Hermantown High boys hockey coach Patrick Andrews on Hawks senior goaltender Dane Callaway, who will backstop his Class 1A/No. 1-ranked team against 2A Duluth Denfeld tonight – “Dane leads by example, and his hard work and intensity set the tone for our defense and our entire team. The boys know they have a warrior behind them in the nets competing on every shot. It makes all the other five guys on the ice work that much harder because they don't want to let Dane down.
“Dane is incredibly athletic and strong. He is 215 pounds of pure muscle, he has incredible flexibility, and athletically he can jump out of the gym, slam-dunking a basketball or doing backflips. He is as hard of a worker as anyone, pushing himself every day on and off the ice. His athleticism and competitiveness are next level, and the whole team feeds off his intensity and compete. Dane has worked hard to make himself into one of the premier goalies in the state and is one of the favorites for the Frank Brimsek Award this season. Dane is a next-level player who is still considering his options for next season.”
. Hermantown High boys basketball coach Andy Fenske on his team, which has won two of its last three heading into tonight's game at 0-4 Hibbing – “We got some guys clicking and finding each other that had miscues early on in the season. It’s been nice having a few practices to get into a groove once again rather than a game every other day.
"Abe Soumis (27.7 ppg and 16.5 rpg) continues to do great things. Nathan Hill, who is scoring at a clip of a little more than 13 points per game, has stepped up and shouldered a lion's share of the load on both ends of the floor. Seniors Brayden Lundeen (9.2 ppg, 1.5 spg) and Peyton Menzel (10.5 ppg, 6 rpg, 5.3 apg) are also clicking great at the moment. Rounding out our top players as of late are Lance Janson (9.5 ppg), Alex Schott (lockdown defender, usually tasked with stopping the No. 1 offensive opponent) and Blake Sundland. We've had opportunities to get some other freshmen and sophomores in the games which has been great for building for the future as well.”
. Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank Executive Director Shaye Moris on Bell Lumber & Pole Company's $10,000 year-end match gift, which has the possibility to leverage 30,000 additional meals for Northland families, children and seniors in 2024 – “Our generous donors never cease to amaze us. This offer of support not only ensures another tax deductible opportunity at year end, it will ensure a strong start to our Northland neighbors in the new year."
. Psst: A little birdie says a major international retailer will build a large processing facility in far West Duluth.
