The Class A state tournament quarterfinals are happening today at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, with four games being played to set the stage for Friday’s semifinal action. The Class AA quarterfinals will be played Thursday in St. Paul.
Here’s what’s happened at the tourney.
Hermantown 6, Luverne 0
The opening game of the day saw the high-powered Hermantown Hawks, who are the No. 2 seed in the tournament, skate past Luverne in shutout fashion.
The Hawks scored three goals in the first period and three more in the third period while out-shooting the Cardinals 49-13. Six different players scored for Hermantown: Aaron Evjen, River Freeman, Evan Gunderson, Wyatt Carlson, Dallas Vieau and George Peterson.
BHS
Class A State QFHermantown's lead is now 4-0 in the early part of the third period
Wyatt Carlson deposits a pass from Josh Kauppinen low in the Cardinal zone pic.twitter.com/pjTF8mNWrj
— YHH (@YouthHockeyHub) March 8, 2023
Mahtomedi 6, Alexandria 3
Alexandria controlled a wild first period and entered the second period with a 3-2 lead, but that’s all the Cardinals would get as the Zephyrs tightened up on defense and tied the score 3-3 before erupting for three goals in the final period to advance to the semifinals.
Both teams had seven shots on goal in the first period but Mahtomedi went on to out-shoot Alexandria 48-18. Corey Bohmert had a hat trick for the Zephyrs, scoring once in the first, second and third periods.
Mahtomedi will face Hermantown in the semifinals on Friday.
Warroad 5, St. Cloud Cathedral 1
The No. 1 Warriors took down the Cathedral Crusaders 5-1 on the back of a hat trick by Carson Pilgram, who is up to 48 goals on the season. Warroad is now two wins from an undefeated season, having gone 28-0-1 up to this point.
Orono 2, Northfield 1 in overtime
The battle between the fourth and fifth seeds went the way of the No. 4 Spartans, who won the game on Avery Anderson’s goal at 7:29 of overtime. Orono out-shot Northfield 50-24, but Raiders senior goalie Keaton Walock kept his team in the game with 48 saves.
Orono will face Warroad in Friday’s semifinals.
Related: See the brackets for the 2023 Minnesota boys’ state hockey tournament
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