UPDATE: Hermantown junior Gabe Swenson clinched a thrilling victory with a decisive goal late in the game, leading his team to a 4-2 win against Cloquet-Esko-Carlton (CEC) on December 19, 2023, at Northwoods Federal Credit Union Arena.
With the score tied at 2-2 and less than six minutes remaining, Swenson made a bold move. “I was going up the left side and saw I didn’t have much support,” he explained. “I figured I would try to get to the middle and rip a shot — see what happens — and it went in.” His goal propelled Hermantown ahead, while teammate Kole Lendzyk sealed the victory with an empty-net goal.
The Lumberjacks put up a strong fight, outshooting Hermantown 13-5 in the first period, but were held back by stellar goaltending from Bryce Francisco, who recorded 28 saves. Coach Pat Andrews praised Francisco’s performance, stating, “We don’t win that game — obviously — without Bryce.”
During the second period, Paxson Madill gave Hermantown a 1-0 lead at 9:45. However, CEC responded with a power play goal from Luca Genilini just before the end of the period, keeping the battle intense with Hermantown leading by only one.
CEC head coach Shea Walters acknowledged the team’s resilience, noting, “In the second period, we knew they were going to make a push… we had a great response.” CEC also showcased an impressive penalty kill, maintaining their season record of allowing only one power play goal.
As Hermantown improves to 8-0-2 and holds the No. 1 ranking in Class A, Francisco reflected on their unbeaten streak, saying, “It’s crazy to think that we haven’t lost yet… but we’re not really too focused on staying undefeated.”
Looking ahead, Hermantown is set to host Delano at 3 p.m. on Friday, December 22, 2023, in what promises to be a crucial matchup against the third-ranked team in Class A.
This victory not only underscores Hermantown’s dominance in the league but also highlights the competitive spirit of high school hockey in the region. Fans are eager to see if the Hawks can maintain their momentum as they approach the holiday break.
