Hermantown will be chasing a fifth Minnesota Class 1A boys hockey state championship in 2024-25.
"We have come oh so close the past two seasons," Hawks head coach Patrick Andrews said before the team's first official preseason practice Monday at Hermantown Arena. "Our senior class has come just close enough to sniff but not get a taste of a state championship (second in 2024, third in 2023). So to say they are motivated is an understatement."
The defending Section 7 champion Hawks will be led by senior defenseman Henry Peterson (11-12-23), a St. Thomas commit, and senior power forward River Freeman (22-28-50).
"As always we like to build from our goaltending out, which for the first time in three seasons is a wide-open competition," said Andrews. "Our back end will feature some inexperienced but skilled D-men with Peterson as the obvious leader. But junior defenseman Kyler Berg (1-3-4) honed his skills this fall in the elite league, Caden Manion (1-1-2) comes in with some varsity experience and newcomer sophomore Gabe Swenson looks very impressive coming off a Bantam AA state runner-up.
"Our goal-scoring outside of River with 35 career goals will be bolstered by junior Ford Skytta (15-19-34), who had a tremendous sophomore campaign and played in the Elite League. The third member of River and Ford’s line from last season, AJ Francisco, left early to play for the NTDP. AJ’s departure opens up ample opportunities for returning forwards such as Charlie Marchand (8-8-16), Jack Slattengren (3-6-9), Bode Madill (2-6-8), Henry Martinsen (1-1-2), and Jaxsen Ericksen (0-2-2) to jump onto that top line.
"Our depth will come from great competition from several players ready to step in from JV and some young studs coming up from Bantams. Overall, the season looks very exciting and our team looks to be coming together after a great summer season pushing each other. With our schedule, we will be pushed every night. If our young guys can stay hungry and learn, and the older guys can stay patient and trust the process, we could be really good come February."
2024-25 Hermantown Hockey Schedule
Nov. 29 – Cretin-Derham Hall, 7 p.m.
Nov. 30 – at Hill-Murray, 3 p.m.
Dec. 6 – East Grand Forks, 7 p.m.
Dec. 10 – at Duluth Marshall, 7 p.m.
Dec. 13 – at Centennial, 7 p.m.
Dec. 14 – Maple Grove, 5 p.m.
Dec. 17 – Duluth Denfeld, 7 p.m.
Dec. 20 – at Rosemount, 7 p.m.
Dec. 26 – Delano, 3 p.m.
Dec. 28 – at White Bear Lake, 3 p.m.
Jan. 2 – Rock Ridge, 7 p.m.
Jan. 4 – at Eden Prairie, 2 p.m.
Jan. 7 – Proctor, 7 p.m.
Jan. 9 – St. Cloud Cathedral, 7 p.m.
Jan. 11 – at Warroad, 3:15 p.m.
Jan. 17 – at Hibbing-Chisholm, 7 p.m.
Jan. 18 – Shakopee, 3 p.m.
Jan. 21 – at Superior, 7 p.m.
Jan. 24 – at St. Thomas Academy, 6 p.m.
Jan. 25 – Mahtomedi, 2 p.m.
Jan. 30 – Cloquet-Esko-Carlton, 7 p.m.
Jan. 31 – Moorhead, 7 p.m.
Feb. 7 – Benilde-St. Margaret's, 7 p.m.
Feb. 11 – Grand Rapids, 7 p.m.
Home games listed in boldface.