St. Thomas Academy vs. Eden Prairie

7 p.m., Saturday, March 6

Motivated by their desire to play the most challenging nonconference opponents available, St. Thomas Academy coach Trent Eigner and Eden Prairie coach Lee Smith figured if one game between the perennial state title contenders made sense, why not double down and book two of them? Why not, indeed.

The teams, both of which reached the final four of last year’s Class 2A state tourney, meet twice in a five-day span starting with Saturday’s showdown at the St. Thomas Ice Arena in Mendota Heights.

Coincidentally, Eden Prairie, ranked No. 2 in the Class 2A coaches' poll from Feb. 24, and No. 10-2A St. Thomas Academy (9-1-3) each suffered their lone defeat to Edina earlier this season — the Cadets in a 3-2 blemish on Feb. 5 and the Eagles lost 3-1 on Jan. 23.

Eden Prairie (12-1-0) beat Buffalo 11-0 this past Saturday without the services of junior forward Jackson Blake, who has 32 points in nine games. He sat out the victory over the Bison with what Smith described as a minor injury that leaves Blake’s status as day-to-day. The Eagles, state runners-up the past two seasons, still have plenty of firepower, starting with 20-goal scorer Carter Batchelder and primary setup man and fellow senior Drew Holt (25 assists) and his non-stop motor.

St. Thomas Academy, which ended last week with a 7-1 triumph over Duluth East on Saturday, counters with an equally potent forward duo in seniors Jackson Hallum (29 points) and Jared Wright (26 points). Tommy Cronin, a sophomore forward, is the Cadets' third 20-point scorer this season, tallying 22 points.