Section 7A Final (2/28/24)- #1 Hermantown vs #3 Hibbing
Moderators: Mitch Hawker, east hockey, karl(east)
Section 7A Final (2/28/24)- #1 Hermantown vs #3 Hibbing
The Hawks crushed the youngsters from Hibbing during the year 8-1. Will this be any different? Can the young guns from Hibbing pull a massive upset?
Re: Section 7A Final (2/28/24)- #1 Hermantown vs #3 Hibbing
#1 seed Hermantown Hawks (17-8-2)
Hermantown enters the 7A Final having now played in 16 consecutive Section Final games. The Hawks have been the bully of 7A since moving back into the northern section over this sustained era of dominance. This year's teams did lose more games than normal and struggled at times with scoring vs AA teams. However, they have been their dominant self vs Class A teams as they have averaged over 5 goals a game and have not lost to a 7A team since 2019 making them the heavy favorite in this one.
Hawks Leaders- Junior #23 River Freeman (19-20-39 pts), Sophomores #4 AJ Francisco (7-16-23 pts) & #18 Ford Skytta (15-17-32 pt) make up the Hawks top line. Seniors #9 Will Esterbrooks (12-22-34 pts), #13 Weston Bohlman (4-11-15 pts), #8 Drew Nelson (4-11-15 pts) & Junior Henry Peterson (9-9-18 pts) make up a very impressive defensive unit that controls most games and can add needed offensive punch.
Hawks Goalie- Senior #32 Dane Callaway (17-8-2) 1.81 GAA .936 SV% is one of the most decorated and impressive goalies in all of Class A. He has backboned 2 State Tourney runs already and won a Title in his Sophomore year. He is no stranger to big games and seems to thrive in these moments and he has never lost to a 7A opponent.
Hawks Defensive Core- The Hawks strength is as mentioned above in the net and on their backend. They are able to play a core of defenders who will all have a good chance to play at the next level. They move pucks out of their end effectively, add offense to a group of forwards who need it and play extremely tough in all three zones of the ice. They are a key component to why, while at times the Hawks have struggled this year, that they are still a top contender in Class A and have a good shot to not only win 7A again and return to state but win the whole thing should they get there.
Hawks Special Teams- The Power Play is at 18.8% and Penalty Kill is at 86.1%
#3 seed Hibbing/Chisholm Blue Jackets (19-8-0)
Hibbing/Chisholm enters the 7A Final having a lineup full of youngsters who came into high school hockey fresh off winning the State A Bantam title in the youth ranks last winter. While there were growing pains with this team as they started the year (10-7-0) they have gone (9-1-0) in their last 10 games to finish the season strong. Now they face the giants of 7A in the biggest game and they will look to erase the 8-1 thrashing they took in the regular season and shock the state and arrive at St Paul earlier than many expected.
Blue Jackets Leaders- Sophomores #8 Tate Swanson (12-35-47 pts), #19 Kelin Elsner (19-18-37 pts) & #5 Isaiah Hildenbrand (22-15-37 pts) make up one of the best young lines that you will see in the state regardless of Class. Sophomore #16 Ethan Sundvall (4-12-16 pts) & 9th grader #28 Jackson Strukel (11-23-34 pts) are gifted playmakers on blueline continuing the theme of very talented young hockey players for Hibbing.
Blue Jackets Goalie- Junior #30 Rex Walli (8-0-0) 1.49 GAA .921 SV% won the starting job late in the year and he has been a key piece to their red hot finish in the regular season and he has yet to be beaten in a game and did not face the Hawks in the first meeting of the year to throw a little wrinkle into the rematch.
Blue Jackets Young Guns- Many heard the accolades about this group of Hibbing young guns when they were coming up from the youth ranks. Most predicted this would be the group to knock off the 7A bullies. For that to happen the Blue Jackets will need to get off to a better start than they did when they got their doors blown off by the Hawks in the regular season as they were down 0-4 by the end of the first period. Hibbing did play Hermantown very tight in the 7A SF a year ago to give their faithful some hope. These youngsters have nothing to lose and if they can score 1st it might create a different scenario than we saw in the regular season.
Blue Jackets Special Teams- The Power Play is at 23.3% and Penalty Kill is at 85.2 %
Hermantown enters the 7A Final having now played in 16 consecutive Section Final games. The Hawks have been the bully of 7A since moving back into the northern section over this sustained era of dominance. This year's teams did lose more games than normal and struggled at times with scoring vs AA teams. However, they have been their dominant self vs Class A teams as they have averaged over 5 goals a game and have not lost to a 7A team since 2019 making them the heavy favorite in this one.
