EDEN PRAIRIE - Senior Brady Morrell scored twice as Hill-Murray built a five-goal lead early in the third period en route to a 7-4 victory over Eden Prairie in the season opener for both teams on Tuesday at the Eden Prairie Community Center.

Morrell's goal 1:22 into the third period put the No. 2-2A Pioneers ahead 6-1. 

Standout freshman RJ Thompson, Owen Conrad and Christian Lee scored in the third for Eden Prairie. The goals by Conrad and Lee were on the power play.

Morrell scored a power-play goal with 44 seconds left in the opening period to put Hill-Murray ahead 2-0. Chase Crowly, Caden Zasada and John Whisler scored in the second for the Pioneers.

The teams have won a combined seven state championships, but both have missed reaching the state tournament each of the past two seasons. Eden Prairie's last trip came in 2021; Hill-Murray's in 2023.

Bennett Willmer made 29 saves for Eden Prairie while Grayson Hanggi had 22 stops for Hill-Murray

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MENDOTA HEIGHTS - St. Thomas Academy, which won its first two games of the season by a combined 26 goals, faced its toughest opponent of the young season in No. 5-2A Holy Angels and responded by notching a third shutout victory, 5-0, in as many games.

All the scoring came in the third period, and state scoring leader Cole Braunshausen had a hand in three of the Cadets' goals. Braunshausen, a senior, had two goals and an assist to but his state-leading totals to eight goals and 14 points.

Freshman goaltender Owen Ryan made 30 saves to record his second shutout in as many starts this season. Holy Angels' George Sill stopped 42 shots.

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ANDOVER - Junior defenseman Cole Anderson scored twice, including the winner 4:02 into overtime, as Maple Grove beat Andover 4-3 at the Andover Community Center for its third win in as many starts this season.

No. 11-2A Maple Grove defeated Wayata 4-2 and Edina 4-3 last weekend at the Wayzata Turkey Trot. 

Senior forward Lane Glende assisted on all three goals for the Crimson. He leads the team with six points.

Casey Rodgers and Jack Rykeli scored for the Huskies (0-2-0).

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ROGERS - Rian Marquardt scored twice as White Bear Lake upset Rogers 3-1 in a clash of ranked teams at the Rogers Ice Arena.

Marquardt, a junior defenseman, leads the No. 17-2A Bears (1-0-1) with three goals this season. Chayce Mathiowetz opened the scoring and Marquardt pushed the lead to 2-0 just over two minutes later midway in the first.

Marquardt then scored in the third before No. 8-1A Rogers (1-2-0) got on the scoreboard with a power-play goal by Cole Bumgarner with 3:20 remaining.

Riley Helmberger made 32 saves for the Bears, including 10 in the final period when the Bears were outshot 11-2. Tyler Bacon made 20 saves for Rogers.

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ST. LOUIS PARK - Grayson Quirk scored on the power play two minutes into overtime as No. 16-2A Benilde-St. Margaret's defeated Gentry Academy 5-4 at the St. Louis Park Recreation Center.

The Red Knights tied the game with a third-period goal from Bergen Kopischke.

Both goalies, Gentry's Gavin Grose and BSM's Alex Beaton, recorded 30 saves.

Gentry Academy is 1-1-0; Benilde-St. Margaret's is 1-0-0.

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CLOQUET - No. 1-1A Hibbing/Chisholm scored the first three goals and then added two goals late in the third as it defeated No. 13-1A Cloquet/Esko/Carlton 5-2 at the Cloquet Area Recreation Center.

Cole Swanson led the Bluejackets (2-0-0) with three goals and an assist. His shorthanded goal 26 seconds into the second period gave Hibbing/Chisholm a 3-0 lead.

Jordy Sewell and Mason Robbins each scored for Cloquet/Esko/Carlton (0-2-0).

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WASECA - August Hansen scored 4:26 into overtime to give Waseca a 6-5 overtime win against New Ulm at Waseca Community Arena in the season-opening game for both programs.

The Bluejays led 1-0 after one period and 5-3 after two. New Ulm's Hunter Larson and Carsten Haala scored in the third period's first 2:24 to tie it at 5-5.

While 11 players scored goals and New Ulm's Bobby Rewitzer and Waseca's Griffin Storey and Jude Gehring were each credited with two assists.

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DULUTH - Grand Rapids' Ander Rajala scored 4:40 into the third period to even the game as the Thunderhawks and Duluth East played to a 2-2 overtime tie at the Essentia Duluth Heritage Center.

The No. 19-2A Thunderhawks' Seth Carlson opened the scoring midway in the first before Duluth East's Greyson Medak tied it with 5:13 left  in the period.

Fin Kuzmuk gave the Hounds (0-1-1) a 2-1 lead after two periods, setting the stage for Rajala's tying goal.

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