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Townsend’s ‘motor’ helping drive Eden Prairie into late-season form

By Drew Herron, SportsEngine, 02/04/23, 7:00PM CST

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Teddy Townsend, a Gophers recruit, has increased his goal scoring for an Eagles team that continues gaining momentum after defeating Benilde-St. Margaret's Saturday night.


Eden Prairie junior center Teddy Townsend carries the puck through the neutral zone during the third period of Saturday's 2-0 win over Benilde-St. Margaret's. Photo by Drew Herron, SportsEngine

Eden Prairie has been flying under the radar all season. 

The Eagles have been struggling to push their winning percentage above .500 and is fifth in the standings of the Lake Conference — one of Minnesota’s most competitive leagues that includes the three teams sitting atop the Class 2A coaches' poll released Jan. 31: No. 1 Minnetonka, No. 2 Edina and No. 3 Wayzata. 

But on an Eagles team built with developing and emerging role players, the group’s top talent shined brightest Saturday night at the St. Louis Park Rec Center, where junior forward Teddy Townsend led the charge in Eden Prairie’s 2-0 upset victory over host Benilde-St. Margaret’s.

“I call him All-Star, because he’s unreal to play with,” linemate Andy Earl said of Townsend. “He’s as complete a player as I have ever seen.”

Eden Prairie forward Mason Moe attempts a wraparound shot in the second period of Saturday's victory at Benilde-St. Margaret's. Photo by Drew Herron, SportsEngine

Eden Prairie forward Mason Moe attempts a wraparound shot in the second period of Saturday's victory at Benilde-St. Margaret's. Photo by Drew Herron, SportsEngine

First Report

Eden Prairie outshot and outworked host Benilde-St. Margaret’s for 2-0 upset victory Saturday night at the St. Louis Park Rec Center.

The Eagles broke the scoring drought midway through the second period when Gophers’ recruit Teddy Townsend buried a rebound during a scrum to put Benilde-St. Margaret’s, ranked No. 5 in the Jan. 31 Class 2A coaches’ poll, back on its heels for good. 

Playing with the lead and an advantage in shots, pressure and zone time, Eden Prairie (10-10-1) finished off the victory with an empty netter by forward Cole Saterdalen with a minute, two seconds to play. 

Eden Prairie’s defensive play kept BSM’s speedy forward at arms’ length, and out of the house where ‘Grada A’ scoring chances live, while goaltender Isaiah Paulnock stopped 19 shots to earn his second shutout of the year. 

The shutout proves perplexing for the Red Knights, who snapped a four-game win streak in which they averaged eight goals-per-game during that span. Five games remain on the schedule for BSM (14-6-0).

Four games remain for the Eagles, with dates against Lake Conference heavyweights Wayzata (Saturday) and Minnetonka (Feb. 16) in front of them before Section 2AA playoffs begin in a little more than two weeks.


Benilde-St. Margaret's forward Ryan Baird tries to redirect a shot from the point as Eden Prairie goaltender Isaiah Paulnock turns aside the scoring chance. Photo by Drew Herron, SportsEngine

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