Wildcats, Lamb pummel Hawks 7-3 in first round at St. Paul
WILDCATS VS. HERMANTOWN
Dodge County crushes Hermantown in Minnesota Boys State High School hockey quarter-finals 7-3 in St. Paul’s Xcel Center.
Junior Brody Lamb scored six of the ‘Cats seven goals, putting on a scoring exhibition on the Xcel Center ice as the first time-ever Dodge County advances to the state semi-finals.
The ‘Cats scored in the first period on a goal by Lamb. Only 33 seconds later, Lamb gave the Wildcats a 2-0 lead. The televised battle against the top rated single A Hawks was billed as a shoe-in for the northeast Minnesota hockey powerhouse. Lamb & Company took care of business defensively as well.
Isaac Dale was in goal for the first-ever state tournament win, turning aside all but three Hawks’ shots on goal.
Dodge County plays Friday in the semi-finals. Their opponent was not known at press time.
WILDCATS HEAD TO STATE
Dodge County Wildcats were launched into the Minnesota State High School League Boys Hockey tournament by defeating Mankato West and grabbed the Section 1A title. That win sent the ‘Cats to the front of the class and they were paired with the No. 1 team in Minnesota, the Hermantown Hawks.
On Monday, March 29, Hermantown’s varsity hockey team was dealt a severe blow when most of them were quarantined due to exposure to COVID-19.
“Hermantown Public Schools were notified today, March 29 of a close contact that took place during the March 23 semifinal boys hockey game. A number of our varsity players have been quarantined and we are continuing to work on determining who is and who is not eligible to play as a result,” said Beth Clark, athletic director for Hermantown Schools.
Hermantown, a traditional powerhouse in northeastern Minnesota, pitted Zam Plante who led the Hawks with 28 goals, against the ‘Cats’ Brody Lamb who led all state scoring with 42 goals.
During the season Dodge County scored 118 goals with 2.63 goals against. Hermantown compiled 149 goals during the regular season and allowed only 1.15.
Issac Dale made 350 saves for a.875 save percentage. Hawk’s goalkeeper Garron Opsahl had 203 saves, with a.906 save percentage.
WILDCATS VS. MANKATO WEST
The victory by the Dodge County Wildcats over the Scarlets of Mankato West established a first-ever Section 1A Championship trip to the Minnesota Boys State Hockey Tournament.
Action in the first period of the 1A Sectional Hockey tournament last Wednesday at the Dodge County Ice Arena started off with two pucks finding the back of the Mankato West net. It appeared as though it would have the potential to be another blow out.
At the 2:13 mark of the first, Matt Donovan (14) scored with an assist going to Isaac Rogne (10). Two minutes and 43 seconds later the Wildcat’s Charlie Blaisdell blew the puck past Scarlet goalie, Caleb Cross. Blaisdell got assists on the goal from Brody Lamb (7), and Donovan.
Penalties near the end of the first period to Brendon Wolesky for tripping and at the 17:00 minute mark Blaisdell was sent to the penalty box for interference.
That left the Wildcats in a 3 on 5 shorthanded start in the second and the Scarlets moved to within one at 2-1 when Gage Schmidt scored at 1:10. The score was tied at 5:45 when Mankato West’s Ethan Fox scored an even strength goal.
The section title came down the third period. Tied at 2, each team was checking, passing and trying to move in for the tie-breaker.
Donovan, who had scored the Wildcats’ first goal, slipped one by Cross at 2:09 in the third. Lamb assisted Donovan.
At 7:10 Mankato’s Sam O’Neil tied the score. Sending the visiting crowd into frenzy.
Only 49 seconds later the scoring machine, Lamb, slapped home the winning goal with assists going to Jake Isaak and Gavin Giesler.
Dodge County was 0 for 3 on power plays and Mankato West was 1 for 3.
Shots on goal: Dodge County had 22 and Mankato 28.
Isaac Dale played 51 minutes, had 28 shots on goal, 25 saves and 3 goals scored against him.
Caleb Cross played 51 minutes, had 22 shots on goal, turned aside 18 and allowed 4 Wildcat goals.
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