Edina goalie Louden Hogg blocked a shot in the first period. Photo: CARLOS GONZALEZ • cgonzalez@startribune.com
Determining Edina’s fastest player is an exercise in futility.
Hornets senior forward Jett Jungels says the honor could belong defenseman Mike Vorlicky, or maybe fellow high-scoring forwards Liam Malmquist or Mason Nevers. Even Brett Chorske, the Hornets’ 6-6 center, has dragstrip-worthy wheels according to Jungels.
“We’re all fast,” Jungels said Thursday after the No. 1-seeded and top-ranked Hornets outlasted unseeded Moorhead 4-2 in a state Class 2A quarterfinal.
The Spuds won’t argue. They fell behind 1-0 in a blink of an eye, as Jungels — yet another speed demon — opened the scoring 57 seconds into the first period on a burst to the net. Nevers made it 2-0 by the end of the first period, again exploiting Edina’s edge in speed.
Edina top guns Jett Jungels, Mason Nevers and Liam Malmquist each scored as the No. 1-seeded and top-ranked Hornets got sizzling performances from all of its top players in a 4-2 triumph over unseeded and unranked Moorhead on Thursday’ in the Class 2A quarterfinals.
Jungels, a senior Mr. Hockey Award finalist, scored his 28th goal of the season 57 seconds into the opening period at Xcel Energy Center. Nevers, also a senior Mr. Hockey Award finalist, made it 2-0 with 3:29 left in the first with his 18th goal.
Moorhead’s Cullen Gess cut the Hornets’ lead to 2-1 less than 2 minutes into the second period, but Malmquist’s goal (his 24th of the season) less than four minutes later put Edina (25-2-1) in control most of the rest of the game.
Moorhead’s Nolan Westra goal with 3:07 left injected one last shot of energy into the Spuds and the partisan Moorhead crowd. Edina goaltender Louden Hogg made a diving, face-first save at the right corner of the crease with less than 2 minutes left before teammate Kevin Delaney scored into an open net with 28.7 seconds left to secure the victory.
Moorhead (21-7-1) fired 20 shots on Edina’s Hogg. The Spuds’ Hudson Hodges made 32 saves.
Check back later for more on the game.