St. Thomas Academy vs. Eden Prairie
7 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 22

These usual suspects will battle on Eden Prairie's home ice Thursday and could meet again eight days later in the championship round of the Schwan Cup Gold Division at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis. 

St. Thomas Academy has been impressive early, picking up quality wins over No. 6-2A Holy Family Catholic (2-1) and No. 8-2A Minnetonka (3-2). The No. 5-2A Cadets are functioning well all-around, scoring 5.14 goals per game while allowing 1.71.

Eden Prairie rebounded well, routing Edina on the final night of the Edina Holiday Classic. But the No. 1-2A Eagles still left with two losses that dropped their overall record to 5-2. Eden Prairie is shorthanded and shuffling lines, so its will rely on Gophers commit Casey Mittelstadt (7-9-16) to spark the offense.