A QF- #4 Mahtomedi vs #5 St Cloud Cathedral

[ClassAGuy]

#4 seed Mahtomedi Zephyrs (4A) (17-9-2) vs #5 seed St Cloud Cathedral Crusaders (5A) (17-11-0)
March 4th, 2025 | 1:00 PM CT | Class A Quarterfinals | @ Grand Casino Arena, St Paul MN

Mahtomedi enters the State Tournament for the 9th time in the last 10 years and for their 17th appearance overall. As normal, the Zephyrs have prepared themselves for a tournament run by playing a schedule filled with tough AA teams that have taught them the way they need to play to win these tight games come March. This looks like a Zephyrs team that we are more accustomed to after last year's struggle. They are deep and well-coached and appear to be peaking at the right time, and they rolled through the 4A sectional and are back at State looking to contend for 3rd Title overall.

Zephyrs Leaders- Jrs. #8 Devin O'Donnell (15-17-32 pts) & #17 Will Seevers (13-10-23 pts) and Sophs. #10 Vinny Redpath (16-14-30 pts) & #22 Brock Gutterman (9-13-22 pts) lead the forward group for Mahtomedi. On the blueline Srs #4 Henry Sampair (7-9-16 pts) & #23 Cody Loida (3-22-25 pts) and Soph. Ryker Dunbar (6-10-16 pts) lead a deep group of defenders.

Zephyrs Goalies- Sr. #30 Jackson Chesak (16-9-2) 2.69 GAA .912 SV% has been the main guy in net all year after splitting the last year. He has been very steady especially during the Section 4A playoff as he has only given up 2 goals so far in three games.

Zephyrs Bounce Back- Mahtomedi had a very difficult year last season as they were not able to live up to their normal standards. While they did find a way to make the Tourney last year, they missed out on staying in St Paul for the week, and were sent to Mariucci early. They have played in the State Semifinals 6 of the last 8 times that they have made the Tourney, and are a Friday afternoon regular, normally. They will look to get back to those standards this year, as they had a much better season and appear to be ready to contend this week for their 3rd title in the last 7 years

Zephyrs Special Teams- The Power Play is at 21.7% and Penalty Kill is at 72.5%

St Cloud Cathedral enters the State Tournament for the 8th time in the last 12 years for their 14th appearance overall. The Crusaders had an expected slow start out of the gate as they were tasked with replacing a large core that had taken them back to back Title Games. Cathedral is playing its best hockey of the year now as they have won 11 of its 14 games. The Crusaders now return to State, but this group is built differently as they don't have the scoring prowess of their previous teams, but they have been very good defensively, and they will look contend for State Title #3.

Crusaders Leaders- Jr. #19 Elijah Van Heel (12-15-27 pts), Soph. #17 Bo Schimdt (23-28-51 pts) & 9th grader #5 Brandan White (13-23-36 pts) make up their top line that has been doing damage of late. Sr. #21 Griffin Sturm (19-26-45 pts) & Soph. #23 Talen Ruprecht (4-12-16 pts) lead the blueline with a nice mix of physicality and playmaking and this unit has improved.

Crusaders Goalie- Sr. #31 Hunter Moreland (13-6-0) 2.72 GAA .907 SV% has been strong this year and once he won the starting role he took Cathedral’s game to another level. He has been steady so far in the playoffs leading the Crusaders back to State.

Crusaders Blueline Stalwart- Cathedral came into the year looking like a program that would need to do a significant rebuild as they graduated the majority of their core that had gone to Back-to-Back State Title Games. However, they got some good news to start the year when their star defender Griffin Sturm chose to return for his senior year. He has been their catalyst all year as they have rebuilt the blueline around him, and he has been at his best on this playoff run. He is now back at the Tourney for his 4th straight year, and he will look to guide the Crusaders to a few more wins.

Crusaders Special Teams- The Power Play is at 24.1% and Penalty Kill is at 80.8 %

[Nostalgic Nerd]

Just as I speak Mathomedi ties it 1-1. Entertaining game. Lots of end to end.

[Nostalgic Nerd]

Wow what a crazy ending to the second period.

Recognize the name Schmidt from SCC, and who knows how many Sanpairs through the years.

[Brodziak Fan Club]

That was an awesome game! Cathedral a couple inches from tying it on that deflection that hit the pipe. Such is life.