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St. Thomas Academy grinds its way to victory

By Legacy Hockey staff, 03/06/25, 4:15PM CST

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State Class 2A quarterfinal: Cadets get clutch goal from Luca Pedri to slip past Shakopee


St. Thomas Academy’s Luca Pedri (34) celebrates his third-period goal against Shakopee in the state Class 2A quarterfinals Thursday. Pedri’s goal proved to be the game-winner. Photo by Jeff Lawler, LegacyHockeyPhotography.com

Quick Recap

ST. PAUL - Luca Pedri's power-play goal 5:11 into the third period proved to be the eventual game-winner as No. 3 seed St. Thomas Academy held on to defeat No. 6 Shakopee 2-1 in a state Class 2A quarterfinal Thursday at Xcel Energy Center.

Mr. Hockey finalist Jackson Rudh scored the other goal for the Cadets (24-5-0), who are making their first state tournament appearance since 2021.

Nate Pederson scored the lone goal for Shakopee (22-6-1), which had never previously played in the Class 2A portion of the tournament.

Both teams played sound defensively as shots on goal finished at 19-14. Cody Niesen made the start in net for St. Thomas Academy; fellow Bloomington product Owen Lunneborg was in the pipes for Shakopee.

The Cadets advance to play No. 2 Stillwater Friday night at 6 p.m. in the first Class 2A semifinal.

Key Moment

St. Thomas Academy got a timely contribution from an unexpected source when Luca Pedri scored his eighth goal of the season, and first since Jan. 7, to put the Cadets ahead 2-1 early in the third period.

 

By the Numbers

14: Games St. Thomas Academy’s Luca Pedri had gone without scoring before notching the game-winner against Shakopee.

9: Consecutive-game scoring streak for Shakopee’s Cooper Simpson before he was held without a goal by St. Thomas Academy.

2: Mr. Hockey finalists on the ice - one for each team in St. Thomas Academy’s Jackson Rudh and Shakopee’s Simpson.

5: Shots on goal by St. Thomas Academy’s Rudh, a game high.

They Said It

They were obviously worried about our speed. I think we finally broke them down in the third.

 

— St. Thomas academy senior forward Michael Mikan


St. Thomas Academy goalie Cody Niesen turns aside a scoring chance by Shakopee’s Cooper Simpson during the third period of the Class 2A quarterfinals. Niesen had 13 saves in the Cadets’ 2-1 victory over the Sabers. Jeff Lawler, LegacyHockeyPhotography.com

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Tag(s): News  Metro East  St. Thomas Academy  South Suburban  Shakopee  The Tourney  Class AA  St. Thomas Academy  Shakopee 

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