Prep Boys Hockey: Hermantown Brings the Heat, Grand Rapids Survives OT, Easts Outlasts Denfeld

Hawks score season-high eight goals

DULUTH, Minn.- In a busy Tuesday night for high school boys hockey in the Northland, three local teams were able to pick up wins against familiar opponents.

Three days following their 4-1 loss to Warroad, Hermantown recovered by delivering an 8-1 blowout over Hibbing-Chisholm. The Hawks set the tone in the first period with four goals, including two from River Freeman. This win puts the Hawks at 11-3-2 as they now set their sights against White Bear Lake on Saturday. Hibbing-Chisholm (10-7) will have a chance at redemption on Thursday in a home game against North Shore.

After trailing 2-1 with less than a minute remaining in the third period, Grand Rapids rallied for a 3-2 overtime victory over Cloquet/Esko/Carlton at Northwoods Credit Union Arena. The game-winner was scored by Jameson Duell while Bauer Murphy scored both of the Thunderhawks’ goals in regulation. Grand Rapids (9-7) returns to home on Friday against White Bear Lake while C-E-C (9-8) hits the road that day to face Academy of Holy Angels.

In another overtime battle, Duluth East defeated Duluth Denfeld 2-1 in an inner-city battle at the Heritage Center. After two scoreless periods, East’s Thomas Gunderson scored the game’s first goal with two minutes remaining in the third. However, Denfeld’s Cory Backstrom re-tied the game with a goal of his own with 31 seconds to go. In overtime, Garrett Olek delivered the final blow for the Greyhounds with a goal 94 seconds into the extra period. East (5-11-1), who have now won two of their last three games, will stay at home Saturday to take on Rock Ridge while Denfeld (9-6-1) will have a tough test on Friday against Warroad.