After 16 seasons leading the St. Thomas Academy hockey team, Greg and Tom Vannelli informed the team after Wednesday's practice that they will be stepping down following the season.
Since The Vannelli Brothers took over the coaching reins from Bill McCarthy in 2003, the Cadets have played in 10 state tournaments. When they were a Class A school, they dominated the state tournament field, winning five state championships. The first came in 2006 when they beat the Duluth Marshall Hilltoppers 4-3. Their second title was a rematch of the first but not as close with the Cadets hammering the Hilltoppers 5-1. St. Thomas Academy would become the only school since the Class A & AA format was adopted in 1994 to win three straight Class A titles from 2011-13. All three had a common thread. They beat the Hermantown Hawks. The 2011 was the most dramatic when they beat the Twin Ports power 5-4 in overtime.
The success of the Cadets in Class A would move them up to Class AA as they have played in three of the last four tournaments. But they didn't take home any championship trophies to Mendota Heights. Instead, they won the consolation champion in 2015, 17 and 18.
Going into this season, The Vannelli Brothers recorded 343 wins, 87 losses and 16 ties.
One player that was part of the Cadets championship team in 2006 later played in the NHL, Jordan Schroeder. He's currently with the Chicago Blackhawks after playing for the Vancouver Canucks, the Minnesota Wild and the Columbus Blue Jackets. His pro career has been up and down, shuttling between the American Hockey League and the NHL.
Can the Cadets close out The Vannelli Brothers era with another trip to downtown St. Paul? Section 3AA tournament play begins February 19 and the 21.
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