The Hermantown boys hockey team is skating into their second week of practice, and they plan to turn up the heat this season coming off a third place finish in the Class A state tournament last winter.

“We kind of struggled in that last game against Mahtomedi in the semifinal game to get to the house. We weren’t really willing to do some of the little things like backcheck and get pucks to the net, so I’m really focusing on those little things so we can get back there,” senior defenseman Drew Nelson said.

Hermantown opens their season on the road visiting two tough AA goes. First up is Cretin-Derham Hall then Hill-Murray, both riding state runs of their own.

“It will be a challenge for us. Right now in tryouts we’re really trying to get it going and just be ready for them for the very first weekend,” senior forward Josh Kauppinen said.

“It’s a tremendous honor. Just to see where this program has come, the fact that these teams are willing and excited to play the Hawks every week, and teams are willing to travel up here to play us. We try to have the toughest schedule we can to push our guys, and it’s an honor that these great programs want to play us,” Patrick Andrews said, Hermantown’s head coach.

Hermantown’s season opener is Friday, December 1 against Cretin-Derham Hall in St. Paul. Then Saturday, Dec. 2 they visit Hill-Murray at Aldrich Arena.

In the 2022-2023 season Cretin finished fourth at in the Class AA state tournament, and Hill finished as Class AA consolation champions.