Game Preview: St. Cloud Cathedral Crusaders vs. Hermantown Hawks
Thursday, January 9, 2025 – 7:00 PM
Hermantown Ice Arena, Hermantown, MN
The Crusaders (7-5-2) come into this game following a tough 3-1 loss to Little Falls. Despite the setback, Cathedral boasts a dynamic offense led by Joey Gillespie (13 goals, 23 points) and John Hirschfeld (25 points). The team’s power play is a significant weapon, converting at 27.8%, and will be a key factor against Hermantown’s strong penalty kill.
Defensively, goalie Keaton Legrande has been solid with a 2.88 goals-against average and an .887 save percentage. However, the Crusaders will need to tighten up their defense against Hermantown’s strong offense.
The Hawks (7-4-3) are coming off a 3-3 overtime tie with Proctor, a result that likely left them unsatisfied. Hermantown features one of the state’s best scorers in River Freeman, who leads the team with 15 goals and 21 points. Supporting Freeman is a deep offensive group, including Ford Skytta (18 points) and Henry Peterson (14 points).
Defensively, Hermantown is anchored by standout goalie Bryce Francisco, whose 1.44 GAA and .949 save percentage make him a game-changer. The Hawks’ power play is strong, with a penalty kill operating at 86.8% and a power play converting at 30.8%.
This game pits Hermantown’s strong defense and goaltending against Cathedral’s balanced attack. The Hawks’ depth and home-ice advantage give them a clear edge, particularly with Francisco in net. Cathedral will need an exceptional effort to keep up with Hermantown’s firepower.
Final Score Prediction: Hermantown 4, St. Cloud Cathedral 2
