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Second-period scoring outburst fuels Edina's upset of Blake in Class 2A heavyweight bout

By Ryan Williamson, SportsEngine, 01/20/18, 6:00AM CST

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Hannah Chorske scored twice in the second period to help the No. 3-ranked Hornets take control of their game with the No. 1 Bears.

Edina freshman Hannah Chorske netted two goals Saturday to help the Hornets beat Blake 5-2 at Blake High School on Jan. 20. Photo by Korey McDermott, SportsEngine

Edina freshman Hannah Chorske netted two goals Saturday to help the Hornets beat Blake 5-2 at Blake High School on Jan. 20. Photo by Korey McDermott, SportsEngine

Click on the photos to view the complete photo gallery from the game

Saturday's game between Class 2A powers Blake and Edina featured players who boasted a laundry list of accomplishments.

The rosters contained a combined 18 players who have committed to play college hockey at Division I or Division III programs (10 from Blake, 8 from Edina), and a majority of the girls also are state champions as the Hornets won the Class 2A crown while the Bears took the 1A title last year. Blake moved to Class 2A before the start of this season.

But when all was set and done, it was one of the least accomplished players who stood out in the game.

Edina freshman forward Hannah Chorske, who is playing her first season of varsity hockey, netted two goals during her team's second-period scoring outburst to help the Hornets defeat Blake 5-2 in this clash of girls’ high school hockey titans.

Though these teams have been rivals for years, this meeting brings a heightened level of competition.

With the move up, Bears, who are No. 1 in the Class 2A coaches’ poll, are facing several more programs from bigger schools. They also now reside in Section 6 -- with the No. 3-ranked Hornets.

All of it created plenty of anticipation for the game. Fans of both teams jammed into every nook and cranny of Blake Ice Arena on Saturday to watch this high-level girls’ hockey action.

“This was just awesome for girls’ hockey,” Blake coach Shawn Reid said. “This type of game makes for high-quality hockey. A lot of fun plays happen.”

Each team entered the contest averaging at least 4.0 goals per game, but in the opening period, neither squad scored thanks to the goaltenders.

Bears senior Anna Kruesel and Hornets senior Megan Smith were tested early, with Smith holding off a late push from Blake that had Edina (17-2- 1, 4-1) on its heels.

“There were a lot of nerves,” Hornets coach Sami Reber said. “Without (Smith), it could’ve been lopsided their way. She made some big saves.”

Just 35 seconds into the second period, Edina made life easier for Smith as junior defenseman Evelyn Adams got the scoring going. Minutes later, junior forward Annie Kuehl fired a wrist shot that flew past Kruesel’s right shoulder giving the Hornets a 2-0 lead.

The real backbreaker for the Bears (19-1- 1, 3-0) came when Chorske emerged. Blake had been putting the pressure on Smith with the odd-man advantage, and just as the Bears’ advantage was ending, Chorske and sophomore forward Lucy Bowlby were on a breakaway that ended with Chorske scoring to make it 3-0.

In her first varsity season, Chorske has gotten to play alongside some of the state’s best, including junior forward CC Bowlby, who is committed to Dartmouth.

“(Chorske) and her linemates come to practice and work hard every day,” Reber said. “It’s nice to see her get rewarded like that.”

If the name is familiar, it's because Chorske is the daughter of former NHL player Tom Chorske, and she acted like a pro, staying calm and cool during and following her team’s win.

“It’s really just humbling to play with these girls,” Hannah said. “They’ve been really great and helped me through this season so far.”

Losing is something that hasn’t happened recently to the Bears. Their last defeat came Dec. 22, 2016, when they fell to Eden Prairie 3-1.

“We tried to tell the girls after the game about how great of a run this has been,” Reid said. “It’s really impressive and it’s something to think about when it comes to the bigger scheme of things.”

Aside from this game being a big-time tilt between section rivals, it was also big stage to help raise awareness and money to help stop sex trafficking. Prior to Saturday’s game, members of the Bears presented a check for $112,740 to Hennepin County Deputy Attorney Lolita Fidler, mother of Edina forward Lolita Fidler.

“After learning about how big of a problem sex trafficking is in our community, we started a mission to raise awareness,” said Blake junior goaltender Olivia Bizal, who is a part of the school’s Students Against Sex Trafficking organization, which was started last summer.

The team also raised additional money via a bake sale, wristband sales and chuck-a- puck contest.

Both teams also wore red laces on their skates and used red tape to help raise awareness.

“We were pumped to be a part of this,” Reber said. “Once our girls learned more about how big of an issue this was in our community, they were excited that Blake asked them to be a part of this event.”

The excitement may not be at the same level should If these two teams meet again, which could be in the section playoffs -- a game in which the stakes will be upped to another level. 

“It was nice for both teams to get out there and get one out of the way,” Reber said. “But there will be some changes if they play again. Tonight’s game could’ve gone either way.”

First Report

In one of the most highly anticipated regular season games of the girls’ high school hockey season, Edina exploded for four goals in the second period and rolled past Blake 5-2 on Saturday at Blake Ice Arena.

The Hornets got things going 35 seconds in the second as junior defenseman Evelyn Adams knocked in a loose puck in front of the net for a 1-0 lead. Junior forward Annie Kuehl made it 2-0 when she rocketed a shot past Bears senior goaltender Anna Kruesel.

In the later part of the second, freshman forward Hannah Chorske stole the show for Edina (17-2-1, 4-1), which is ranked third in the Class 2A coaches’ poll. She tallied a pair of goals to increase the Hornets' lead. The first was scored on a breakaway while the second came when she pushed a puck past Kruesel in a crowd of players from both sides.

Senior forward Aliyah Lance’s netfront presence paid off in the third as her power-play goal expanded Edina’s advantage to 5-0.

Blake didn’t score until early in the third period when senior defenseman Kyra Willoughby found the net 10 seconds into a power-play opportunity. Sophomore forward Addie Burton scored the other goal for the No. 1-2A Bears (19-1-1, 3-0).

With the teams boasting a combined 18 players already committed to collegiate hockey programs, there was plenty of firepower for the goaltenders to handle.

Kruesel stopped 20 shots in the loss while Edina senior goaltender Megan Smith made 19 saves.

Hornets goalie Megan Smith makes a save on Blake's CC Wallin (14). Smith stopped all but two Bears shots in the victory on Jan. 20. Photo by Korey McDermott, SportsEngine

Hornets goalie Megan Smith makes a save on Blake's CC Wallin (14). Smith stopped all but two Bears shots in the victory on Jan. 20. Photo by Korey McDermott, SportsEngine

The MN Girls Hockey Hub polls are for entertainment purposes only.

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