Although these west metro neighbors always draw big, raucous crowds, this isn’t considered among the handful of the state’s great rivalries. Yet.
The two towns share one youth program, with the players going their separate ways once they depart a Bantam AA program that has consistently competed for state championships over the past several years (the team lost to Wayzata in last year’s semifinals).
At the high school level, Chaska has never competed in the state tournament, but the Hawks reached the Section 2AA title game in 2020, losing 3-2 to eventual state runner-up Eden Prairie. They should be in the mix to reach a section title game again this season.
Chanhassen has been a middling Class 1A team for most of its existence, but the Storm have moved up to 2A and are expected show vast improvement over the next several years as a wave after wave of talented Bantams enter the program. Chanhassen was led mostly by freshmen and sophomores last season.
Both teams have new coaches: Sean Bloomfield, the primary principal at Chaska’s Breakaway Academy, is in his first year leading Chanhassen, while former NHLer Matt Cooke, a Stanley Cup winner and former Minnesota Wild player, is leading Chaska.
The game marks the season debut for Chanhassen, while Chaska is off to a 2-0 start, with sophomore Sam Scheetz racking up a team-best four goals. Also starring for the Hawks is freshman forward Sam Spehar, son of former Duluth East star and state tournament legend Dave Spehar.