BLOOMINGTON – Curt Giles has been at this coaching thing for a while in Edina, and he knows a thing or two about how to build a hockey team. 

Case in point, this season's Hornets. They have brilliant goaltending, perhaps the state’s top two-way forward and a blended, eclectic group that is a balance of upper and lower classmen.

Less senior leadership, less experience? No matter in Edina. Giles’ teams are built for these moments and this time of year.

The Hornets, No. 3 in the latest Legacy Class 2A rankings, proved that emphatically Wednesday night at Bloomington Ice Garden by rolling past top-seed and No. 2-2A ranked Wayzata 4-1 in the Section 2AA championship. The Hornets ousted the Trojans in the section title game for the second-straight year, and are headed to the state tournament for the 43rd time and third in a row.

It’s the 15th time in Giles' 25 years as head coach that he's put a team in the state tournament, and he's chasing his fifth title and the school's 14th. 

“Curt knows exactly how to build a team around playoff time,” said senior goaltender Joe Bertram, who stopped 19 of the 20 shots he faced. “He really forces us to work our hardest and to get the most out of us. Once we get going like that, it feels like there is no stopping us.”

Bertram, a senior starting his first varsity season, locked things down after surrendering a goal to Wayzata’s Brittan Alstead just 1:37 into the game.  

Edina's top line of Jackson Nevers, a Mr. Hockey finalist and University of Minnesota commit, sophomore center Mason West and right winger Bobby Cowan accouned for six points. Wayzata had defeated the Hornets in overtime two weeks ago at a sold-out Braemar Arena.

The second-period momentum shift was so distinct, and so rare in the recent history of these teams, that it stands out and proves stinging for the top-seeded Trojans (24-3-2). One-goal games and ties are the norm in the top tier of the Lake Conference.

When the Hornets popped in two, and then two more, Wayzata was gassed and chasing. 

“Obviously, it’s nice to score first against these guys, but either we took our foot off the gas or they put their foot on the gas,” Wayzata coach Pat O’Leary said. “We didn’t take care of the advantages we had, and they did. That’s how playoff hockey works.

“That’s a phenomenal team over there,” he added as he glanced down from bleachers. “They took it to us tonight.”

Shots played out somewhat even, but zone time and the pushing of the play grew stronger for the Hornets as the minutes ticked down. 

Nevers, as he has been all year, was the orchestrator of the Edina machine. He had two assists, giving him a a team-high 48 points for the year.

“He’s big, he’s strong, he’s fast, and he can shoot the puck,” Giles says. “I like everything about his game. He’s 6-foot-2, 190-pound player who can move like that ... he is a prototypical player.”

Nevers, a senior captain, relishes in the challenge of being both a target for other teams and a leader for the Hornets. Nevers is a little fiery and not afraid to throw around some muscle.

“From the time this team is assembled, we are chasing the state tourney,” Nevers said. “You can’t get too far ahead of yourself, but it’s always in the back of our minds. And this is a tough section to get through ... it’s very difficult. 

“We’ve got seniors, but we’ve also brought in the young guns (in the fall). They aren’t young guns anymore, those guys play like seniors now. They are already very good hockey players.”

BLOOMINGTON - Edina earned its third-straight Section 6AA championship with a convincing 4-1 victory over Wayzata Wednesday night at Bloomington Ice Garden.

After falling behind on a score by Wayzata's Brittan Alstead just 1:37 into the game, Edina took control for good in the second period with a pair of goals.

Mason West and Ryan Flaherty scored 4 minutes apart to push No. 3-ranked Edina (22-4-1) ahead and left No. 2-ranked Wayzata (23-2-2) to chase.

West and senior Jackson Nevers each finished with two points, and senior goaltender Joe Bertram stopped 19 of 20 shots.

Lake Conference rivals, the teams split during the regular season, with Wayzata winning 4-3 in overtime in their last meeting just two weeks ago.