HERMANTOWN vs. Cretin-Derham Hall

7:15 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 23
Highland Arena, St. Paul

The state’s two No. 1s meet in what promises to be a high-speed, high-energy showdown, albeit one lacking some serious star power.

Hermantown junior forward Zam Plante, a Minnesota Duluth commit and the state’s top returning scorer from last season, suffered a shoulder injury in the first period of a 2-1 victory over Wayzata on Dec. 10 and hasn’t played since. Plante, who scored 61 points in 20 games last season, has missed the Hawks’ most recent three games.

Even without Plante, No. 1-1A Hermantown (6-0-0) has been dominant. The Hawks have defeated four high-powered Class 2A teams in Benilde-St. Margaret’s, Hill-Murray, Wayzata and Rosemount and are coming off Saturday’s 3-0 shutout of No. 2-1A Mahtomedi.

Junior defenseman Ty Hanson, also committed to Minnesota Duluth, has nine points and shares the team scoring lead with junior forward Kade Kohanski. Most impressive, however, has been the play of goaltender Dane Callaway, a sophomore who has allowed two goals in four games and leads the state with a .972 save percentage.

Cretin-Derham Hall (5-1-0) started the season as the state’s No. 1 team in Class 2A, then dropped a spot after stumbling to a 4-3 loss to St. Thomas Academy in its season opener (coupled with Edina’s hot start to the season). Five straight wins later, the Raiders are back at the top of the rankings with an offense that has scored five or more goals in each of its last four games. 

Junior Jake Fisher, a Northern Michigan commit, leads the Raiders with 11 points while his brother Drew, a senior, is the team’s top goal scorer with six. Cretin-Derham Hall gets outstanding goaltending from senior Marko Belak, who has a 1.83 goals-against average and .933 save percentage.

Which team will win?
Legacy pick: Hermantown

Viewers: 3-for-5
Legacy: 4-for-5

Season records

Viewers: 9-for-14 | 64 percent
Legacy: 8-for-14 | 57 percent