3A Final- #1 Luverne vs #2 Mankato West
Posted: Tue Feb 25, 2025 8:57 pm
Section 3A Final I February 26th, 2025 | 7:30 PM CT | @ Lund Arena, Gustavus Adolphus College
#1 seed Luverne Cardinals (21-4-2)
Luverne enters the 3A Final for the 2nd time in three years and they are looking to punch their ticket back to state for the fourth time in program history. The Cardinals have been working all year to avenge last year's playoff upset and when they faced a 3rd period deficit and looked to be a 1 seed upset for the 2nd straight year they dug deep to get the win. They now head to the Section Final to take on Mankato West, a team that they don't have much experience against but they have done well vs Big 9 teams going (3-0-0) on the year.
Cardinals Leaders- Juniors #21 Maddux Domagala (34-36-70 pts), #8 Ladyn Lais (25-37-62 pts) & #6 Blake Sauer (15-16-31 pts) & Senior #13 Blaik Bork (16-27-43 pts) lead the Cards offensive attack. Junior #2 Jaxon Lais (13-30- 43 pts) & Sophomore #4 Ben Hartquist (16-39- 55 pts) are the top defensive pair that have been key to getting Luvenre out of their own end and also adding to the offensive attack.
Cardinals Goalie- Junior #40 Gavin Hoven (16-4-2) 2.23 GAA .919 SV% has been their main guy in net all year and he has been fabulous all season long. He has been very steady for Luverne in every game and has 5 shutouts on the year.
Cardinals Lethal PowerPlay- Luverne has Class A’s most lethal Power Play unit and staying out of the box vs them is key. The Cards PP is rolling along at a ridiculous 42% success rate and they have made teams pay for lack of discipline all season long. That was evident on Saturday as in their tight win over Mankato East they were able to score two key power play goals and if you give them the man advantage watch out!
Cardinals Special Teams- The Power Play is at 42% and Penalty Kill is at 89.6%
#2 seed Mankato West Scarlets (13-12-2)
Mankato West enters the 3A Final playing their best hockey of the year. While the overall record isn’t flashy they have been really good since their upset loss to MN River. Since that loss they have gone (8-2-1) in their last 11 games and they enter the Section Final on a season high six game unbeaten streak. Now they will look to add to that good late season push by taking down #1 seed Luverne, who they didn’t play during the year, and a win would get them back to the State for the 1st time since 2016.
Scarlets Leaders- Senior #22 Jaeger Zimmerman (17-18-35 pts) and Sophomores #27 Jakobe Tosch (13-26-39 pts), #7 Keaton Dorzek (8-27-35 pts) & #17 Brodie Cox (11-13-24 pts) lead the way on offense for the Scarlets. Senior #28 Sean King (4-16-20 pts) & Sophomore #12 Grady Schmidt (9-15-24 pts) lead the way defensively for Mankato West and play big minutes on the blueline.
Scarlets Goalie- Junior #1 Mason Schreiber (13-12-2) 2.33 GAA .910 SV% is the top goalie in the south for Class A and he has been at his best during this Section 3A playoff run and he will look to steal a state bid in net.
Scarlets Mr Shutout- Mankato West is coming into this game on a season high six game unbeaten streak and a large reason for that is net. Goaltender Mason Schreiber, who recently set the school record for shutouts in one season, has been red hot over the last six games as he has 3 shutouts and has only allowed 4 total goals. He will be key vs the high powered Luverne offense that averages six goals a game.
Scarlets Special Teams- The Power Play is at 25% and Penalty Kill is at 80 %
#1 seed Luverne Cardinals (21-4-2)
Luverne enters the 3A Final for the 2nd time in three years and they are looking to punch their ticket back to state for the fourth time in program history. The Cardinals have been working all year to avenge last year's playoff upset and when they faced a 3rd period deficit and looked to be a 1 seed upset for the 2nd straight year they dug deep to get the win. They now head to the Section Final to take on Mankato West, a team that they don't have much experience against but they have done well vs Big 9 teams going (3-0-0) on the year.
Cardinals Leaders- Juniors #21 Maddux Domagala (34-36-70 pts), #8 Ladyn Lais (25-37-62 pts) & #6 Blake Sauer (15-16-31 pts) & Senior #13 Blaik Bork (16-27-43 pts) lead the Cards offensive attack. Junior #2 Jaxon Lais (13-30- 43 pts) & Sophomore #4 Ben Hartquist (16-39- 55 pts) are the top defensive pair that have been key to getting Luvenre out of their own end and also adding to the offensive attack.
Cardinals Goalie- Junior #40 Gavin Hoven (16-4-2) 2.23 GAA .919 SV% has been their main guy in net all year and he has been fabulous all season long. He has been very steady for Luverne in every game and has 5 shutouts on the year.
Cardinals Lethal PowerPlay- Luverne has Class A’s most lethal Power Play unit and staying out of the box vs them is key. The Cards PP is rolling along at a ridiculous 42% success rate and they have made teams pay for lack of discipline all season long. That was evident on Saturday as in their tight win over Mankato East they were able to score two key power play goals and if you give them the man advantage watch out!
Cardinals Special Teams- The Power Play is at 42% and Penalty Kill is at 89.6%
#2 seed Mankato West Scarlets (13-12-2)
Mankato West enters the 3A Final playing their best hockey of the year. While the overall record isn’t flashy they have been really good since their upset loss to MN River. Since that loss they have gone (8-2-1) in their last 11 games and they enter the Section Final on a season high six game unbeaten streak. Now they will look to add to that good late season push by taking down #1 seed Luverne, who they didn’t play during the year, and a win would get them back to the State for the 1st time since 2016.
Scarlets Leaders- Senior #22 Jaeger Zimmerman (17-18-35 pts) and Sophomores #27 Jakobe Tosch (13-26-39 pts), #7 Keaton Dorzek (8-27-35 pts) & #17 Brodie Cox (11-13-24 pts) lead the way on offense for the Scarlets. Senior #28 Sean King (4-16-20 pts) & Sophomore #12 Grady Schmidt (9-15-24 pts) lead the way defensively for Mankato West and play big minutes on the blueline.
Scarlets Goalie- Junior #1 Mason Schreiber (13-12-2) 2.33 GAA .910 SV% is the top goalie in the south for Class A and he has been at his best during this Section 3A playoff run and he will look to steal a state bid in net.
Scarlets Mr Shutout- Mankato West is coming into this game on a season high six game unbeaten streak and a large reason for that is net. Goaltender Mason Schreiber, who recently set the school record for shutouts in one season, has been red hot over the last six games as he has 3 shutouts and has only allowed 4 total goals. He will be key vs the high powered Luverne offense that averages six goals a game.
Scarlets Special Teams- The Power Play is at 25% and Penalty Kill is at 80 %