Maple Grove goaltender Breanna Blesi has had better games statistically, but the sophomore said her performance against Edina in the quarterfinals of Walser Girls Invitational Hockey Tournament Monday night was her most memorable.

Blesi was unflappable in the Crimson’s 2-1 win over the Hornets at Braemar Ice Arena. She stopped 30 shots, including 15 of 16 in the final period to help seal the victory for Maple Grove (12-0-1), ranked No. 2 in the Class 2A coaches poll.

“We played Elk River earlier this year where I had 44 saves to one goal,” Blesi said. “This win felt better because Edina is a big name. It’s a really big accomplishment to be able to say I saved 30 of 31 shots in Edina. I knew they were really strong. I know a lot of the girls, so I know how they play. I was a little nervous.” 

Blesi stood tall in the final 20 seconds of the game and didn’t let anything by her while facing the Hornets’ 6-on-4 advantage following a late Maple Grove penalty.

Crimson coach Rob Potter said he knew Blesi was facing a difficult task stopping the No. 8-2A Hornets (8-5-1), but he wasn’t surprised by her performance. 

“Who doesn’t know about the Hornets?” Potter said. “It’s Edina. We know they’re going to be good. They’re going to have pride, and they’re going to play to win. We knew what we were coming into. 

“We always have known what Breanna could do. She’s an outstanding athlete with an outstanding work ethic. We were throwing her in there. It’s one thing to have the ability, it’s another thing to perform under pressure. It’s a big step for a young kid. She sure did that tonight.” 

Blesi protected the net with help from her defense, and those same defenders created scoring to further alleviate the pressure on the Crimson goaltender. 

Sophomore defenseman Sydnee Hanson intercepted a Hornets’ pass at Maple Grove’s blue line and took it back on a breakaway to score, giving the Crimson a 1-0 lead in the first period. Tina Kampa, another sophomore defender, scored on a slapper off the faceoff immediately following an Edina penalty late in the opening period to round out Maple Grove’s the scoring on the night. 

“They really helped me out, getting the rebound saves out of there quick and scoring,” Blesi said of her defenders. “It’s really exciting. A goalie can’t win a game all by herself.”

Hanson was quick to laud the play of her goalie and place Blesi on a pedestal, though that podium very well could be in front of a net. 

“Having Breanna Blesi as a goalie is huge; she is a phenomenal goaltender,” Hanson said. “She works hard every single day, and I think it shows, especially in a game like this. She played absolutely incredible, and I could not be more thankful to have such an amazing goaltender behind me to help me out.”

Edina started off slow and never recovered during a 2-1 loss to Maple Grove in the Walser Tournament Monday night at Braemar Ice Arena. 

The Crimson, ranked No. 2 in the Class 2A coaches poll, set up shop in the Edina zone early and often, and Maple Grove got off too many clean shots for Hornets goaltender Anna Goldstein to handle.

Sydnee Hanson scored the first goal for the Crimson, intercepting a sloppy pass at the Edina blue line and taking it all the way back for an easy breakaway goal an a 1-0 lead in the first period.

Maple Grove’s second goal of the period came immediately following a Hornets’ penalty. Tina Kampa took a pass from a face-off in Edina's zone and launched a shot from just in front of the blue line.

It looked as though No. 8-2A Edina might make it a game following a goal midway through the third period from Katie Murney scored on the Hornets’ second power-play opportunity of the game, but Maple Grove goalie Breanna Blesi shut the door on the Hornets. Blesi ended the game with 32 saves. 

Edina had a chance with 20 seconds left in the game. The Hornets had a 6-on-4 opportunity following a penalty on Hanson, but Maple Grove stood tall. Edina outshot the Crimson 16-8 in the final period.

Spotlight Game Coverage