ST. PAUL - Senior forward Joey Gillespie scored twice, including a shorthanded goal in the third period, to lead No. 2 seed St. Cloud Cathedral to a 3-0 victory over No. 7 seed Mahtomedi on Wednesday in a state Class 1A quarterfinal at the Xcel Energy Center.

Gillespie’s third-period goal put the defending state champion Crusaders (19-8-2) ahead 3-0 and came off a feed from linemate John Hirschfeld, who alertly grabbed the rebound of his initial shot and fed a wide-open Gillespie in front.

Freshman Bo Schmidt put St. Cloud Cathedral ahead 2-0 late in the second period when he bowled over a Mahtomedi puck carrier in the neutral zone, grabbed the loose puck and then wheeled to the left face-off dot. Schmidt whipped a shot over Zephyrs goaltender Wes Strub for his 16th goal of the season.

Schmidt has eight goals in his last seven games, including five in the playoffs, giving the Crusaders much-needed scoring depth.

St. Cloud Cathedral goaltender Keaton Legrande made 23 saves for his fifth shutout of the season. The shutout was Legrande's second in as many games and third of the playoffs. 

St. Cloud Cathedral took a 1-0 lead after the first period on a goal by Gillespie. Jaeger Wood set up the goal with a behind-the-back pass from along the boards behind the net. Gillespie one-timed the pass into the net, then executed an extended, stick-waving goal celebration as he skated the full length of the ice to the glass in front of the Cathedral student section.

No. 15-1A Mahtomedi (11-16-2), the state’s eighth-most penalized team in terms of penalty minutes, was called for an infraction 17 seconds into the first period. The Zephyrs did not allow a goal on the ensuing Crusaders power play and finished the opening period with a 10-7 shots-on-goal advantage. Mahtomedi took just the one penalty.

Joey Gillespie's shorthanded goal in the third period put St. Cloud Cathedral ahead 3-0 and showcased the star power of the Crusaders, as the goal was set up by a brilliant rush from longtime linemate and Mr. Hockey finalist John Hirschfeld.

3: All-State Tournament selections from last season returning for St. Cloud Cathedral (forwards Joey Gillespie, John Hirschfeld and defenseman Griffin Sturm)

3: Shutouts in the last four playoff games from junior goaltender Keaton Legrande.

1: Infraction called on Mahtomedi, one of the state's most penalized teams, and it came in the opening minute.

6: Consecutive games St. Cloud Cathedral has won at the state tournament.

— St. Cloud Cathedral senior and Mr. Hockey finalist John Hirschfeld on freshman forward Bo Schmidt