In one of the most stunning upsets in Minnesota high school hockey’s recent history, the defending state champion and undefeated Minnetonka Skippers fell to Chanhassen in the Section 2AA championship game Thursday night.
Section championship week always delivers thrills in the State of Hockey, and Chanhassen (23-5) delivered with a 2-1 victory over Minnetonka, an undefeated (25-0-2 before running into the Storm) team ranked No. 1 and fueled by nine Division I recruits.
KFAN’s Zach Halverson captured the intense, emotional final seconds of the game at Braemar Arena in Edina. Here it is:
One of the biggest upsets in Minnesota High School Hockey history.
Chanhassen defeats No. 1 & undefeated Minnetonka 2-1 and will head to the state tournament for the first time in program history.
Unbelievable! pic.twitter.com/7Xv42y5Ntn
— Zach Halverson (@ZachHalverson) March 1, 2024
Minnetonka had outscored its last 11 opponents by a combined 78-6 before Chanhassen got two goals from Andy Earl in the first period and Kam Hendrickson had more than 30 saves to hold the Skippers at bay.
For Chanhassen, its the boys’ first trip to the state tournament in school history, and it avenges a 3-2 overtime loss to Minnetonka in their only meeting during the regular season. Chanhassen was one of only three teams able to force overtime against Minnetonka, with state powers Edina and Wayzata being the others.
