Hawks Take First Step In Defending Section Title

Wes Vork-NSO

Click Here For The Complete Game Box Score

For Additional Photos Click Here To View Our Complete Photo Gallery

Feb 24

Kerry Rodd-NSO

The depth of the Hermantown boys hockey team came into play Thursday night in a 5-2 Section 5A quarterfinal win over Sauk Rapids/Rice. The game was tight entering the third period, but the Hawks dominated in shots in the final period and pulled away to the three-goal win.

“We played well, we played very well, we just didn’t score,” said Hermantown coach Bruce Plante following the game. “You have to give them credit. Their goalie played well and kept them in the game for a long time.”

The teams split first period goals with Mitch Gwost scoring for the Storm and Bo Gronseth scoring for the Hawks. Hermantown put 14 shots on goalie Erik Johnson in the first period, compared to just seven for the Storm, but at the end of the period it was a 1-1 deadlock.

Travis Koepke got the Hawks started in the second period with a goal at 2:26 that was assisted by Andrew Mattson and Chris Benson. Hermantown went up 3-1 when Gronseth struck for the second time in the game, this one assisted by Jake Knowles and Jared Thomas at 4:37. However, the Storm, bounced back with a goal at 6:37 by Shane Corrigan and the period ended with the Hawks leading just 3-2. Sauk Rapids actually thought they had the game tied a minute later at the 7:40 mark, but the goal was disallowed after it was ruled to have been played with a high stick.

“We had a lot of chances, but their goalie was just on fire,” commented Plante. “That’s the great thing about hockey; everybody has a chance to get a goal. In basketball and football, if you are the best team you typically dominate and win, there’s not much for upsets, but in hockey you get them all the time.”

Unfortunately for the Storm they began a parade to the penalty box in the third period as the onslaught of shots by the Hawks continued. At 2:53 the Storm took a hooking penalty, at 10:25 it was an interference penalty and finally at 13:56 it was a minor for head contact. The Hawks jumped on the chance for a power play goal at 10:39 when Jared Kolquist scored from Garrett Skrbich and Thomas and then Thomas added another late tally at 13:06 to end the scoring with Gronseth and Jake Zeleznikar adding assists.

For the game the Hawks tossed 39 shots on Johnson, while on the other end of the ice Connor Lucas faced just 14 shots for Hermantown.

“It’s tough to play that way,” suggested Plante. “You watch for a while and then all of a sudden you get called on to come up big. But our goalie has been great all year. He’s very good fundamentally; he’s strong mentally, has good reflexes, quick to the puck and sees the ice well. He does all the right things.”

Hermantown will now take on St. Cloud Cathedral at 7pm on Saturday in Hermantown in the Semi-Finals.

Kerry Rodd can be reached at kerry@northlandsportsonline.com