high schools

Edinacoach Curt Giles typically doesn’t show a lot of emotion.

Regular season win? Ho hum.

Regular season loss? Same reaction.

Giles’ even-keel demeanor is reflected in his team, which typically turns in a consistent, workmanlike performance night after night.

Then comes the playoffs.

After the Hornets beat Burnsville for the Section 2AA title and a fifth straight trip to the state tournament, Giles was asked if the excitement ever diminishes for a team that goes to the state tournament year after year.

Giles, in his response, lit up with emotion. At least by Giles’ standards.

“This time of the year is unbelievable in high school hockey,” Giles said with a big smile. “If you don’t get excited at this time of the year, you don’t have a pulse.”

Edina, the 2010 Class AA champion, started its tournament defense this morning against Blaine in a state quarterfinal game at Xcel Energy Center. Three more games are scheduled for later today.

Here's a look at Wednesday's Class A results:

Thief River Falls 7, Breck 5 -- The Prowlers (20-8-1) trailed 4-2 entering the third before rallying for the upset win against No. 4-seeded Breck (20-9-1), the No. 4-ranked Class 1A team in the state.

Thief River Falls became the third northern team to reach the Class 1A semis, joining Hermantown and Hibbing/Chishom, quarterfinal winners earlier in the day.

“Those teams come down here, they are hockey players,” Breck coach Les Larson said. “They come to play. You have to be ready for them and they showed it tonight.

“They could have folded their tent in the second, but they came out in the third and took control.”

St. Thomas Aacdemy 13, New Ulm 2 -- Despite having players that frequent the score sheet such as Zach Schroeder, A.J. Reid, Matt Kroska and Taylor Fleming, the Cadets did not rely on its top line for production.

They didn't have to, especially after a seven-goal first period against their overmatched opponents.

In total, nine points (three goals, six assists) were contributed by St. Thomas Academy’s third line comprised of senior forwards Grant Eichstadt, Adam Peterson and Ferreira.

“That’s a coach’s dream to have three lines that can score,” St. Thomas Academy coach Greg Vannelli said. “It’s taken a while to get the right guys on (the third line). We finally think we got the right three. There’s been stretches where they’ve scored five games in a row.