Comeback Lifts Moorhead Over Minnetonka in Minnesota High School Boys Hockey State Tournament Class 2A Championship

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Moorhead junior defenseman Drew Simonich and junior forward Evan Wanner were roommates in the team hotel before Class 2A Saturday’s championship game. At 1:30 a.m., Simonich asked Wanner what he would do if he scored the game-winning goal.

“I swear, he said, ‘I would just throw everything to the crowd,’” Simonich said.

Wanner did just that after his game-winning goal in double overtime led the No. 2 Spuds to a 5-4 win over No. 1 Minnetonka. It’s the second consecutive Class 2A championship for Moorhead, and the Spuds came back from a 4-1 third period deficit to earn it.

“I’m so proud of our group today,” senior forward Tyden Bergeson said. “The resilience we had today was unreal. I’m amazed.”

Wanner scored when he skated with the puck into the Minnetonka zone. He shot as he entered the right face-off circle, and the puck went over the glove hand of Minnetonka senior goalie Chase Jerdee.

“Their gap wasn’t great,” Wanner said. “They were kind of tired, but I found a way to shoot it through them. It was a pretty good shot, but then I blacked out after that.”

He might not remeber the details, but he skated toward the Moorhead student section, and he took his helmet off and threw it into the crowd.

“Manifesting it is just unbelievable,” Wanner said. “It’s so special to be able to do this. I’m so grateful to the team.”

Minnetonka had a dream start to the game. The Skippers scored three goals in the first period, and they snuffed a potent Spuds offense until Moorhead scored early in the second period. The Spuds were more competitive in the second period, but Minnetonka scored their fourth goal before the end of the period to kill Moorhead’s momentum.

“Our kids had to earn it,” Moorhead head coach Jon Ammerman said. “[Minnetonka] is a phenomenal high school hockey team.”

The Spuds, despite trailing 4-1 during the second intermission, felt like they played well.

“We loved the way we played, and sometimes that’s the way it goes,” Ammerman said. “Sometimes you play well and you don’t get rewarded.”

They faced a daunting deficit against the top defensive team in the state, but the Spuds luck turned in the third period.

Sophomore Joey Cullen scored on a power play goal where the Spuds looked in sync. Junior forward Zac Zimmerman scored twice in the period, including the game-tying goal with an extra attacker.

“What a fun show that these guys put on,” Ammerman said. “It was so much fun on the bench because they were pulling for each other.”

The championship win gives Moorhead its second state title after decades of falling short. The once perrenial underdogs are now the program no Class 2A team could overcome.

“This group of kids, they’ve earned what they’ve gotten,” Ammerman said.

Moorhead vs. Minnetonka: Live Score Recap of Minnesota High School Boys Hockey State Tournament Championship

FIRST PERIOD UPDATES

Minnetonka wins the opening faceoff, and the game is underway.

Power play for Minnetonka! Drew Kortan goes to the penalty box for cross checking. He hit a Skipper after the whistle — 15:44 remaining in the first period

GOAL MINNETONKA! Jordan Johnson scores on the power play for the Skippers. He one-times a shot from the left face-off circle after Danny Browning slid a pass to him from across the zone — Minnetonka 1, Moorhead 0 — 14:15

GOAL MINNETONKA! With a Moorhead defender on his hip, Ethan Sturgis drove to the goal line, and he backhanded a puck past Spud goalie Will Arnold at a tight angle. Assist by Cooper Rannow and Eliott Schultz — Minnetonka 2, Moorhead 0 — 9:59

GOAL MINNETONKA! The dream start continues for the Skippers. Sophomore Cash Hardie flipped a shot from the left face-off circle at Arnold, who clipped the puck with his glove hand, but it went into the net — Minnetonka 3, Moorhead — 5:57

END OF FIRST PERIOD: Minnetonka 3, Moorhead 0

The Skippers found the opening in the Spuds power play defense for the first goal, but the other two came from quick shots from tough angles. Overall, the Skippers looked like the bigger, more physical team.

