When St. Cloud Cathedral qualified for the state tournament two years ago, Jack Petroske and Michael Spethmann could only give moral support.

Both were underclassmen, present at the Xcel Energy Center, but neither dressed for the games as the Crusaders placed fourth.

But Petroske and Spethmann figure to play more important roles next week when St. Cloud Cathedral returns to St. Paul for its second state appearance in three years, or just as large of a role as they played in Thursday night’s Class 1A, Section 6 championship game at the Municipal Athletic Complex.

The Crusaders left very little in doubt, defeating Little Falls 10-2 on the backs of hat tricks by Petroske and Spethmann.

“This is so exciting, it’s unbelievable,” said Petroske, who has 13 goals this season after Thursday night.

Petroske was a sophomore who played on the junior varsity team and had locker room access when St. Cloud Cathedral was at state two years ago.

The Crusaders’ loss to St. Cloud Apollo in last year's Section 6 title game kept them away from Xcel Energy Center for a year.

“Last year was really heartbreaking," said Spethmann, who has 19 goals this season. "But it’s good to get one back. It hasn’t really sunk in that we’re going to the ‘X,' but I’m ecstatic.”

St. Cloud Cathedral’s points leader, Logan Neu (54 points), netted a hat trick in Saturday’s 7-2 semifinal win against Sartell-St. Stephen, but the Crusaders got big performances from different players on Thursday.

Spethmann and Petroske (3 goals, 1 assist each), Sam Medvec (2 goals, 2 assists) and Jeron Hirschfeld (4 assists) all had four-point nights for St. Cloud Cathedral in the section final victory against Little Falls.

Neu also figured into the box score against the Flyers with a goal and two assists.

It was that depth that overwhelmed Little Falls and doomed the Flyers early.

“Cathedral is very talented, and they have tremendous speed,” Little Falls coach Tony Couture said. “We could never get a rhythm going, and it was too much for us to handle and we couldn’t rebound.”

Added Petroske: “It’s a total team effort. I know Logan was helping me out tonight the same way I was helping him on Saturday. We used the metaphor ‘step on their throat and don’t let them breathe’ and that’s what we did tonight.”

This is also the second trip to state in three seasons for first-year St. Cloud Cathedral coach Derrick Brown, who led Luverne to the Class 1A tournament in 2014.

Brown is 20-7-1 in his first season with the Crusaders.

“I’m really happy for our guys. They accepted me,” Brown said. “I got the job in August, and who knows what kind of things can happen with that kind of transition. I’m happy for all the guys on the team who welcomed me, because it paid off for them in the end.”

St. Cloud Cathedral, though a member of a three-team conference that includes Little Falls, plays a schedule that resembles one of an independent program.

The opponents that appear on the slate are usually teams capable of making deep playoff runs, which has readied St. Cloud Cathedral for what it will face in St. Paul.

“We have a heck of a schedule, and it pays off,” Petroske said. “We play a lot of top-10 teams. It prepares us for this moment.”

Added Brown: “We have 11 seniors on our team who were all (at state) as sophomores. We’re excited to get there. We have a veteran group that I think will be able to handle the moment.”

First Report

Michael Spethmann and Jack Petroske each recorded hat tricks to help St. Cloud Cathedral blow past Little Falls 10-2 and send the Crusaders to their second Class 1A state tournament in three years.

No. 2 seed St. Cloud Cathedral defeated the No. 4 seed Flyers in the Section 6 championship game in front of a capacity crowd at the Municipal Athletic Complex on Thursday.

Spethmann and Petroske each had their three goals by the end of the second period, when the Crusaders led 9-1.

Keegan Karki recorded 13 saves in the win for St. Cloud Cathedral, which improves to 20-7-1.

Little Falls starting goaltender Justin Pekula was pulled late in the second period after he made 24 saves on 31 shots. Gunner Boser made two saves in relief.

Landon Bjorge put Little Falls on the board with 1:41 left in the second period, and Benjamin Majerle scored late in the third.

The Flyers finish the season 19-8-1.

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