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Hermantown into Finals

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Kelley Cooke – NSO

 

Photos: Nicole Cooke

 

The Hermantown Hawks boys hockey team returned to the X after a day off to face #5 seed St. Cloud Apollo in the semifinal round of the MSHSL state tournament.
Apollo pulled off the only upset in the single a tournament so far, even if it is a mild upset, as they were a OT winner 1-0 over the 4th seed Breck Mustangs. The Hawks meanwhile handled the Spring Lake Park team easily Wednesday in an 8-0 blowout.
The game was the second semifinal of the day as the first match saw East Grand Forks play a solid third period for the 5-2 win over Mahtomedi.

The teams began feeling each other out, with Hermantown controlling most of the play with quick, short passing, body contact in the boards, and quick transitions out of their own zone.

Shots for the hawks were not abundant but were tough challenges to Apollo goalie Nick Althaus, who had a great game against Breck Wednesday facing 25 shots, stopping them all.

After a late scrum in front of the Eagles net, Hermantown let the Apollos team come out of the zone with speed and after another scrum, this time at the Hawks net, #5 Wyatt Aamodt was called for a 2 minute holding penalty. SC Apollo will start the third period on the power play.

After a physical first period and the hype of the band that is the state hockey tournament, the Apollo power play was held in check by a quick Hermantown team. Then, it was quiet again like on Wednesday, until 6:24 of the second on a wrister ripped from the right side by Hawks #8 Jesse Jacques. after knocking down a strong cross ice pass from Parker Hawk after a feed out of the zone by a patient Wyatt Aamodt.

Shortly after The Hawks went on a 6 shot spree, looking like they were on the power play. Many more shots went wide, challenging the corners as the Hawk, Amundson, and Jacques line along with defensmen Wyatt Aamodt and Ryan Sandelin peppered from the outside with Apollo doing such a great job all day blocking the center.

With linemate Nate Pionk already breaking in sharply on the net, Hawks #27 Cole Koepke  tapped his stick for Ryan Kero, letting him know he was coming in late on the attack. The fans were rewarded as the Hawks took a two goal lead at 1:23 of the second period.  The second assist goes to defenseman Eric Goetz who had hit the streaking Kero up the right side with a rink wide pass.

Hermantown Advances to the final game at Noon vs East Grand Forks for the championship.

 

 

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