2A Final - #1 Delano vs. #2 Blake

[ClassAGuy]

#1 seed Delano (21-4-2) vs #2 seed Blake Bears (18-7-2)
February 26th, 2026 | 7:00 PM CT | @ St. Louis Park Rec Center

Delano enters the 2A Section Final for the 10th time in the last 14 years. The Tigers are a veteran team loaded with seniors and experience and they have been a Top 10 Team all winter long. Coach van Bergen and his staff always seem to have their team ready to battle come playoff time and this year is no different. They play a structured style of hockey with some offensive flash and they will be looking to get back to State for the first time since 2021.

Tigers Leaders- Srs. #13 Brady Kangas (29-43-72 pts) & #12 Daniel Halonen (38-29-67 pts) and Soph. #62 Lance Halonen (18-21-39 pts) lead the way on the top line for the offense. Sr. #36 Connor Oja (4-20-24 pts), Jr. #21 Dylan Nelson (4-19-23 pts) & Soph #34 Jackson Wollak (5-17-22 pts) have been the leaders of a defensive group that is very structured and one of the best in all of Class A.

Tigers Goalie- Sr. #1 Evan Geyen (10-0-1) 1.73 GAA .918 SV% the three year starter had to miss the first half of the year due to injury but since his return Delano has gone to another level and they are unbeaten with him net this season.

Tigers Unbeaten Goalie- The season did not start the way that Sr. Evan Geyen expected, as he was injured in the first game of the year up in Warroad. He had to rehab and miss the first half of his Senior Season due to that injury, but once he was able to return on Jan 20th, Delano has not lost since. The Tigers now enter the Section 2A Final now on an 11 game unbeaten streak, and they have to feel confident in making it back to the Tourney as they have not been beaten all year with Geyen as their goaltender.

Tigers Special Teams- The Power Play is at 27.1% and Penalty Kill is at 84%

Blake enters the 2A Final for the 1st time since 2010 as they have spent some time in Class AA recently before dropping back down into Class A this winter. This is a veteran team as well with a large group of seniors that are looking to finish their careers on a big note. They’ll be looking for some revenge in this one as they suffered their only Section 2A loss to Delano late in the year but it was an overtime game. as they look for their 1st Tourney appearance since 2019.

Bears Leaders- Srs. #14 Joe Erickson (32-31-63 pts), #16 Landon Bell (22-24-46 pts) & #22 Cooper Simmons (12-14-26 pts) and Jr. #5 Theo Liddicoat (11-10-21 pts) lead the Blake offensive attack as each have double digit goals. Jr. #18 Axel Bisbee (13-18-31 pts) leads the defensive unit and he is a good defender who can jump up and contribute at any time to the offense as well.

Bears Goalie- Jr. #35 Jake Iwan (17-7-2) 2.89 GAA .892 SV% has come on strong down the stretch and been good in the net for the Bears this year as their starter and has looked steady in the 2A playoffs so far.

Bears Rebuild- Back in 2024, when many of this year's Blake Seniors were getting their first varsity action, the Bears had a dreadful year going (2-24-0). The roster was retooled, and many of these Seniors were a big part of the rebuild that has them back in a Section Final in just two years and now one game away from State. If they are to get back to State for the first time in 6 years, many of the veterans who are on the roster now will be a big reason why, as they took their lumps, but a Tourney berth will have made it all worth their while.

Bears Special Teams- The Power Play is at 28.2% and Penalty Kill is at 82.3%

[ClassAGuy]

1-1 mid 2nd period good back and forth game

[ClassAGuy]

4-2 Delano in the 3rd

[ClassAGuy]

Delano wins 6-2 Final