Alexandria strikes first but Hermantown feeds off defense in Class A semifinal win
The Hawks allowed an early goal, but locked down defensively and allowed just six shots the rest of the game.
Hermantown forward Max Plante (26) scores a goal against Alexandria defenseman Henry Ramstorf (16) and Alexandria defenseman Jack Lamski (2) on Friday, March 11, 2022, at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
ST. PAUL — Hermantown is only one win away from accomplishing its season-long goal of winning a state championship after blowing past Alexandria 7-1 in the Class A semifinal Friday at the Xcel Energy center in St. Paul.
Two minutes into the game, however, things weren’t going as planned for the Hawks.
The Cardinals’ Tyler Kludt put their first shot past Hermantown’s Dane Callaway, giving Alexandria an early 1-0 lead.
“We felt good coming into the game, we felt that we still had a chance against the No. 1 team in the state,” Kludt said. “I was talking to Joe Gronholz right off the face-off and I just told him to win it back. He felt confident in that and I just saw an opening on the top right.”
Instead of giving Alexandria some momentum, the goal woke up Hermantown and the rest of the game belonged to the Hawks.
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“It was kind of an eye-opener for us,” Hawks forward Gavin Blomdahl said. “It felt like we got punched in the mouth and the other guys rallied around each other. We started playing more as a team, picking each other up and doing what a team should do.”
Hermantown players celebrate a goal against Alexandria during the second period Friday, March 11, 2022, in the State Boys Hockey Tournament at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
Jason Wachter / The Rink Live
After the early slip-up, the Hawks defense clamped down and scored seven straight goals to clinch a spot in the state title game Saturday.
After the early goal, the Hermantown defense allowed just two shots between the 15 minute mark of the first period and when the game went to running time 2 minutes into the third period.
“They were phenomenal,” Hermantown coach Pat Andrews said. “We’ve talked about this many times, but our D is the strength of our team — team D and our defensemen. Not giving away zones, tight gaps, tight gaps, we preach that. Then turn it over in transition and go, that’s what drives our offense.”
Josh Kauppinen scored the first Hermantown goal at the 9:44 mark of the first period and Ty Hanson gave the Hawks the lead 2 minutes later.
With just 56 seconds left in the first period, Hermantown took full control of the game when Zam Plante faked a shot and made a 360-degree turn and found Kade Kohanski on the other side of the net for the score.
Hermantown students wave goodbye to Alexandria players and fans during the Class A state hockey semifinal game on Friday, March 11, 2022, at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
Clint Austin / Duluth News Tribune
The Hawks were 3-for-4 on opportunities with a man advantage, with Hanson, Kohanski and Max Plante all scoring power play goals.
Alexandria coach Josh Meyers knew Alexandria would have to play its best hockey to stay with the Hawks, but they were unable to limit mistakes and Hermantown capitalized.
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“It was not a good day not not bring your A-game,” Meyers said. “We did not execute things very well and took some bad penalties early on that gave them a lot of momentum. We were able to strike first, which was one of our keys to the game…We needed to execute, really minimize our mistakes and if I look through all the goals that were scored, I guarantee that I can find mistakes we made before the goal was score and that’s the difference.”
Callaway made six saves for Hermantown and Teagen Pfeffer had 35 saves for Alexandria.
Hermantown will play Warroad in the Class A final at noon Saturday at the Xcel Energy Center.
The Warriors got an overtime goal from Matt Hard to advance past Mahtomedi with a 5-4 win in the other semifinal.
Alexandria 1-0-0—1
Hermantown 3-3-1—7
First period — 1. A, Tyler Kludt (Josiah Gronholz), 2:09; 2. H, Josh Kauppinen (Dominic Thomas, Matt Kauppinen), 9:44; 3. H, Ty Hanson (Kade Kohanski, Max Plante), 11:47 (pp); 4. H, Kohanski (Zam Plante, Hanson), 15:04 (pp).
Second period — 5. H, Gavin Blomdahl (J. Kauppinen, Thomas), 5:56; 6. H, M. Plante (Dallas View, Z. Plante), 13:12 (pp); 7. H, Vieau, 16:24.
Third period — 8. H, Thomas (Hanson, J. Kauppinen), 2:04.
Saves — A, Teagan Pfeffer 35; H, Dane Callaway 6.
