Jack Gunderson joked about having bragging rights for scoring the tournament’s first goal but Mahtomedi teammate Jack Becker paced the Zephyrs’ 6-3 victory with a hat trick.

Becker’s three goals ran his team-leading total to 28 this season. The 6-3, 190-pound junior center led the Zephyrs with 41 points last season.

Mahtomedi coach Jeff Poeschl said a strong performance on the tournament stage Wednesday at Xcel Energy Center befitted one of the state’s best, yet most unheralded players.

“I don’t know if people who don’t see him day in and day out appreciate the little things he does, whether it’s winning draws, slowing things down or rallying his teammates,” Poeschl said.

Becker, who won 21 of his 29 faceoffs, started his big game just nine seconds into the second period.

“I was just pressuring their D-man and he lost the puck,” Becker said. “I got a little breakaway and just shot it.”

On his second goal, Becker made Eagles’ goalie Matt Berkner an unwilling accomplice.

“I tried to bank it off [Berkner] and I got lucky,” Becker said.

The goal gave Mahtomedi (25-2-2) a 4-1 lead and a psychological edge.

“That shorthanded goal was kind of a backbreaker,” said New Ulm forward Ethan Kraus, whose team finished 18-9-2.

Becker’s final goal, a blistering shot from the slot, sealed the outcome.
His efforts eased the burden for a Mahtomedi team Poeschl said “fought it all night long.”

As for bragging rights, Becker said, “As long as we win, I’m happy.”

Mahtomedi pulled away from New Ulm for a 6-3 victory on Wednesday in the first Class 1A quarterfinal at Xcel Energy Center.

Senior forward Jack Becker tallied a hat trick for the No. 2 seed Zephyrs.

Jack Gunderson’s second goal of the game, scored at 9:32 of the third period, gave the Zephyrs a two-goal cushion.

He scored the tournament’s first goal at 7:13 of the first period. New Ulm’s Ethan Kraus tied the game later in the period.

Becker and Kellen Campbell scored four minutes into the second period for a 3-1 Mahtomedi lead. Becker added a second goal for a 4-1 Zephyrs’ lead.

But New Ulm fought back and trimmed the lead to 4-3 on goals from Jon Kopacek and Colin Huffman. The Eagles, making their fifth overall state tournament appearance, have yet to win a quarterfinal game.