Hermantown at Wayzata
7 p.m., Friday, Nov. 28

Northern small-school powers continue their early season trips to the Twin Cities as No. 2-1A Hermantown plays at No. 3-2A Wayzata on Friday night.

The Hawks aren’t afraid of scheduling Class 2A powers such as Wayzata, which quite likely has helped them get to the Class 1A state championship game five consecutive years — and counting. Well, that and talent, of course. Unfortunately for coach Bruce Plante and fans of the Hawks, they’ve finished second all five times.

It could very well be another championship game run for Hermantown, which returns four double-digit goal scorers (Ryan Kero, Nate Pionk, Cole Koepke and Kyle Amundson) and a solid defensive corps anchored by juniors Wyatt Aamodt and Eric Gotz. The only area Plante doesn’t have a veteran leading the way is in goal, where regulars Adam Smith and Jace Thomas both graduated.

Wayzata will test the Hawks’ new goaltenders with an offense that hopes to improve on last year’s output. The Trojans opened the season by scoring four goals in a 4-1 victory over Maple Grove and three in a shootout loss to Edina (officially a 3-3 tie). Nathan Dingmann and Hank Sorensen each have two goals in two games after scoring a combined nine goals last year.