Minnetonka Defeats Moorhead on Saturday Afternoon, Moves to #1 in Class AA
Minnetonka took over the top spot in the Class AA rankings on Saturday afternoon, earning a 4–2 road win over Moorhead in one of the most anticipated matchups of the day.
The game opened with a scoreless first period, as both teams settled in and tested each other’s defensive structure. Moorhead broke through first early in the second period on a power play goal from Brandon Mickelson, but Minnetonka responded later in the frame when Cash Hardie finished an even-strength chance to tie the game 1–1 heading into the third.
Minnetonka seized control in the final period. Cooper Rannow scored twice, first at even strength and then short-handed, giving the Skippers a two-goal cushion. Moorhead pulled back within one on a power play tally from Max Cullen, but Minnetonka sealed the win when Hardie added an empty-net goal in the final minutes.
Minnetonka outshot Moorhead 32–20 and came up with the biggest moment of the game while shorthanded, as Rannow’s second goal shifted momentum firmly in the Skippers’ favor. The win over the previously top-ranked Spuds solidifies Minnetonka’s place at No. 1 in Class AA.
Key Performers
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Minnetonka
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Cash Hardie: 2 goals
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Cooper Rannow: 2 goals, including a short-handed goal
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Moorhead
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Brandon Mickelson: 1 goal, 1 assist
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Max Cullen: power play goal
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Saturday Final Scores Across Minnesota
Ely 0, Austin 4
East Grand Forks 2, Detroit Lakes 3 (OT)
Minnesota River 3, Marshall 1
Centennial 7, Champlin Park 4
Stillwater 3, Shakopee 4
South St. Paul 0, Tartan 2
Pine City Area 2, Cambridge-Isanti 3
Sauk Rapids-Rice 2, Thief River Falls 6
Red Lake Falls 4, Greenway 0
Mahtomedi 4, Hibbing/Chisholm 7
Princeton 1, Crookston 8
Mayville/Portland (ND) 9, Kittson County Central 2
Blake 2, Rochester Lourdes 2 (OT)
Waconia 9, St. Paul Academy 0
Lakeville South 6, New Prague 2
Irondale 4, St. Paul 2
Totino-Grace 11, Mounds View 0
Osseo 1, Minneapolis 7
Anoka 1, Robbinsdale Armstrong/Cooper 5
Rogers 5, Rock Ridge 2
Monticello 3, Buffalo 0
Bloomington Jefferson 8, Spring Lake Park/Coon Rapids 1
St. Thomas Academy 2, Maple Grove 3 (OT)
Red Wing 4, Windom 1
Duluth East 7, Duluth Denfeld 2
Brainerd 1, St. Michael-Albertville 8
Minnetonka 4, Moorhead 2
Dodge County 3, Luverne 4 (OT)
St. Cloud Cathedral 2, Delano 5
Breck 4, Westonka 1
Worthington 1, Morris/Benson Area 2
River Lakes 4, Breckenridge/Wahpeton 1
Elk River/Zimmerman 4, Grand Rapids 6
Blaine 2, East Ridge 1
Waseca 4, Farmington 6
Eastview 3, Chanhassen 2 (OT)
Fairmont 0, Winona 7
Two Rivers 1, Eagan 5
Hill-Murray 3, White Bear Lake 2
Chaska 1, St. Louis Park 4
Forest Lake 5, Roseville 2
Hutchinson 2, Hopkins 4
Eden Prairie 1, Edina 6
