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Hermantown senior goaltender Dane Callaway has recorded back-to-back shutouts while backstopping his team to a 3-0-1 start, as the Hawks prepare for Saturday’s 1:15 p.m. home game against defending Minnesota Class 1A state champion Mahtomedi.
“Dane leads by example, and his hard work and intensity set the tone for our defense and our entire team,” said Hawks coach Patrick Andrews of Callaway, who features a lofty 0.72 goals-against and .974 saves percentage to begin the season. “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.”
The host Hawks – and Callaway -- blanked Duluth Marshall 3-0 on Tuesday night and Centennial 5-0 last Saturday afternoon. Callaway had 44 total saves in the two games.
“Dane is incredibly athletic and strong,” said Andrews of his elite netminder, who continues to draw interest from pro and college scouts. “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.”
Several of Callaway's teammates are enjoying strong starts to their season, including sophomore sensation A.J. Francisco who is tied with junior forward River Freeman for the team scoring lead with six points each. Senior defenseman Will Esterbooks has five points (two goals), and seniors Drew Nelson and Weston Bohlman and junior Henry Peterson are rock-solid defenders.
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The Proctor-Hermantown Mirage blitzed host Hibbing-Chisholm 7-0 on Tuesday night, as Annicka Burke scored three goals and Katie Sandelin, Hannah Graves, Jane Erickson and Grace Nichols also scored to support an eight-save effort by Suri Langley.
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Bailey Hermanson scored a team-high 17 points as the Hawks fell to host North Branch 53-49 on Tuesday night.
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Senior power-forward Abe Soumis exploded for 41 points to lead Hermantown past host Princeton 97-67 in boys basketball Tuesday night. Peyton Menzel added 20 points and Brayden Lundeen 15 for the Hawks (2-4), who visit Hibbing Tuesday night.