2024 Minnesota state boys hockey tournament: Class A final updates

Follow along here for updates from Xcel Energy Center.

Author:
Nolan O'Hara
Updated:
Mar 9, 2024 3:09 PM EST
Original:
Mar 9, 2024

The final day of the 2024 Minnesota state boys hockey tournament is already here, with the championships for both classes taking place on Saturday at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn.

The Class A championship between third-seeded St. Cloud Cathedral and top-seeded Hermantown is set for a noon puck drop at the X, and the Class 2A final between second-seeded Chanhassen and top-seeded Edina is set for 7 p.m. back at the X.

The third-place games are also taking place on Saturday at the X. In Class A, second-seeded Warroad beat fourth-seeded Mahtomedi 4-1 for the third-place title.

The Class 2A third-place game is set for 4 p.m. between fifth-seeded Grand Rapids and unseeded Cretin-Derham Hall.

For those looking to watch the action, the games can be streamed here and will be available over the air on KSTC Ch. 45. They are also available via the KSTP 5 app, which is offered on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Google TV and on the Apple and Google Play stores on your smartphone.

Follow along here for updates on the Class A action:

No. 3 St. Cloud Cathedral 3, No. 1 Hermantown 1

First period

The puck has dropped and we are underway here from the X! Should be a good matchup between two teams that had wild finishes yesterday to get here today.
Quick strike by St. Cloud Cathedral! Senior forward Andrew Dwinnell fires one in from the left circle during a 3-on-2 rush at 3:48. Junior forwards John Hirschfield and Joey Gillespie with the assists. St. Cloud Cathedral 1, Hermantown 0.
One period in the books here at the X. The Crusaders lead 1-0 and their defense has been strong in limiting the Hermantown attack. They have a slight edge in shots on goal with nine to the Hawks' eight. Not too many prime chances for either team after the Crusaders' opening goal. St. Cloud Cathedral will have 1 minute, 3 seconds left on the power play to start the second period.

Second period

The Hawks killed off the penalty. Back at full strength and it's still a 1-0 game.
Hirschfield took a hard hit into the boards on the Crusaders' end. Finished his shift but looked like he was being tended to on their bench. He's back on the ice and appears to be OK. Hirschfield had the game-tying and game-winning goals in yesterday's semifinal win over Warroad.
The Crusaders have had a few good chances here in the second. Hawks senior Dane Callaway has turned them away in net, keeping it a one-goal game here at the X.
Crusaders senior Nick Hansen just stopped a Hermantown shot and the puck slipped through his legs and into the net. But the officials had blown the whistle and ruled that he covered it first, so we're still tied 1-0. St. Cloud Cathedral finished killing off a penalty a couple seconds later but not before the Hawks had a good look at the net.
That's a wrap for the second period. The Hawks will open the third with 1 minute, 23 seconds left on the power play after the Crusaders picked up another there late in the period. Hermantown with the edge on shots on goal after that last power play with 19 to the Crusaders' 15.

Third period

The Hawks get a couple shots on net, but the Crusaders kill off the penalty. Lots of hockey left to play with St. Cloud Cathedral up 1-0.
Huge save from Callaway after the Hawks turned it over in their own zone. Keeps it a 1-0 game.
Gillespie passes it back to Dwinnell, who fires another one in from the left circle at 8:45. His second goal of the day and from almost the exact same spot. Senior defenseman Vince Gebhardt also with an assist on the play. St. Cloud Cathedral 2, Hermantown 0.
Crusaders kill off another penalty. About five and a half minutes left in this one.
The Crusaders can probably taste the state championship now. Gillespie tips one in from the front of the net off a nice pass from Hirschfield at 12:18. Dwinnell also with an assist on the goal. St. Cloud Cathedral 3, Hermantown 0.
The Hawks have pulled Callaway. They need three goals in 2:25 to force overtime.
There's one! Sophomore forward AJ Francisco pokes in a loose puck at 15:46. Drew Nelson and Josh Kauppinen with the assists. St. Cloud Cathedral 3, Hermantown 1.
The Crusaders are Class A state champions! The Hawks couldn't find another with the extra skater. Good, hard-fought defensive game.