Wildcats reach state finals; end season at 19-4-1

Dodge County’s Wildcats clawed their way to the top of Minnesota Class A hockey, defeating the No. 1 seed Hermantown at last week’s state hockey tournament. They then finished off Little Falls before running into a buzz saw in Saturday’s finale and fell to undefeated Gentry Academy (19-0).

Looking back, the ‘Cats were underdogs in each game.

Each game seemed to draw on the talented compilation of players from all over Dodge County, Byron, Pine Island, Blooming Prairie and a smattering of players.

They reached the state tournament by defeating Mankato West to claim the Section 1A title.

In the first round of state action, some members of the Hermantown’s Hawks varsity squad were not allowed to play due to exposure to COVID-19.

Dodge County put on a scoring exhibition that sent Hermantown packing with a final score of 7-3. (Brody Lamb scored two hat tricks in the victory.)

Were these 2021 Wildcats playing fora destiny no one anticipated prior to the state tournament?

Going into Friday night’s semi-finals, the Flyers of Little Falls seemed pumped to derail the upstart Wildcats.

In the regular season, the ‘Cats had crashed the Flyers in a close one, downing the Flyers 3-2 in early March.

The Flyer’s revenge was not to be. The ‘Cats were able to win going away with a 4-1 victory.

Lamb, who would end up scoring 10 goals in the state tournament, scored another hat trick Friday night.

The 6 p.m. Saturday final had the ‘Cats going up against undefeated Gentry Academy. Gentry and Dodge County were new to the Minnesota State High School Hockey tournament and novices to the finale.

The bright spot for the Wildcats came when Lamb scored his 10^th and final goal of the tournament.

Lamb racked up 52 goals for the 2020-21 season, (10 at the state tournament), Matt Donovan scored 25 and Brendon Wolesky 7.

Lamb was also the team’s assist leader with 35, followed closely by Donovan (32) and Charlie Blaisdell (21).

The Wildcat’s points leader was Lamb, followed by Donovan (57) and Easton Hammill (27)

Isaac Dale compiled 16 of the 19 wins for Dodge County with a 3.00 goals against average and a .882 save percentage.

In the 2021-22 season the Wildcats more up to 1AA competition.