2A Final- #1 Minneapolis vs #3 Orono

[ClassAGuy]

Section 2A Final I February 26th, 2025 | 7:00 PM CT | @ St. Louis Park Rec Center

#1 seed Minneapolis (17-7-3)
Minneapolis enters the 2A Section Final for the third time in the last four years. The 612 crew is a veteran team loaded with seniors and experience and they have been a Top 10 Team all winter long. Coach Dziedzic always seems to have the city kids ready to battle come playoff time and this year is no different. They play a physical brand of hockey with some offensive flash and they will be looking for revenge in this one as they lost to Orono in this same game last year.

MPLS Leaders- Seniors #19 Johan Krasean (22-23-45 pts), #9 Rory Kronick (13-20-33 pts), #27 Nick Anderson (5-21-26 pts), #16 Mathew Walsh (9-16-25 pts) & #22 Hudson Kruse (12-6-18 pts) and Junior #21 Eli Milinkovich (19-22-41 pts) lead the top two lines of this dangerous offense. 9th grader #37 Wilson Lamberty (6-14-20 pts) has been the leader of a defensive group and is one of the top freshmen in Class A.

MPLS Goalie- Seniors #1 Adam Lybeck (12-3-2) 2.24 GAA .897 SV% & #31 Griffin Simpson (5-4-1) 2.92 GAA .897 SV% have split the net this season and both have won big games this year and have a playoff victory so far in section.

MPLS Veteran Presence- The 612 have a very veteran team as 13 seniors grace the roster for them. They have all been key contributors throughout their lineup card and they now return to the game that ended their season last year. None of them were on the team as 9th graders when Minneapolis made their State Tourney run in the 2022 postseason run making this game for them have that much more meaning. They will be looking to put a stamp on their legacy within the program and get the city back to the Xcel next week with a win in this one.

MPLS Special Teams- The Power Play is at 25.3% and Penalty Kill is at 84.8 %

#3 seed Orono Spartans (14-10-3)
Orono enters the 2A Final looking to three-peat as Section Champions. The Spartans played all the best teams in Class A this year and while their record vs Top 20 teams was just (3-8-2) during the year they showed in each of those games they can play with the best as they lost many tight games. They enter this game playing really good hockey having gone (4-1-1) in the month of February and they want to get back to State yet again out of Section 2A.

Spartans Leaders- Juniors #34 Jackson Knight (31-29-60 pts) & #16 Rory Kvern (13-26-39 pts) and Seniors #9 Trey Landa (21-28-49 pts) & #28 Ethan Pagel (18-11-29 pts) lead the Orono offensive attack as each have double digit goals. Junior #3 Luca Decubellis (5-18-23 pts) leads the defensive unit and he is a big defender who can jump up and contribute at any time as well.

Spartans Goalie- Senior #31 Evan Schmidt (10-10-3) 2.67 GAA .907 SV% has really come on strong down the stretch and been rock solid in the net for Orono as the Spartans this year as their starter this year.

Spartans 612 Playoff Success- Since 2014 when MPLS joined Section 2A the Spartans will now have played them in 6 of the last 11 postseasons. Orono has had the 612’s number as they have gone (4-1) in those previous 5 games including beating this current group of MPLS seniors and ending their seasons the last two straight years defeating them in the Semifinals two years ago and then beating them in the Section Final last year. Orono will hope to continue that trend of playoff success in this one in this 2A rivalry.

Spartans Special Teams- The Power Play is at 29% and Penalty Kill is at 76.8%