SOG
Minnetonka: 10
Moorhead: 5

SECOND PERIOD UPDATES

The second period is underway.

Power play for Moorhead! Sturgis goes to the penalty box for hooking — 15:54

Minnetonka killed the power play, but the Spuds controlled the puck and almost scored.

Both teams with a spell of possession that forced the goalie to make a series of saves — 10:00

GOAL MOORHEAD! Michael Herman scored when the puck went through Jerdee's five-hole and slowed down in the crease, and Herman was there to flick it in. Jerdee partially blocked Tyden Bergeson's shot, but not enough. Second assist by Max Cullen — Minnetnonka 3, Moorhead 1 — 8:38

Moorhead is starting to sustain more pressure in this game. SOG are 8-7 in favor of Moorhead in this period — 1:33

GOAL MINNETONKA! Max Aronson was wide open in front of the net, and he put the puck past Arnold. Assist from Cash Hardie and Liam Schultz — Minnetonka 4, Moorhead 1 — 1:26

END OF SECOND PERIOD: Minnetonka 4, Moorhead 1

Minnetonka scored right when it felt like the Spuds had some momentum.

SOG
Minnetonka: 19
Moorhead: 13

THIRD PERIOD UPDATES

The third period is underway.

Five miinutes into the third period, and Moorhead only has one shot on goal. The Skippers are doing a good job of keeping the Spuds to the outside of the zone.

Power play for Moorhead! Schultz goes to the box for roughing — 11:00

GOAL MOORHEAD! The Spuds execute a beautiful power play. Joey Cullen crept closer to the goal from the right side, and he was in the perfect spot to finish a pass from Brandon Mickelson. The puck hit Zimerman's stick on the way to Cullen, so he gets the first assist — Minnetonka 4, Moorhead 2 — 10:06

GOAL MOORHEAD! The Spuds are within one goal. Zimmerman stood in front of the net and redirected a shot from Mickelson into the net. Joey Cullen with the second assist — Minnetonka 4, Moorhead 3 — 6:36

Power play for Moorhead! Cameron Merrick goes to the box for hooking — 3:35

Moorhead pulls Arnold with 1:30 remaining. The Skippers are back to full strength.

GOAL MOORHEAD! Zimmerman scores for the Spuds with the extra attacker. He ripped a shot from the right side. Evan Wanner and Bergeson with the assist. This game is tied at 4 — 0:35

END OF THIRD PERIOD: Minnetonka 4, Moorhead 4

Overtime will be an 8-minute, sudden death session.

SOG
Minnetonka: 24
Moorhead: 18

OVERTIME UPDATES

Overtime is underway.

Jerdee made a stretching save to keep the Spuds out of the goal — 6:04 remaining

Three minutes remain, and neither team has generated a great chance in the period. Minnetonka's attack has been slightly livelier than it was in the third period.

END OF FIRST OVERTIME: Minnetonka 4, Moorhead 4

There will be a full intermission to resurface the ice. Then it will be a 17-minute period of sudden death overtime.

SOG
Minnetonka: 27
Moorhead: 22

This is the sixth double overtime championship game in state tournament history, all classifications. It's the third time a Class 2A championship game has gone to double OT, and the previous time was in 2022 when Andover defeated Maple Grove 6-5.

SECOND OVERTIME UPDATES

The second overtime is underway.

Moorhead had a great chance to score. John Gramer had a chance by the net, but he couldn't corral the puck — 15:18

Nine minutes remain in the second overtime, and Minnetonka has a 5-2 SOG advantage. They've been the better team so far in the OT2, but the Spuds are always dangerous.

GOAL MOORHEAD! Evan Wanner flicked a shot past Jerdee's glove hand as he carried the puck into the zone and shot from the right face-off circle. Assist to Max Cullen and Finn Paulsen. The Spuds are the Class 2A champions.

FINAL: Moorhead 5, Minnetonka 4

That was Wanner's first goal of the tournament.

Final SOG
Minnetonka: 35
Moorhead: 25

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