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St. Thomas Cadets (23-5-0) / MSHSL strength of schedule – #16
TRENDING DATA:
- 13-4 in ’25 with a bit of mid-February turbulence, but now on 3-game win streak
- 3-3 versus the AA field
- 13 players in double-digit scoring with 5 over the 40-pt. mark
- 4 of those 13 double-digit scorers are Edina born and bred pucksters.
- Jackson Rudh – 29/29/58, Cole Braunshausen – 21/35/56, Michael Mikan – 17/35/52, Nico Russ – 19/23/42, and William Dosan – 24/17/41
- Sublime, Brimsek-worthy goalie, Cody Niesen is 21-4 with a 1.45 GAA and .928 SP
WEEKEND WARRIOR: The top scoring Cadets will get theirs, Cronin will be reliable as ever, and Niesen will be dominant in net relying on fundamentals and confidence. The separator here, is undoubtedly, forward Will Dosan. The rugged Bloomington native is a force when he grinds it out as he did in the section 3AA final versus Cretin/Derham Hall, leading the Cadets in scoring and netting the double-overtime, game winning goal. He can be an absolute bull but can also tend to fade at times. If Dosan bears down, grinds it out the full 200-ft. for 51 minutes per tilt at the X? The Cadets may march back to campus with some serious hardware and bragging rights.
Shakopee Sabers (22-5-1) / MSHSL strength of schedule – #20
TRENDING DATA:
- One of the more impressive runs overall with a 14-1 record in ’25 and 9 in a row!
- And 2nd best record versus the AA field, coming in at 3-1.
- Scoring depth with 12 players in double figures, 4 over 40 pts and one player, Mr. Hockey candidate Cooper Simpson, at a whopping 77 pts
- Cooper Simpson – 47/30/77, Cooper Siegert – 21/27/48, Nate Pederson – 15/32/47, Tristin Wassengeso – 14/32/46
- Goalie Owen Lunneborg, has a 19-3-1 record with a 1.59 GAA and .922 SP.
WEEKEND WARRIOR: Right out of the gate, the Sabers will have their hands full w/ the St. Thomas arsenal. It will be key for the Sabers to play defense first and using that to fuel the O-zone chances and then maintain puck possession. Driving this will be d-man Jack Kultgen acting as the goalmouth bouncer for Lunneborg and transitioning quickly with sweep and clear outlets. Moreover, the 6’3”/200 lb Kultgen needs to levy some physical dominance versus the aggressive net-front presence of the likes of the Cadets’ Will Dosan & Co. If Kultgen controls the action, asserts his physicality and just maybe, a few offensive stats? Look out for the sharp Saber-tooths.
