Eight-game winning streak returns Edina to boys hockey top 10

Look who is relevant again. Edina, winners of 13 boys hockey high school state championships, moved into the top 10 of the Let's Play Hockey coaches poll released New Year's Day.

The No. 6 Hornets stumbled out of the gate this season and started 0-3. Entering the new year, they have won eight consecutive games and recently took first place at the prestigious Tradition Holiday Invitational at the Dakotah! Ice Center in Prior Lake. Senior goaltender Robbie Clarkowski won seven of those eight games, stopping 94.3% of shots faced.

Edina was one of several teams on the move in the rankings as the calendar changed to January.

Wayzata kept its No. 1 spot despite losing for the first time. The Trojans are an impressive 3-0-1 in overtime games this season. They play at No. 2 Minnetonka at 2:15 p.m. Saturday.

Only No. 3 Chanhassen can boast a better winning streak (10 games) than Edina. The Storm won the Premier Holiday Classic in the Park at St. Louis Park on the strength of two shutouts.

No. 4 Maple Grove gave Wayzata its first blemish. A pair of Blake Steenerson goals in the third period helped make the host Crimson champions of the Premier Holiday Classic in the Grove. Up next: defending Class 2A state champion Andover on the road Thursday.

No. 5 St. Thomas Academy must regroup after two losses in its past four games to quality opponents.

In Class 1A, No. 1 Warroad and No. 2 Hermantown are the last undefeated boys' teams in high school hockey. Let's see whether they can maintain their status for their Jan. 14 meeting in Warroad.

No. 3 Orono just departed the northland with a loss to host Warroad in the Hockeytown Holiday Classic. The Spartans see Gentry Academy on Friday before heading to Chanhassen on Jan. 10.

No. 4 Mahtomedi faces a hellish January with eight of nine games against Class 2A opponents, plus Hermantown. The dog days begin Tuesday at Benilde-St. Margaret's and continue Saturday at St. Thomas Academy.

No. 5 Northfield lost its season-opening game against Mahtomedi but has not dropped a game since. Tuesday brings a road game against Rochester Mayo, another team on a seven-game winning streak.

By Let's Play Hockey (released Jan. 1)

1. Wayzata 8-1-1; 2. Minnetonka 8-1; 3. Chanhassen 10-1; 4. Maple Grove 9-2; 5. St. Thomas Academy, 9-2; 6. Edina 8-3; 7. Cretin-Derham Hall 8-4; 8. Rogers 6-2-2; 9. Andover 7-4-1; 10. Stillwater 6-1.

T-11. Moorhead 6-5; T-11. Lakeville South 5-3; 13. Champlin Park 7-2; 14. White Bear Lake 7-2; 15. Eastview 6-2; 16. Holy Family Catholic 8-3; 17. Benilde-St. Margaret's 6-4; 18. Hill-Murray 3-6; 19. Grand Rapids 8-4; 20. Centennial 4-3-1.

CLASS 1A

1. Warroad 9-0; 2. Hermantown 7-0-1; 3. Orono 9-1; 4. Mahtomedi 7-2; 5. Northfield 7-2; 6. Litchfield/Dassel-Cokato 8-1-1; 7. Providence Academy 6-5; 8. East Grand Forks 5-5; 9. Detroit Lakes 8-2-1; 10. Two Rivers 10-1-1.