A QF Game- #1 Hibbing/Chisholm vs #8 Luverne

[ClassAGuy]

March 5th, 2025 | 6:00 PM CT | Class A Quarterfinals | @ Xcel Energy Center, St Paul MN

#1 Seed (7A) Hibbing/Chisholm Blue Jackets (19-9-0)
Hibbing/Chisholm enters the state tournament for the 14th time overall but for the 1st time since 2011. This group of Hibbing players has been anticipated by the Class A world ever since they took the youth hockey scene by storm a few years ago winning multiple State Titles. They have broke down the door in a big way having to beat two Top 5 Class A teams in 7A just to get here. Now this young and talented team will deal with a new challenge as they will have to deal with the pressure of being the #1 seed under the big lights of the Tourney.

Blue Jackets Leaders- Senior #3 Jace Kampsula (18-13-31 pts), Juniors #8 Tate Swanson (20-36-56 pts) & #5 Isaiah Hildenbrand (12-29-41 pts) and 9th grader #2 Cole Swanson (17-30-47 pts) lead an elite offensive attack for Hibbing. Junior #9 Ethan Sundvall (12-26-24 pts), Sophomore #28 Jackson Strukel (3-5-8 pts) & 9th grader #40 Whitaker Rewertz (9-9-18 pts) are gifted elite playmakers on blueline.

Blue Jackets Goalie- Senior #30 Rex Walli (14-5-0) 2.27 GAA .900 SV%has been this starter this year and he has been a key piece to their red hot finish this season as he has been at his best during their current impressive playoff run.

Blue Jackets Young Guns- Many heard the accolades about this group of Hibbing young guns when they were coming up from the youth ranks. Now they arrive down in St Paul on the big stage of the Tourney Spotlight with the #1 overall seed after they grew up before our eyes during their terrific run through the very tough 7A Sectional. Now it will be interesting to see how they play being young having never been under the lights at the X as one of the favorites to win. The hope is they play loose and free like they did at Amsoil the previous week as this team is highly skilled and will be a treat to watch play.

Blue Jackets Special Teams- The Power Play is at 30.9% and Penalty Kill is at 90.8 %

#8 Seed (3A) Luverne Cardinals (22-4-2)
Luverne enters the state tournament for the 4th time in their program's history overall. The Cardinals were on a mission this year to avenge last year’s sectional that saw them be get upset as the #1 seed. This year they were not going to allow that fate again and they were able to come from behind twice during the 3A Sectional to return back to St Paul for the 2nd time in the last 3 years. Now they face the tough task of drawing the State’s #1 seed but this is not something unfamiliar to the 3A champion and they will look to shock the Class A world in this one.

Cardinals Leaders- Juniors #21 Maddux Domagala (34-39-73 pts) & #8 Landyn Lais (28-37-65 pts.) along with Senior #13 Blaik Bork (19-27-46 pts) lead the Cards offensive attack. Junior #2 Jaxon Lais (13-31-44 pts) & Sophomore #4 Ben Hartquist (16-39-55 pts) are the top defensive pair that have been key to getting Luverne out of their own end and also adding to the offensive attack.

Cardinals Goalie- Junior #1 Gavin Hoven (18-4-2) 2.19 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 and he will need to be at his best in this one.

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 42.5% success rate and they have made teams pay for lack of discipline all season long. That was evident during their run to the 3A Title as in both their comeback wins over the Mankato schools they were able to score key power play goals to get them back in the game. Hibbing has had their rash of penalty issues during the year and if Roll Cards Roll can get a few man advantages it could open the door to give them some momentum in this one.

Cardinals Special Teams- The Power Play is at 42.5% and Penalty Kill is at 87.7%

[east hockey]

Man, I don't know about the feed from 45 to WDIO in Duluth, but it sucks. Sticking all over the place. It was doing it a lot in the first afternoon game, too. You boofing idiots.

Lee

[ClassAGuy]

Hibbing up early 1-0

[east hockey]

Now 2-0. Too early to say "game over"?

Lee

[ClassAGuy]

Now 2-0. Too early to say "game over"?

Lee

So much for a decent Wednesday .....

[ClassAGuy]

3-0 now...

Hibbing has been a bit sloppy in their own end but way too talented for Luverne

[east hockey]

3-0 now...

Hibbing has been a bit sloppy in their own end but way too talented for Luverne

Could have been 3-2 but that piper by Luverne and then another goal by Hibbing was a killer

Lee

[east hockey]

Now 2-0. Too early to say "game over"?

Lee

So much for a decent Wednesday .....

There's always the next game!

Lee

[blueblood]

i will say it now, “Game over.”

[ClassAGuy]

i will say it now, “Game over.”

ohh ya this one is getting out of hand quickly

[Nostalgic Nerd]

The snow shoveling saved me today from the blowouts.

[elliott70]

If Hibbing makes mistakes like they have here against a team like Cathedral they will lose.

[ClassAGuy]

If Hibbing makes mistakes like they have here against a team like Cathedral they will lose.

Agreed! They are very casual in their own end even in the next game vs EGF or NL they will need to clean it up

[elliott70]

Luverne does too much standing - they need to move with an idea of where and why.

[ClassAGuy]

BHS Hockey 2025 Class A State QF #3
#8 Luverne 0
#1 Hibbing 6
End of the 2nd Period
Hibbing tacks on to their lead and they now lead 6-0 and are in command of this one vs Luverne after 2 periods

[raidergrad72]

The snow shoveling saved me today from the blowouts.

Almost Lol!. I snuck ln my snow blowing between am & pm sessions. The blowout is in the right direction.
Go Hibbing!!

[ryguyMN]

Once Hibbing went up by 3, I took the dog on a walk and granted the wife permission to flip over to her CBS shows.

[ClassAGuy]

BHS Hockey 2025 Class A State QF #3
#8 Luverne 0
#1 Hibbing 7
Final
Hibbing takes care of business in the Quarterfinal round vs Luverne. They scored early and often and they will now head to the State Semifinal Round on Friday for the first time since 2011!

[rainier2]

If Hibbing makes mistakes like they have here against a team like Cathedral they will lose.

Agreed! They are very casual in their own end even in the next game vs EGF or NL they will need to clean it up

Also agreed! Waaaay too much cutesy dangling. Move the puck! That was the Hibbing team of the first half of the season in that first period. It got better as the game went on, but try that fancy pants stuff vs EGF and it will end up in your net.

At least that gives the coach a reason to yell after a 7-0 win.