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Top games: No. 1 Warroad hosts No. 2 Hermantown in Class 1A state title rematch

By Heather Rule, SportsEngine , 01/09/23, 10:30AM CST

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Jan. 14: Warriors host a pair of marquee matchups this week against Hawks, Rams


Photo by SportsEngine

We task our reporters with identifying several intriguing games throughout the state to assemble our Top Games of the Week. The matchups are presented in no particular order, and when there are additional games we want to highlight, we’ll include them with brief notes.

Hermantown vs. Warroad

5 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 14

Here’s a game that’s probably been circled on the calendar for a while between two northern teams that met in last year’s Class 1A state championship game and have traded 1-2 spots in the rankings this season.

Last season Hermantown won the state title with a 3-2 victory over Warroad. Hermantown is currently ranked No. 2 in Class 1A in the coaches’ poll released Jan. 1, while Warroad sits in the No. 1 spot. Both teams are unbeaten. 

Hermantown is 9-0-1 this season with a Class 2A-heavy schedule, with an early-season 3-3 tie at No. 20-2A Centennial the only blemish. Since then they’ve won seven straight games, scoring at a clip of 5.30 goals per game while boasting a 25% power play.

Dallas Vieau (nine goals, 10 assists), in his second varsity season, is the team’s top scorer in a deep and robust Hermantown program. George Peterson (four goals, 13 assists) is the team assists leader, having already matched his assists total from last season. Junior Joshua Kauppinen (10 goals, two assists) has the most goals of any individual on the team, already doubling his total from last season. 

The recent buzz for undefeated Warroad (11-0) is Jayson Shaugabay becoming the program’s all-time points leader, passing T.J. Oshie (241 points in 93 games). Senior top-line left winger Shaugabay scored a goal and four assists in a 10-4 victory over Fergus Falls Saturday to bring his points total to 245 in 90 career games (93 goals, 152 assists) across four seasons. He assisted on two first-period goals by Carson Pilgrim to tie and break the Warroad points record. Shaugabay leads the team in points and assists this season (12 goals, 25 assists). His 25 assists are tied for second in the state.

Junior top-line center Pilgrim leads the team and is in the top-10 in the state with 23 goals (13 assists), with five on the power play. Murray Marvin-Cordes rounds out their top line with eight goals and eight assists. The Warriors score 6.18 goals per game while allowing only 1.36 with a penalty kill at 97.8% (45-for-46).


St. Thomas Academy vs. Edina

7 p.m., Friday, Jan. 13

A No. 5-6 battle in Class 2A as St. Thomas Academy (No. 5-2A) travels to No. 6-2A Edina this week. These two teams just saw each other at holiday tournament time, a 5-1 victory for Edina. 

The Hornets (8-3-1) dropped its first three games to start the season, but rebounded with eight consecutive victories. Junior Jackson Nevers (11 goals, three assists) is the team’s top scorer. He was held off the scoresheet in the team's latest game against Lakeville South, but prior to that, he scored two goals in each of his last four games. On the blue line, junior Eddie Revenig is the team’s assists leader with eight. Senior Robbie Clarkowski (7-3-1) has allowed just 17 goals this season for a 1.53 goals-against average and .932 save percentage with one shutout.

While Edina found its groove lately, St. Thomas won its first seven games, but have dropped three of its last four heading into the week.

Sophomore goaltender Cody Niesen (3-3) made 18 saves in the first loss to Edina, while senior Tyler Magozzi is 6-1 with a 1.42 goals-against average this season. Senior Tommy Cronin (18 goals, 10 assists) has four goals in the past three games. 


Delano vs. Orono

7 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 12 

No. 13-1A Delano visits No. 3-1A Orono for a section-rival game between two stacked teams. Orono defeated Delano in the regular season last year but lost 2-1 in overtime when facing Delano again in the Class 1A, Section 2 semifinals. This could certainly be a preview of another section matchup this season.   

Delano, which currently sits first in the Wright County standings, got off to a slow start this year with a three-game skid. But they’ve rattled off victories in six of their last eight games to help get back on track while still allowing more goals than they've scored. 

The Tigers are led by four-year varsity senior Will Brown (seven goals, six assists) and sophomore Mason Hargarten (four goals, four assists). Senior Cole Schmidt (one goal, four assists) has three helpers on the power play this season as he mans the blue line. Senior Drew Dorsey gets the bulk of the time in goal.

Orono has turned things around this season after a below-.500 record last year. Having graduated only one senior from last season, and with coach Sean Fish shifting from the Orono girls team to lead the boys squad this year, the Spartans are 10-1, second place in the Metro West Conference and scoring four goals a game.

They’re led offensively by the top line of senior winger Avery Anderson (eight goals, 14 assists), senior center Bradley Walker (nine goals, 11 assists) and junior winger Cayden Effertz (seven goals, seven assists). Junior Easton Sankey (three goals, six assists) has also seen time on the top line. A starter at net since his sophomore season, senior Brock Peyton has played the past four games for a 1.00 goals-against average and .952 save percentage. Senior Johnny DeLong was in goal prior with a 7-1 record, 2.38 goals-against average and .897 save percentage.


Other games to keep an eye on

Roseau vs. Warroad, 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 10. Before Warroad takes on Hermantown in this week’s top game, the Warriors will host Roseau in one of the most storied hockey rivalries in Minnesota. This year, the Max Foundation (in honor of Max Marvin) has named this game The Max Rivalry. This is game No. 181 in the head-to-head series between the two programs; Roseau has 106 wins to Warroad’s 69, with five ties, according to roseauhockey.com. They’ll meet at Roseau later this month. 

Champlin Park vs. Rogers, 7 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 12. Out of a stacked Northwest Suburban Conference, No. 13-2A Champlin Park takes on No. 8-2A Rogers. The Rebels are 9-2 on a five-game winning streak headed into the week. Rogers is 8-2-2 and 2-1-2 in their last five games.


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