A QF Game- #2 St Cloud Cathedral vs #7 Mahtomedi

[ClassAGuy]

March 5th, 2025 | 11:00 AM CT | Class A Quarterfinals | @ Xcel Energy Center, St Paul MN

#2 seed St Cloud Cathedral Crusaders (18-8-2)
St Cloud Cathedral enters the state tournament for the 7th time in the last 11 years for their 13th appearance overall. The Crusaders unexpectedly had struggles to start the year but they have found their game in a big way of last and they blitzed through the sectional to return to St. Paul this week. Cathedral is playing its best hockey of the year now as they have won 11 of their 13 games. The Crusaders have the best top end talent that you will see in all of Class A. They Defending Champs now set their sights on winning their back to back A Titles.

Crusaders Leaders- Seniors #6 John Hirschfeld (25-51-76 pts), #24 Joey Gillespie (20-45-65 pts) & 9th grader Bo Schmidt (15-18-33 pts) lead a very powerful SCC offense and they seem to play their best in the biggest games and they have been great all year. Junior #21 Griffin Sturm (19-27-46 pts) leads the SCC blueline group and he is one of the top defenders in all of Class A again this season.

Crusaders Goalie- Junior #1 Keaton LeGrande (17-6-2) 2.65 GAA .894 SV% has been the Crusaders main guy in net this winter. He has had an up and down year but he played very well so far during the playoffs and if can be strong this week in St Paul the Crusaders will be a good bet to Repeat as State Champions by the weekend's end.

Crusaders Hot Wood Stick- Cathedral is known for their Big Three and that is rightfully so as those players are elite and have carried SCC for much of the year. However, during their explosive playoff run through Section 5A it was different name leading the way as Senior #13 Jaeger Wood (21-18-39 pts.) has one of the hottest sticks in the state as he had 7 goals in three playoff games and if he provides that kind of secondary scoring to the Big Line at the X watch out for the Crusaders!

Crusaders Special Teams- The Power Play is at 32.1% and Penalty Kill is at 72.2 %

#7 seed (4A) Mahtomedi Zephyrs (11-15-1)
Mahtomedi enters the state tournament for the 8th time in the last 9 years and for their 16th appearance overall. As normal the Zephyrs have prepared themselves for a tournament run by playing a schedule filled with tough AA teams that has taught them the way they need to play to win these tight games come March. They did struggle this year more than normal as they come into the Tourney with only below .500 record. Don't be fooled by their record as this is still a dangerous team and they have played all the Class A elites tough and will be a tough out.

Zephyrs Leaders- Seniors #14 Laken Decker (13-8-21 pts) & #10 Winston Wright (11-10-21 pts) and Sophomores #8 Devin O'Donnell (12-16-28 pt) & 9th grader #22 Brock Gutterman (7-12-19 pts) lead the forward group for Mahtomedi. On the blueline Junior #23 Cody Loida (4-13-17 pts) & 9th grader Ryker Dunbar (2-12-14 pts) lead a group of defenders that has been work in progress throughout the year.

Zephyrs Goalies- Senior # 35 Wes Strub (7-9-1) 3.24 GAA .907 SV% & Junior #30 Jackson Chesak (4-6-1) 2.63 GAA .922 SV% have split the net for most of the year and the rotation has continued into the playoffs so far as both have gotten at least one start and the win in net during their Section 4A playoff title run over the past week.

Zephyrs A Friday Regular- Mahtomedi may not have the record we are normally accustomed to and they have had their struggles this year. Still this is a primer Class A Program and they have played in the State Semifinals 6 of the last 7 years as they are Friday afternoon regular in the A Tourney field. The last time they lost a State Quarterfinal Game was back in 2017 and their veteran coaching staff knows what it takes to win on a Wednesday and stay at the Xcel all week.

Zephyrs Special Teams- The Power Play is at 8.0% and Penalty Kill is at 78.9%

[ClassAGuy]

HERE WE GO!!

Puck Drop at 11 AM!

Games on 45

Stream information here- https://kstp.com/45tv/prep45/

[Nostalgic Nerd]

Snowed in today. Should've got going on shoveling much sooner but will end up being an all day job between periods etc.

Like the contrast in camera reactions when players skate up. One Mahtomedi looked like he was tilting his head from side to side as if showing off his good lucks. Then there's that one I always LOL at with the expressionless or super mean look.

[ClassAGuy]

1-0 SCC

[ClassAGuy]

BHS Hockey 2025 Class A State QF #1
#7 Mahtomedi 0
#2 SCC 1
End of 1st Period
Cathedral cashed in early and their big line along with Wood & Sturm are dominate. However, the Zephyrs came on strong and appear to have an edge in depth. Fun 1st Period!

[raidergrad72]

BHS Hockey 2025 Class A State QF #1
#7 Mahtomedi 0
#2 SCC 1
End of 1st Period
Cathedral cashed in early and their big line along with Wood & Sturm are dominate. However, the Zephyrs came on strong and appear to have an edge in depth. Fun 1st Period!

That goal was sweet starting with the behind the net pass, best part of the score.

[ClassAGuy]

2-0 SCC

9th grader with a heck of a play

[ClassAGuy]

BHS Hockey 2025 Class A State QF #1
#7 Mahtomedi 0
#2 SCC 2
End of 2nd Period
Cathedral came on strong after the 2nd goal and look strong heading into the 3rd. Mahtomedi has pressure but lack of offense continues to be the trend for them.

[ClassAGuy]

3-0 SCC

This one is over nice effort by Hirchfeld Shorthanded

[raidergrad72]

3-0 SCC

This one is over nice effort by Hirchfeld Shorthanded

Almost had another shortie!
S CC is beginning to smell blood and a victory.

[BlueLineSpecial]

It sure looks like everyone was right about the Zephyrs and their season-long challenge putting pucks in the net.

[ClassAGuy]

BHS Hockey 2025 Class A State QF #1
#7 Mahtomedi 0
#2 SCC 3
Final
Cathedral slowly takes this one over. The Zephyrs gave them a good push for awhile but the Defending Champs top end talent was too much. SCC moves on to Friday on their mission to repeat.