The Edina boys’ hockey team performed at a peak level in its first game of the season.

The Hornets showed substantial depth and lightning-quick speed in an 11-0 rout of Holy Family Catholic in the in the opening game of the Channel 12 Turkey Trot Tournament Friday night at the Plymouth Ice Center.  

“Our team was clicking on all cylinders today,” Edina senior forward Matt Masterman said. “Everything seemed to be going in.”

Masterman scored four goals and junior forward Casey Dornbach had three goals and one assist to lead the Hornets, the top-ranked team in the Class 2A coaches preseason poll.

Junior forward Garrett Wait had six assists, while senior forward Dylan Malmquist notched two goals and two assists.  

Edina outshot No. 14-2A Holy Family Catholic 36-15.

The Fire are a strong team and should not be underestimated despite the game’s lopsided stats, Masterman said.

“They’ve been building a program over the last few years,” Masterman said. “We know they have solid talent, and they should be good down the road.”

The Hornets' depth helped the losses of Kieffer Bellows and Ryan Zuhlsdorf, who both opted to stay with their United States Hockey League teams instead of returning to play for Edina.

“They’re tough losses, but we have to look past that and keep moving forward,” Wait said. 

Depth and speed on the ice are hallmarks of this Edina squad, but the biggest reason for the Hornets’ continued success was apparent off the ice between periods. 

Several of Edina’s youth skaters and younger siblings of the Hornets’ varsity players lined up at the gate to the ice, hoping for fist bumps or high fives from their idols. It's a small act that helps instill Edina's grand hockey tradition. 

“I was that kid one day and dreamed of being on this team,” said Masterman, who played in the Edina youth hockey program. “There is no place I’d rather play."

Wait said he relishes being a role model for the Hornets’ next generation of players.

“Edina is a program with a lot of tradition,” Wait said. “I’m glad to be a person (the kids) look up to.”

First Report

Senior forward Matt Masterman scored four goals as Edina opened the season with an 11-0 rout of Holy Family Catholic in the semifinals of the Channel 12 Turkey Trot Tournament Friday night at the Plymouth Ice Center. 

Junior forward Casey Dornbach had three goals and one assist for the Hornets (1-0-0), ranked No. 1 in the Class 2A coaches preseason poll.

Junior forward Garrett Wait had six assists and senior forward Dylan Malmquist notched two goals and two assists.

Edina dominated from the start, scoring three goals in the first period. The Hornets added six goals in the second period to build a 9-0 lead and chase Fire goaltender Gabe Heifort from the game. Sophomore Jaxson Stauber replaced Heifort to start the third period. 

Freshman defenseman Clayton Phillips finished with a goal and an assist and senior forward Parker Mismash also scored a goal. Senior forward Henry Bowlby had three assists for the Hornets.

Senior goaltender Kobi Boe stopped 15 shots to earn the shutout. 

Heifort and Stauber combined to make 25 saves for 14th-ranked Holy Family Catholic (0-1-0). 

Edina faces Wayzata in the tournament championship Saturday night at 7:30 p.m.


Holy Family forward Patrick Reddan looks to shoot vs Edina during Wayzata Turkey Trot action at Plymouth Ice Center. Photo by Brian W Nelson


Edina's Ben Copeland. Photo by Brian W Nelson. Click image to view full size.

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