On March 7, 1970 the ultimate high school hockey border battle took place when Minneapolis Southwest and arch rival Edina met for the Minnesota state championship. The communities and school districts of Southwest and Edina bordered each other, separated only by France Avenue, with 50th Street as the main road between the two. 

Edina was the undefeated defending state champions, having won the 1969 title 5-4 over Warroad in OT. Southwest has not been ranked in the top 15 in the state in the preseason and was picked to finish only 3rd in the Minneapolis City Conference, behind Washburn and Roosevelt.

Southwest and Edina did not meet during the regular season that year, allegedly because Edina did not think they would be a worthy opponent, even though Southwest had defeated Edina in each of the previous two regular seasons and had made it to the 1969 state tourney

Not good enough to be ranked? Not good enough for Edina to play against?

The Southwest players and coaches were highly motivated to prove both their rivals and the experts wrong

They swept through league and non-conference play without a loss, with only a 2-2 tie against Washburn in early February to mar an otherwise perfect record

Southwest then defeated Harding 3-2 in the Twin City Championship game and went on to win the District 17/Region 5 championship with a 3-1 victory over Washburn

Thus, they were also undefeated entering the state tourney

In the state tourney quarterfinal Southwest defeated North St Paul 4-3 in overtime, after entering the 3rd period down 3-0. The winning goal was scored 38 seconds into OT by Paul Miller, his 3rd of the game

In the semifinal Southwest topped Hibbing 3-1

In the meantime, Edina won their quarter and semifinal games, defeating both Warroad and St Paul Johnson in OT

The stage was set for the championship game, between two unbeaten teams

What a game it was. Neither team scored in the first or second periods. The game remained scoreless deep into the third period.

With ten seconds left Edina star Bobby Krieger had a breakaway on Southwest goalie Brad Shelstad, but was stopped when Shelstad made a miraculous save, some say the greatest save ever in state tournament history.

The game went into overtime, ending 6 minutes 14 seconds in, as a Bobby Lundeen slap shot deflected off Bill Shaw's chest and into the Edina goal. 

Southwest had won the Minnesota state high school championship, becoming the first Minneapolis team to win the state title. As of 2023, 53 years later, they remain the only Minneapolis team ever to be state high school hockey champions.

The next day a caravan led the Southwest team to the high school where their state championship, attended by close to a thousand students, teachers, family and friends, was celebrated.

The players, who had come from the neighborhoods and rinks of Pershing, Linden Hills and Armatage, had won it all, not only for Southwest High, but also for all of Minneapolis.

In the 1969-70 high school hockey season there were 11 teams competing the Minneapolis conference: Southwest, Washburn, Roosevelt, West, Henry, Edison, South, Central, North, Marshall University and Vocational.

But this was clearly a year and an era dominated by Southwest High. Many reasons have been presented, all of them true. 

First was their outstanding coach, Hall of Famer Dave Peterson, who spent 27 seasons coaching the team and then coached the US team in two Olympics 

Second was the culture of skating at every opportunity, including at the team's very own outdoor rink, located right next to the Southwest football field, the ice maintained and the snow shoveled from it by the players on the varsity team

Third was the senior leadership, which was especially true for the 1970 state championship team, Brad Shelstad, Doug Falls, Doug Miller, Dan Caspersen, Bob Williams, Ron Sundby.

Perhaps even the awesome and intimidating letter jackets only the hockey players could wear played a role - look like a winner - play like a winner.

And winners they were!

Minneapolis Hockey proudly welcomes to its Hall of Fame the 1970 Minnesota High School state champions - Southwest High!

Learn more about the city with the greatest hockey history in North America! Visit the Minneapolis Hockey Hall of Fame at www.mplshockeyhof.com