Class A SF #1 seed 7A Hermantown (19-8-2) vs #4 seed 4A Mahtomedi (18-11-0)

[ClassAGuy]

Who wins this one both teams with a bunch of Class A Tourney Tradition

Lots of history here as Mahtomedi has been the Hawk killers in recent tourneys can they do it again?

[ClassAGuy]

#1 seed 7A Champion Hermantown (19-8-2)
Hermantown comes into this game having steamrolled through the Class A Quarterfinal round getting a win over Alexandria. After a slow start the Hawks were able to outshoot the Cards 29-4 in the final two periods and dominate their way to another Class A win. The Hawks now head into the Friday Semifinal looking for revenge vs a program that has had their number recently and they want to put an end to that narrative.

Hawks Leaders- Junior #23 River Freeman (20-25-45 pts) and Sophomores #4 AJ Francisco (9-16-25 pts) & #18 Ford Skytta (15-18-33 pts) make up the Hawks top line. Seniors #9 Will Esterbrooks (12-21-33 pts), #13 Weston Bohlman (4-13-17 pts), #8 Drew Nelson (4-12-16 pts) & Junior #2 Henry Peterson (11-10-21 pts) make up an excellent defensive unit that controls most games and can add needed offense.

Hawks Goalie- Senior #32 Dane Callaway (19-8-2) 1.65 GAA .940 SV% is one of the most decorated and impressive goalies in all of Class A with plenty of big game experience down in St Paul.. He picked up his 15th career shutout already in the Quarterfinal win and he looks confident in net.

Hawks Class A Domination - The Hawks did have their struggles this year as they racked the most losses they have had since 2008. However, when playing Class A opponents they remained as dominant as ever as they are now (11-1-0) in those 12 games. Adding to that gaudy record is the fact that they are also averaging over 5 goals a game in those 12 contests and have outscored Class A competition 65-13 in that stretch. They showed their dominance in the Quarterfinal Round win when they shutout a good team and continued their 5 goal a game average vs Class A teams and they look to be rolling now.

Hawks Special Teams- The Power Play is at 18.2 % and Penalty Kill is at 87.5%

#4 seed 4A Champion Mahtomedi (18-11-0)
Mahtomedi comes into this game having won a thrilling game in the Class A Quarterfinals. With their backs against the wall, like in the 4A Final, the Defending State Champs found a way to pull themselves off the mat and get a huge win. Now they head back to the Semifinals to take on the Hawks, who they have had lots of success against at State in the last few years, earning them the “Hawk Killers” nickname they love.

Zephyrs Leaders- Seniors #8 Jake Hodd-Chlebeck (27-22-49 pts), #22 Gene Wegleitner (12-22-34 pts) & #17 Patrick Egan (15-6-21 pt) and Sophomore #21 Jimmy Egan (9-39-48 pts) lead the forward group for Mahtomedi. On the blueline Junior #6 Sam Harris (6-22-28 pts) leads a veteran group of big defenders that all are 6 '0 ft and above in height and who take away time and space well.

Zephyrs Goalies- Senior # 30 Charlie Brandt (11-6-0) 3.16 GAA .900 SV% & Junior #35 Wes Strub (7-5-0) 1.98 GAA .929 SV% have split the net down the middle most of the year and the rotation has continued into the playoffs so far and it looks like Strub will get the Hawks on Friday as it's his turn.

Zephyrs Recent Tourney Success- Mahtomedi historically had struggled to find success at the Tourney as they had never been able to reach the championship game despite making the Tourney 11 times from 1992-2019. However, things changed dramatically once the calendar flipped to 2020 as they have now gone (9-1-0) in their last four state appearances which includes two State Titles in the last 4 years. That includes upsetting the mighty Hawks twice in the last 4 years as the low seed on their way to those two titles as they have found a formula to frustrate them at the X which they will look to continue in this matchup.

Zephyrs Special Teams- The Power Play is at 24.4% and Penalty Kill is at 82.7%

[ClassAGuy]

Hawks go up 1-0 they are buzzin!

[Eagles93]

Mahtomedi jerseys are hideous with the number on front and "Zephyrs" on the back. Look like practice jerseys.

[ClassAGuy]

Mahtomedi jerseys are hideous with the number on front and "Zephyrs" on the back. Look like practice jerseys.

Their play has been hideous as well. They hand the Hawks their 2nd goal and then right off of the timeout Hawks bury another one. 3-0 this one might get ugly

[ClassAGuy]

BHS 2024 Class A State SF #2
#1 Hermantown 4
#4 Mahtomedi 0
End of the 1st Period
Hermantown in explodes in the 1st period as the Defending Champs make all kinds of mistakes and find themselves in a huge hole in this one.

[HSHockeyPurist]

Mahtomedi jerseys are hideous with the number on front and "Zephyrs" on the back. Look like practice jerseys.

Throwbacks to their first jerseys in 1954. Celebrating 70 yrs.

[HSHockeyPurist]

Mahtomedi jerseys are hideous with the number on front and "Zephyrs" on the back. Look like practice jerseys.

Their play has been hideous as well. They hand the Hawks their 2nd goal and then right off of the timeout Hawks bury another one. 3-0 this one might get ugly

Yep. Terrible. Not the game I thought we were going to get!

[ClassAGuy]

Zephyrs trying to make a push here 1-4 and on the PP

[ClassAGuy]

BHS 2024 Class A State SF #2
#1 Hermantown 5
#4 Mahtomedi 3
End of the 2nd Period
The Zephyrs making a serious push in this one. Hermantown has a two goal lead but we all knwo how Mahtomedi plays in the 3rd period at the X
SOG 25-19 Hawks

[ClassAGuy]

Defending Champs Making a PUSH!!!
4-5 now early 3rd period

[Mite-dad]

What happened to Hermantown #9? Injury? Comeback started when he went out . Injury in the 1st?

[ClassAGuy]

What happened to Hermantown #9? Injury? Comeback started when he went out . Injury in the 1st?

Good Point
Hawks up 6-4 Late

[ClassAGuy]

5-6 now 1 minute left

[elliott70]

Tied

[Mite-dad]

H been running three D the whole third. #9 looked like their best D man.

[elliott70]

Too bad Channel 45 cannot find decent announcers.

[east hockey]

This isn't the first time Hermantown has beaten Mahtomedi 7-6 in overtime at State. They also did it in the 2010 Class A semifinals

Lee