Grand Rapids at Edina
8:30 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 17

Grand Rapids comes to Edina ready to party like is 1979.

That because this important Class 2A top-10 matchup has a retro feel to it.

In a seven-year stretch from 1974 to 1980, only one school (Rochester John Marshall in 1977) managed to win a title away from the Thunderhawks (then Indians) or Hornets (won as Edina East in 1974, ’78 and ’79), who each owned the hockey landscape in their respective realms.

Since then, Edina has won the state championship seven times, including four in Class 2A since the two-class format was instituted in 1994. Grand Rapids, meanwhile, is looking for its for its first state title since 1980.

The Thunderhawks (5-2-1) have embarked on an ambitious schedule as an independent team under first-year head coach Trent Klatt, a former Mr. Hockey winner (1989) from Osseo who spent 14 seasons in the NHL. 

Thursday night brings another game with one of the state’s top teams for Grand Rapids, which has faced heavyweights like No. 2-2A Benilde-St. Margaret's and No. 8-2A Lakeville North before taking on No. 6-2A Edina and No. 1-2A Eden Prairie back-to-back games this weekend.

Edina (5-2) comes off a 4-3 overtime loss to No. 4-2 Blaine. This group of Hornets is still fairly young and inexperienced by their own high standards, but the team is loaded with talent that is sure to improve noticeably with each passing week.

The Hornets are led in scoring by two seniors as Casey Dornbach and Ben Tucker each have five goals.