There was plenty of blue and gold clad fans in the Xcel Energy Center's green seats Saturday afternoon who witnessed a classic when Colin Hagstrom scored the game winning goal with 5:16 left in overtime to lead the Mahtomedi Zephyrs to a 3-2 win over the Hermantown Hawks in the Class A boys hockey championship game.
It was the first state title in 12 trips to St. Paul for the Zephyrs. Mahtomedi is one of three Metro East Conference teams in this year's state tournament. The other two are Hill-Murray and St. Thomas Academy, both playing in the Class AA bracket.
The first period started with both teams four on four for :53 but neither team would strike first. The Zephyrs would break the scoreless tie while the Hawks Joey Pierce was serving a hooking penalty. Nikolai Dulak made a centering pass to JD Metz in the center slot and he line the shot through the slot, over the shoulder of Hagstrom and it would land in the net.
Both teams would tally in the second period. Mahtomedi, once again would capitalize on a power play opportunity as Metz maneuvered the puck around the boards and centered it to Ethan Peterson on the doorstep and he would put the Zephyrs ahead by two. There would be no shutout in this year's Class A final when Hermantown, appearing in its 16th state tournament would erase the zero from their portion of the scoreboard. Drew Sams received a pass from Cole Antcliff at the right point and fired the puck past Mahtomedi goalie Ben Dardis to cut the lead to one.
It looked like the Zephyrs were going to clinch the championship in regulation time. Not so fast. With :53 remaining, head coach Pat Andrews pull goalie Jacob Backstrom for a sixth attacker. The Hawks, who had 22 shots stopped by the sophomore goalie Dardis were able to connect on the 23rd on Aaron Pionk's liner past Dardis that crossed the goal line with :21.2 left. On to overtime.
It didn't take long for the Zephyrs to wrap up their first state title. Metz would go around the boards, head toward the corner and made a centering pass to Hagstrom in the center slot and he would send the puck past Backstrom to take home the championship trophy.
Hermantown outshot Mahtomedi 42-14.
In the Class A third palce game, the St. Cloud Cathedral Crusaders beat the Warroad Warriors 6-4. In the Class A consolation final at the 3M Arena at Mariucci on the University of Minnesota campus, Jesse Peterson scored the game winning goal with 4:50 left in overtime to lead the Delano Tigers to a 2-1 win over the Monticello Moose.
Not only did Hagstrom score the game winning goal, he also received the Class A Herb Brooks Award which goes to a player who exhibits the traits of the late coach.
The attendance for the Class A championship session was 8,978.
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