UPDATE: Hermantown junior Gabe Swenson delivered a clutch performance, scoring a critical goal with under six minutes remaining to lead his team to a 4-2 victory over Cloquet-Esko-Carlton (CEC) on Tuesday night at Northwoods Federal Credit Union Arena. This decisive moment solidifies Hermantown’s undefeated record at 8-0-2 as they aim for a strong finish before the holiday break.
Swenson, known for his playmaking skills, opted for a direct approach this time, stating, “I figured I would try to get to the middle and rip a shot — see what happens — and it went in.” His goal broke a 2-2 tie and set the stage for Kole Lendzyk to seal the game with an empty-netter.
The Lumberjacks put up a strong fight, outshooting Hermantown 13-5 in the first period, but were held at bay by standout goalie Bryce Francisco, who tallied 28 saves. Coach Pat Andrews praised Francisco’s performance, emphasizing, “We don’t win that game — obviously — without Bryce.” His ability to make challenging saves kept Hermantown in contention, even as CEC fought back throughout the game.
The second period saw Hermantown finally break the deadlock with a goal from Paxson Madill at 9:45. However, CEC responded quickly with a power play goal by Luca Genilini just before the period ended, keeping the score tight and the momentum shifting.
Coach Shea Walters of CEC praised his team’s resilience, stating, “We started a little flat in the second period, but then again — we had a great response.” CEC’s defense was bolstered by their penalty kill, which remains perfect this season, having given up only one goal in that scenario.
As Hermantown prepares for upcoming challenges, including a matchup against Delano, currently ranked No. 3 in Class A, Francisco noted, “It’s crazy to think that we haven’t lost yet. We’re having a great year, but we’re not really too focused on staying undefeated.”
Fans can catch Hermantown in action again on Friday at 3 p.m. as they host Delano, seeking to extend their winning streak and solidify their top ranking in Class A hockey. Stay tuned for more developments as this thrilling season unfolds!
