Eden Prairie Eagles Return to State Tournament

Nicky Leivermann left the best part of the game for last as he scored the game winning goal with 7:05 left in the third period to lead the Eden Prairie Eagles to a 4-3 win over the Holy Family Catholic Fire in the Section 2AA Championship Game Wednesday night at Mariucci Arena on the University of Minnesota campus.

The Eagles won their fifth consecutive section title.  Last year, they lost in the Class AA championship game to their Lake Conference rivals the Wayzata Trojans.

Both teams would tally in the first period. Spencer Rudrud would receive a pass from Casey Mittlestadt and scored to put the Eagles ahead.  The Fire would be on fire on a rebound goal from Joe Hankinson.

Holy Family Catholic would vault into the lead in the second period when Matt Anderson, who will play next season at Minnesota-Duluth lined a shot toward the net and Nick Michel positioned himself on the left side of the crease to tap the puck in.  The Fire's lead would be short lived when Eden Prairie tied the game at two as Mittlestadt would tap in a shot from Sam Pajor.  Holy Family Catholic would regain the lead on a power play goal by Mack Byers from the center slot.

The Eagles would score twice to bring back their fifth straight section championship trophy down Highway 5.  Hunter Johannes got a pass from Pajor and he fired into the net.  Mittlestadt, who will play next season at Mariucci Arena as a member of the Minnesota Golden Gophers fed Leivermann at the right face off circle and he put it past Fire goalie Jared Moe to eventually clinch the section title.  Holy Family Catholic had an opportunity to send the game into overtime when head coach Noel Rahn pulled Moe for a sixth attacker.  However, the Fire's flame flickered out since they couldn't put the puck in the net.

Eden Prairie improved their record to 21-4-1 and will play in the Class AA quarterfinals on Thursday, March 9 at the Xcel Energy Center.  Time and opponent to be determined following the seeding on Saturday.  Holy Family Catholic ended their season with a record of 22-5-1.