Hawks Remain State’s Only Unbeaten Team With 7-0 Win

Feb 6, 2012

Kerry Rodd-NSO

Minnesota’s last unbeaten hockey team made sure that record would stay intact Tuesday night with a 7-0 trouncing of rival Duluth Denfeld last night at the Amsoil Arena in Duluth. The Hermantown Hawks used scoring from six different players to take the road win and push their record to 22-0.

Hermantown started slow with only a goal by Matt Lord in the first period to show for their early efforts.

The second period saw the Hawks offense snap to life with a four-goal period that gave the Hawks a 5-0 edge. Travis Koepke started the onslaught at the 58 second mark, that was followed by a Paul Harold goal at 5:38; then it was Jared Thomas scoring at 6:08 and finally Bo Gronseth scored a power play goal at 13:28 of the second period to make it 5-0 after the second period.

A huge key to the Hawks this season is the ability of all three lines to put the puck into the net as was evident on Tuesday night against a good Hunter team that features one of the area’s best goalies in Zach Thompson.

Brian LeBlanc and Thomas added third period goals to end the scoring for Hermantown which outshot Denfeld 42-22. Matt Mensinger made 22 saves for Hermantown, while Thompson finished with 35 saves for the Hunters.Thomas final goal of the game was a shorthanded tally for Hermantown and LeBlanc’s goal was another power play marker.

Hermantown has three games left in the regular season as they continue their push toward a perfect season.

Kerry Rodd can be reached at kerry@northlandsportsonline.com