Hermantown & Denfeld prepare for 3rd straight Section 7A title clash

Wednesday won’t be the first or second time head coach Patrick Andrews’ Hermantown Hawks and Dale Jago’s Duluth Denfeld Hunters will battle for the Section 7A boys hockey title. This week’s game will mark their third straight championship meeting, meaning both teams are well versed in their opponents.

"Denfeld obviously has that high flying attack, they have some very skilled forwards," Andrews stated. "No matter who we’re playing we always focus on us. Just trying to play our best, get better night and get better every day."

"They’re the number one seed in our section for a reason," Jago noted. "We’ve just got to come and compete hard and win pucks, and you know the old slogan is get pucks deep."

While the Hawks (25-2) came out on top the last two seasons, they’re still coming in with a bit of a chip on their shoulders. Last year as they were preparing to enter the state tournament the varsity team was bit by the Covid bug, and led the JV skaters Hermantown would fall in the quarterfinals.

"We’re taking it one game at a time and it’s super important, we’re all going to be pretty dialed in for that game," Beau Janzig said, a senior defenseman for Hermantown. "We’re all super excited to get back at the section final and see what we can do."

Meanwhile Denfeld (19-8), powered by a tough defense, is dialed in to break their state drought.

"[We] lost two years in a row so we want it back and we’re going to get them this time I think," Denfeld senior forward Cooper McClure said about the Hawks.

Puck drop Wednesday at AMSOIL Arena is set for 7pm. The game will be available on WDIO or wdio.com/liveplus with pre-game coverage beginning at 6:30pm.