The Hermantown Hawks continued their section 7A dominance last season with a 27-3-1 overall record, at one point they won 14 straight games.  The only losses were 3-1 loss to Warroad, 3-0 loss to St. Thomas Academy and 2-1 loss to Mahtomedi in the Class A state semi-final game.  The last time the Hawks were beat in section play was the 2018-2019 season when they lost the section championship game to Greenway when Donte Lawson would score the OT game winner.

In the section semi finals of playoffs the Hawks played a very good Hibbing team, and despite outshooting them 44-16 it wasn’t until Aaron Evjen of Hermantown would score with about 20 seconds left in the game to give them the 3-2 win.  Hibbing is going to be a force in northern Minnesota in the youth/high school hockey world for the next handful of years.

The section finals was another close game and the Hawks would outshoot Rock Ridge 43-24, and come away with a 3-1 win and a trip to the Minnesota High School hockey state tournament.

In the opening round of state, Hermantown would play section 3A champion Luverene and would end up winning 6-0 and advance to the state quarterfinal game vs Mahtomedi.  This was a great game as it was 1-1 until late in the 3rd period when Charlie Drage would score to give the Zephyrs a 2-1 win over the favored Hermantown Hawks. This loss dropped Hermantown to the consolation bracket and they would end up beating Orono 2-0 to win 3rd place in state.

Hermantown will once again be a favorite to come out of section 7A this season as the following players are eligible to return, Dallas Vieau, River Freeman, Josh Kauppinen, Will Esterbrooks and goalie Dane Calloway.  We are anticipating a Hermantown vs Hibbing section championship game this season which would be a lot of fun for all.