DULUTH — With just a second remaining in the first period, Hermantown’s Dallas Vieau scored his third goal to give the Hawks a 6-0 lead over Duluth Denfeld.
Twelve seconds into the second period, Zam Plante picked up his own hat-trick goal for Hermantown.
It was that kind of night for the Hunters and an utterly dominating performance for Hermantown in an 11-0 win in the Section 7A title game Wednesday at Amsoil arena in Duluth.
Vieau’s hat trick goal came on a scrum in front of the net.
“It was a battle in front of the net, and the puck squirted out to Ty (Hanson),” Vieau said. “Ty was in the corner and he shot it to the net. I was on my knees getting cross-checked and I ramped up my stick and put it over the goalie’s shoulder.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Vieau and Plante each recorded five points for the Hawks and they were joined in that achievement by Kade Kohanski, though Kohanski scored just two goals.
Hermantown scored early and often to pick up its third straight section title and eighth in its nine years since returning to Section 7A.
It was also the third victory for Hermantown in as many years over Denfeld for the Section 7A crown. In the three games, Hermantown has allowed just one goal and outscored the Hunters 24-1.
Vieau got the Hawks on the board at the 3:03 mark of the first period with a power play goal after John Bloomquist was called for a tripping penalty.
Kade Kohanski and Zam Plante sored 41 seconds apart with just under 10 minutes to play in the first period to give Hermantown a 3-0 lead and the rout was on.
Hermantown coach Pat Andrews said his team practiced well all week and were “dialed in right from the puck drop” and took advantage of openings when they presented themselves.
“I think preparation met opportunity there and they took full advantage,” Andrews said. “They saw the opportunity to put that game away right then and they pounced.”
Vieau scored his second goal at the 11:40 mark. He and Zam Plante added goals in the final two minutes of the period.
ADVERTISEMENT
Denfeld coach Dale Jago was disappointed with the way his team came out to play, but also acknowledged the team was banged up and simply had a bad game at the worst possible time.
“We were up against a really good hockey team and we didn’t come ready to play,” Jago said. “We stood around and watched them cycle and move the puck, without taking any body at all, whatsoever. With the skill on their hockey team, it’s going end up in the back of the net. We were soft everywhere on the ice and it was a really bad time for us to play our worst hockey game.”
Even with the loss, Jago was happy with the Hunters’ season and the development of the program that has made three consecutive section finals.
“Our program out west was not doing very well until a certain group of kids came through and decided that they were going to change the culture,” Jago said. “They were going to live by our pillars of discipline, respect and accountability. We’ve changed that, we’ve changed the woe-is-me attitude to a winning, hard-working, respectful program."
Hermantown will have to wait to find out who it will play in the Class A quarterfinal Wednesday at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
Duluth Denfeld 0-0-0—0
Hermantown 6-3-2—11
First period — 1. H, Dallas Vieau (Max Plante, Zam Plante), 3:03 (pp); 2. H, Kade Kohanski (Ty Hanson, Z. Plante), 7:01; 3. H, Z. Plante (Kohanski, M. Plante), 7:42; 4. H, Vieau (Hanson, Beau Janzig), 11:40; 5. H, Z. Plante (Vieau, George Peterson), 15:44; 6. H, Vieau (Hanson, Peterson), 16:59.
Second period — 7. H, Z.Plante (M. Plante, Hanson), 0:12; 8. H, Gavin Blomdahl (Vieau, Chase Sams), 1:50; 9. H, M. Plante (Kohanski, Hanson), 5:52 (pp).
Third period — 10. H, Kohanski (M. Plante, Z. Plante), 0:15 (sh); 11. H, Blomdahl (Will Esterbrooks, Nolan Barker), 6:29.
Saves — Austin Wick, DD, 9, Connor Doyle, DD, 24; Dane Callaway, H, 19.
