Hermantown vs. Mahtomedi

3 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 18
St. Croix Valley Recreation Center, Stillwater

Hermantown’s schedule is fascinating in its difficulty. Based on the currently Legacy Hockey Power Rankings, the No. 1-1A Hawks (5-0-0) will play the No. 2-5 teams in Class 1A and No. 2, 5, 7, 8 and 11 teams in Class 2A. 

Saturday’s game at the St. Croix Recreation Center in Stillwater against No. 2-1A Mahtomedi (4-2-0) will be the Hawks’ third of five forays into the metro area to play the best of the state’s best. 

It’s a rhetorical question, but how many teams, big school or small, could play the quartet of Benilde-St. Margaret’s, Hill-Murray, Wayzata and Rosemount? That’s how the Hawks have started the season, a remarkable run considering top scorer Zam Plante’s recent absence because of injury. Plante, a junior forward and Minnesota Duluth recruit, still leads Hermantown with four goals. 

Mahtomedi plays a Murderer’s Row of top-ranked teams, too, and is coming off Saturday’s 3-2 triumph over longtime rival No. 17-2A St. Thomas Academy (1-3-0). Hermantown could be the best team the Zephyrs play all season, a challenge that Mahtomedi senior goaltender Ben Dardis no doubt will be eager to tackle. 

Dardis made 40 saves in a 5-0 shutout win over No. 5-1A East Grand Forks on Dec. 3 and his .961 save percentage is the best in the state.

Which team will win?
Legacy pick: Hermantown

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Season records

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