2011 Minnesota State High School Hockey Tournament: Class AA Final

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Class AA Final

#3 Duluth East vs. #1 Eden Prairie - 7:00 pm

How they got here

Duluth East defeated Edina 2-1 in OT

Eden Prairie defeated Eagan 5-1

Previous meeting: Duluth East 4-3 over Eden Prairie on 1/15/11

All season, high schoolers from around the state of Minnesota are focused on this day. All the off-season conditioning, the captain's practices, the early season games to sort things out, the late season games to get in sync and the home stretch to put it all together; it's all done to get to this day, the Minnesota State High School Hockey Championship.

When Duluth East and Eden Prairie met on January 15 in the new Amsoil Arena in Duluth, the Greyhounds were a 4-3 winner. The Eagles will be looking to avenge that loss and put themselves into a books with their second title in three years, with many of these kids being part of that 2009 title team. They have had a relatively easy time cruising through the tournament thus far, outscoring opponents 10-1 and not really having a challenge. THey should be well-rested and ready to go.

Duluth East has not been in a title game in a while, and both of their games have gone into overtime, with their first win over White Bear Lake coming in double overtime. The Greyhounds are going to have to overcome tired legs and the offensive onslaught of Kyle Rau and company early to make sure they don't find themselves in a hole out of which they cannot climb. While Mike Randolph has the experience and coaching acumen to get the kids up for the game, I cannot see them being able to fend off the Eagles long enough. The tired legs will kick in and Eden Prairie will take over the game and walk away with the title.