Hermantown’s hockey team pushed one of the state’s top Class AA programs to the wire Saturday, holding a lead for more than two periods before settling for a 2-2 tie at No. 2 Hill-Murray.
The Hawks answered an early Pioneers goal with two quick strikes — first from Kole Lendzyk, then from Bode Madill, who gave Hermantown a 2-1 advantage before the game was nine minutes old at Aldrich Arena.
Hermantown carried that one-goal edge through the first and second periods and deep into the third before Hill-Murray’s Ryland DeMars tied it with just under 10 minutes to play.
Hawks goaltender Bryce Francisco was outstanding, finishing with 40 saves as Hermantown moved to 1-0-1.
In boys basketball, Hermantown opened its season on the road but fell 97-78 at Princeton despite a 24-point performance from senior guard Ben Sundland. The Tigers scored 59 first-half points to take control early. Sawyer Senst added 12 for the Hawks, while Princeton’s Noah Stencel led all scorers with 37.
BOYS HOCKEY
Cloquet-Esko-Carlton 12, Princeton 1
CEC stormed to its first win of the season with a dominant road performance in Princeton. Jordy Sewell scored four times, while Mason Robbins and Conor Sullivan each added two goals. In all, 14 Lumberjacks registered at least one point. Jacob Iallonardo stopped 13 shots for CEC (1-2).
Rock Ridge 5, Waconia 2
Rock Ridge responded to Friday’s loss at Wayzata with a strong showing on the road. Caz Carlson scored twice in the first period — both assisted by Landon Mathison and Colton Bialke — to stake the Wolverines to a 2-0 lead. Cal Scott added a late power-play goal in the first, and third-period tallies from Jacob Coombe and Bialke sealed it. Rock Ridge held a 39-18 shots advantage. Wyatt Jonassen made 16 saves.
Rock Ridge (2-2) hosts Hermantown on Tuesday in Virginia.
Maple Grove 3, Grand Rapids 0
Grand Rapids couldn’t break through against Class AA No. 5 Maple Grove. Lane Glende and Wyatt Kuznik each had a goal and assist for the Crimson, and Ryder Skanson recorded a 20-save shutout. Luke Sherlock made 24 stops for the Thunderhawks (0-1-1).
Gentry Academy 6, Proctor 0
Proctor was held to 17 shots and shut out on day two of the TRIA Classic in St. Paul. Jaxon Cook led Gentry with two goals and two assists. Ashton Lee finished with 31 saves for the Rails.
Wayzata 6, Duluth East 1
Duluth East’s McKennen Kramer scored in the second period, but Wayzata controlled play from the start at Plymouth Ice Center. McCoy Kurtz scored twice, and Tommy Colmonero posted a goal and three assists. Nolan Nygaard made 32 saves for East (0-2-1).
Ely 4, Moose Lake Area 3
Ely’s Rhett Johnson scored with 12 seconds left to break a 3-3 tie after the Rebels rallied from a three-goal deficit. Johnson finished with two goals. Moose Lake’s Brayden Strand scored twice, and Chase Klavu added a goal and two assists.
Greenway 4, Wadena-Deer Creek 1
Greenway ended a four-game slide with an early burst at home. Vinnie Denucci and Axl Mikulich scored in the first period, and Evan Woodman made it 3-0 early in the second. The Raiders outshot WDC 50-17. Zane Schad finished with 16 saves.
GIRLS HOCKEY
Duluth 4, White Bear Lake 3
Sasha Cole scored the deciding goal with 1:10 remaining as the Northern Stars completed a 2-0 weekend at the GRG Thanksgiving Classic in Grand Rapids. Cole scored twice. Bailey Theis and Aizley Mathias also scored. Aaili Anttila made 14 saves for Duluth (5-3).
Blaine 2, Grand Rapids/Greenway 2 (OT)
GRG rallied from two goals down in the third period to force overtime at Yanmar Arena. Opal Anderson scored 15 seconds after Blaine went up 2-0, and Rohrey Hyduke tied it later in the period. GRG outshot Blaine 12-5 in the third and 6-0 in overtime. Claire Tobeck made 17 saves.
Northern Lakes 2, Hibbing/Chisholm 2 (OT)
Hibbing/Chisholm received goals from Audrey Minor and Mara McDonald, but Northern Lakes scored twice in the third to earn the draw. Bryjah Schnipkoweit stopped 34 shots for the Bluejackets.
Mounds View/Irondale 3, North Shore 2
A second goal by Sarah Johnson with 5:34 remaining lifted MV/I past North Shore despite a 42-11 shot margin. Berkley Hoff gave North Shore a short-lived second-period lead, and Raegen Hogenson tied the game in the third. Hallie Komarek assisted on both goals. Mikaela Lindgren made 39 saves for North Shore (3-4).
BOYS BASKETBALL (OTHER GAMES)
South St. Paul 87, Duluth Denfeld 54
Hibbing 78, Chisago Lakes 68
Greenway/Nashwauk-Keewatin 61, Warroad 53
Two Harbors 79, Chisholm 46
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Chisago Lakes 62, Hibbing 57
Chisholm 92, Two Harbors 29
BOYS HOCKEY (ADDITIONAL)
Green Bay Notre Dame 4, Superior 1
GIRLS HOCKEY (ADDITIONAL)
Westonka/SWC 9, Rock Ridge 2
Andover 4, Proctor/Hermantown 1
