Wayzata boys’ hockey coach Pat O’Leary can count his team’s victory total this season on two hands. But the state championship ring he could wear on his left hand and the unyielding faith it represents is one reason why his team upset Edina.

Wayzata returns to defend its title after a stunning 3-1 victory against No. 2 Edina in Wednesday’s Class 2A, Section 6 championship game at Mariucci Arena.

“People have said, ‘The underdogs’ or ‘The Cinderella story’ but I think it’s more the belief that we were going to play well tonight,” O’Leary said.

Griffin Ness of the Trojans (10-17-1) scored 25 seconds into the game and hit the empty net with one second remaining. Goaltender Reid Waszczenko stopped 29 shots, often snuffing great Hornets’ chances.

Edina (20-6-1) had beaten Wayzata in three previous meetings this season, but Hornets’ coach Curt Giles remained wary of the Trojans.

“We didn’t finish on a couple good chances early in the game,” Giles said, “and they are so good defensively, the longer it goes the tougher it gets.”

Defending state champion Wayzata (10-17-1) returns to defend its title after a 3-1 upset of No. 2-ranked Edina (20-7-1) in Wednesday’s Class 2A, Section 6 championship game at Mariucci Arena.

The Trojans’ Griffin Ness scored 25 seconds into the game and hit the empty net with one second remaining. Goaltender Reid Waszczenko stopped 29 of Edina’s 30 shots, many of those saves coming on great chances.

Edina had beaten Wayzata in three previous meetings this season.