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The Hermantown High School boys hockey team closed January with its most demanding weekend of the season, shutting out defending Class 1A champion East Grand Forks 5-0 on Friday before dropping a 5-4 decision to Class 2A No. 2-ranked Moorhead on Saturday. The split left the Hawks 16-2-3 overall.
At East Grand Forks, Hermantown scored twice in the second and three times in the third, never allowing the defending champions to gain traction. Beau Christy scored three times, including two power-play goals.
The loss at Moorhead was a different test. Hermantown traded goals with the Spuds in a high-tempo game that featured five power-play tallies and no margin for error. Christy scored twice again, including the tying goal midway through the third period, before Moorhead converted the eventual game-winner with just over eight minutes remaining. Hermantown pressed late but could not force overtime.
The weekend reflected the Hawks’ season as a whole: disciplined, offensively balanced and capable of competing across classes without compromising structure.
Through 22 games, Hermantown has lost twice in regulation. Its schedule includes wins over Cretin-Derham Hall, Maple Grove, Eden Prairie, White Bear Lake, Warroad and East Grand Forks, along with road games against Hill-Murray, Shakopee, Proctor and Moorhead.
Offensively, Hermantown remains one of the most efficient teams in northern Minnesota. Christy leads the Hawks with 22 goals and 34 points. Micklain Martalock matches him with 34 points, including 19 goals. Paxson Madill has 18 assists and 25 points, while Kole Lendzyk (25), Bode Madill (22), Ford Skytta (21) and Noah Thurston (13) give Hermantown scoring depth across all three lines.
In goal, Bryce Francisco has carried the workload, posting a 2.48 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage while facing a steady diet of high-end competition.
In the Lake Superior Conference, Hermantown sits second at 4-1-1, one point behind Hibbing/Chisholm. With three regular-season games remaining — road trips to Benilde-St. Margaret’s and Grand Rapids, plus a home game against Holy Angels — the focus has shifted from standings to refinement.
Those games will serve as the final tune-up before Section 7A play, where Hermantown is positioned to earn the No. 1 seed ahead of defending section champion Hibbing/Chisholm. The Hawks defeated the Hibbing/Chisholm 2-1 at NorthStar Ford Arena earlier this season.
