Depth Charge Sparks Hornets

Edina’s Olivia Swaim (4) and Jane Kuehl (17) celebrate a goal in the Hornets’ 7-0 win over East Ridge in Thursday’s Class 2A state tournament quarterfinal contest. (MHM Photo / Tim Kolehmainen-Breakdown Sports USA)

Underclassmen jumpstart Edina in 7-0 win over East Ridge 
 
Seeking a third straight Class AA title, Edina got off to a rocky start against East Ridge in Thursday night’s quarterfinal at Xcel Energy Center.  
 
The Hornets took three penalties in the first period and saw East Ridge push the play as a result of being down a skater for a large chunk of the opening frame. But jumpstarting the Hornets Thursday night was not their top players, it was their underclassmen who got things going. 
 
Freshman Jane Kuehl put home a rebound at 7:30 of the first period to give Edina the lead, a lead they would never relinquish. “It’s a big deal. I don’t get that many goals,” quipped Kuehl postgame. “Having the underclassmen score got everyone motivated and psyched.” 
 
Edina would have just the lone goal in the first, but they got going and buzzed to a 7-0 win over the Raptors to secure a spot in Friday’s Class AA semifinal against the winner of Minnetonka/Maple Grove. A four goal second period put away any doubts or jitters that the Hornets had coming into the hockey game. 
 
Edina head coach Sami Reber credited the underclassmen for getting the team started postgame and credited the great depth on the team in being able to roll out three lines that can score at any moment. 

Joining Kuehl in the underclassmen scoring was sophomore Haley Maxwell, who in her first state tournament appearance had a pair of assists from Edina’s blueline. “I was surprised by the bright lights,” said Maxwell on her first tourney game.  
 
Maxwell also credited her upperclassmen teammates for giving her the confidence to go out there and play so well in her first state tournament. 
 
East Ridge Makes First Tourney Appearance 

Despite losing to the two-time defending state champions, East Ridge took a lot of pride in making it to their first ever state tournament on Thursday. “It’s huge for East Ridge,” Raptors coach Kim McClintick said. “No one knows who East Ridge is.” 

McClintick further emphasized how big this appearance was for the Woodbury school when she said, “ There’s a lot of well-off families in Woodbury (referencing Hill-Murray and Cretin-Derham Hall) that would rather go to private schools. It’s huge for us.”  
 
To celebrate the first appearance in state, the school had a pep rally in the morning to send off the team. The Raptors will play the loser of Minnetonka/Maple Grove in the consolation semifinals at Tria Rink at Treasure Island Center on Friday.