PHOTO GALLERY (swipe/click arrows to view)
1/33: Alexandria players are introduced before their game against Hermantown Friday, March 11, 2022, in the State Boys Hockey Tournament at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
2/33: Hermantown players are introduced before the start of their game against Alexandria Friday, March 11, 2022, in the State Boys Hockey Tournament at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
3/33: Alexandria players are introduced before their game against Hermantown Friday, March 11, 2022, in the State Boys Hockey Tournament at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
4/33: Alexandria players gather around the goal before their game against Hermantown Friday, March 11, 2022, in the State Boys Hockey Tournament at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
5/33: Alexandria forward Joseph Lamski (6) blocks a pass by Hermantown forward Max Plante (26) during the first period Friday, March 11, 2022, in the State Boys Hockey Tournament at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
6/33: Hermantown defenseman Beau Janzig (13) skates the puck past Alexandria forward Brycen Berg (11) during the first period Friday, March 11, 2022, in the State Boys Hockey Tournament at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
7/33: Alexandria's Tyler Kludt (7) and Brycen Berg (11) try to work the puck past Hermantown goaltender Dane Callaway (32) during the first period Friday, March 11, 2022, in the State Boys Hockey Tournament at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
8/33: Alexandria forward Gavin Olson (15) sends the puck past Hermantown defenseman George Peterson (22) during the first period Friday, March 11, 2022, in the State Boys Hockey Tournament at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
9/33: Players from Alexandria and Hermantown battle for the puck in front of the Alexandria goal during the first period Friday, March 11, 2022, in the State Boys Hockey Tournament at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
10/33: Hermantown goaltender Dane Callaway (32) deflects an Alexandria shot over the goal during the first period Friday, March 11, 2022, in the State Boys Hockey Tournament at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
11/33: Alexandria forward Leonard Kompelien (3) tries to steal the puck from Hermantown defenseman Ty Hanson (2) during the first period Friday, March 11, 2022, in the State Boys Hockey Tournament at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
12/33: Alexandria forward Tyler Kludt (7) celebrates his goal against Hermantown during the first period Friday, March 11, 2022, in the State Boys Hockey Tournament at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
13/33: Hermantown players celebrate a goal against Alexandria during the second period Friday, March 11, 2022, in the State Boys Hockey Tournament at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
14/33: Hermantown's Max Plante (26) rolls the puck into the net to score against Alexandria during the second period Friday, March 11, 2022, in the State Boys Hockey Tournament at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
15/33: Hermantown's Zam Plante (27) takes the puck toward the goal past Alexandria defenseman Mason Loch (19) during the third period Friday, March 11, 2022, in the State Boys Hockey Tournament at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
16/33: Warroad forward Gavin Blomdahl (9) takes a shot at Alexandria goaltender Teagan Pfeffer (31) during the third period Friday, March 11, 2022, in the State Boys Hockey Tournament at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
17/33: Hermantown's Zam Plante (27) tries to push the puck past Alexandria goaltender Teagan Pfeffer (31) during the second period Friday, March 11, 2022, in the State Boys Hockey Tournament at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
18/33: Alexandria defenseman Pieter Mulder (18) and Hermantown forward Dominic Thomas (21) case the puck during the second period Friday, March 11, 2022, in the State Boys Hockey Tournament at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
19/33: Alexandria players skate back onto the ice for the start of the third period against Hermantown Friday, March 11, 2022, in the State Boys Hockey Tournament at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
20/33: Alexandria and Hermantown play Friday, March 11, 2022, in the State Boys Hockey Tournament at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
21/33: Hermantown defenseman Ty Hanson (2) scores a goal on Alexandria goaltender Teagan Pfeffer (31) on Friday, March 11, 2022, at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
22/33: Hermantown forward Joshua Kauppinen (20) celebrates while scoring a goal on Alexandria defenseman Gage Castle (20) on Friday, March 11, 2022, at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
23/33: Hermantown forward Max Plante (26) scores a goal against Alexandria defenseman Henry Ramstorf (16) and Alexandria defenseman Jack Lamski (2) on Friday, March 11, 2022, at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
24/33: Hermantown students celebrate a goal during the second period on Friday, March 11, 2022, at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
25/33: Hermantown forward Max Plante (26) is sent airborne after being tripped against Alexandria on Friday, March 11, 2022, at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
26/33: Hermantown forward Dallas Vieau (24) scores a goal against Alexandria goaltender Teagan Pfeffer (31) on Friday, March 11, 2022, at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
27/33: Hermantown forward Dallas Vieau (24) celebrates with Hermantown forward Max Plante (26) after he scored a goal on Friday, March 11, 2022, at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
28/33: Hermantown forward Kade Kohanski (11) shoots the puck on goal against Alexandria goaltender Teagan Pfeffer (31) on Friday, March 11, 2022, at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
29/33: Hermantown students wave goodbye to Alexandria players and fans during the Class A state hockey semifinal game on Friday, March 11, 2022, at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
30/33: Hermantown head coach Pat Andrews watches his team against Alexandria during the third period on Friday, March 11, 2022, at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
31/33: Hermantown goaltender Dane Callaway (32) and Hermantown forward Max Plante (26) celebrate after defeating Alexandria 7-1 on Friday, March 11, 2022, at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
32/33: Kora Duncan a Senior at Hermantown High School holds a sign showing support for Max and Zam Plante on Friday, March 11, 2022, at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
33/33: Hermantown students cheer during the Class A state hockey semifinal game against Alexandria on Friday, March 11, 2022, at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
Jamey Malcomb has a been high school sports reporter for the Duluth News Tribune since October 2021. He spent the previous six years covering news and sports for the Lake County News-Chronicle in Two Harbors and the Cloquet Pine Journal. He graduated from the George Washington University in 1999 with a bachelor's degree in history and literature and also holds a master's degree in secondary English education from George Mason University.
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