trojans' goals-per-game average is only slightly higher (2.73) than their goals-against average (2.53).