Hawks Leaders- Junior #23 River Freeman (19-20-39 pts), Sophomores #4 AJ Francisco (7-16-23 pts) & #18 Ford Skytta (15-17-32 pt) make up the Hawks top line. Seniors #9 Will Esterbrooks (12-22-34 pts), #13 Weston Bohlman (4-11-15 pts), #8 Drew Nelson (4-11-15 pts) & Junior Henry Peterson (9-9-18 pts) make up a very impressive defensive unit that controls most games and can add needed offensive punch.
Hawks Goalie- Senior #32 Dane Callaway (17-8-2) 1.81 GAA .936 SV% is one of the most decorated and impressive goalies in all of Class A. He has backboned 2 State Tourney runs already and won a Title in his Sophomore year. He is no stranger to big games and seems to thrive in these moments and he has never lost to a 7A opponent.
Hawks Defensive Core- The Hawks strength is as mentioned above in the net and on their backend. They are able to play a core of defenders who will all have a good chance to play at the next level. They move pucks out of their end effectively, add offense to a group of forwards who need it and play extremely tough in all three zones of the ice. They are a key component to why, while at times the Hawks have struggled this year, that they are still a top contender in Class A and have a good shot to not only win 7A again and return to state but win the whole thing should they get there.
Hawks Special Teams- The Power Play is at 18.8% and Penalty Kill is at 86.1%
#3 seed Hibbing/Chisholm Blue Jackets (19-8-0)
Hibbing/Chisholm enters the 7A Final having a lineup full of youngsters who came into high school hockey fresh off winning the State A Bantam title in the youth ranks last winter. While there were growing pains with this team as they started the year (10-7-0) they have gone (9-1-0) in their last 10 games to finish the season strong. Now they face the giants of 7A in the biggest game and they will look to erase the 8-1 thrashing they took in the regular season and shock the state and arrive at St Paul earlier than many expected.
Blue Jackets Leaders- Sophomores #8 Tate Swanson (12-35-47 pts), #19 Kelin Elsner (19-18-37 pts) & #5 Isaiah Hildenbrand (22-15-37 pts) make up one of the best young lines that you will see in the state regardless of Class. Sophomore #16 Ethan Sundvall (4-12-16 pts) & 9th grader #28 Jackson Strukel (11-23-34 pts) are gifted playmakers on blueline continuing the theme of very talented young hockey players for Hibbing.
Blue Jackets Goalie- Junior #30 Rex Walli (8-0-0) 1.49 GAA .921 SV% won the starting job late in the year and he has been a key piece to their red hot finish in the regular season and he has yet to be beaten in a game and did not face the Hawks in the first meeting of the year to throw a little wrinkle into the rematch.
Blue Jackets Young Guns- Many heard the accolades about this group of Hibbing young guns when they were coming up from the youth ranks. Most predicted this would be the group to knock off the 7A bullies. For that to happen the Blue Jackets will need to get off to a better start than they did when they got their doors blown off by the Hawks in the regular season as they were down 0-4 by the end of the first period. Hibbing did play Hermantown very tight in the 7A SF a year ago to give their faithful some hope. These youngsters have nothing to lose and if they can score 1st it might create a different scenario than we saw in the regular season.
Blue Jackets Special Teams- The Power Play is at 23.3% and Penalty Kill is at 85.2 %
Re: Section 7A Final (2/28/24)- #1 Hermantown vs #3 Hibbing
1-0 Hawks early
Re: Section 7A Final (2/28/24)- #1 Hermantown vs #3 Hibbing
2-0 Hawks 2nd Period
Re: Section 7A Final (2/28/24)- #1 Hermantown vs #3 Hibbing
3-0 Hawks now 2nd period
Re: Section 7A Final (2/28/24)- #1 Hermantown vs #3 Hibbing
BHS 7A Championship Final
#1 Hermantown 4
#3 Hibbing 0
Final
Hermantown just wears down the youngsters from Hibbing, who will be back! For now the Hawks head back to State for the 14th time in the last 15 years!
#1 Hermantown 4
#3 Hibbing 0
Final
Hermantown just wears down the youngsters from Hibbing, who will be back! For now the Hawks head back to State for the 14th time in the last 15 years!
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north_bear
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Re: Section 7A Final (2/28/24)- #1 Hermantown vs #3 Hibbing
Will be fun to watch this Hibbing team for the next couple years!
Thunderhawk Fanatic!!