Hermantown defeats Proctor in an action-packed semifinal game

The Hermantown Hawks will advance to the Section 7A Championship game on Wednesday with their 6-3 win over Proctor. Top-seeded Hermantown and No. 4 Proctor took to the ice in the first game of the Section 7A Semifinals at the Amsoil Arena on Saturday.

The Hawks are the four-time defending Section 7A champion.

Proctor got on the board first just six minutes into the period with a goal from Senior Dylan Davidson. Davidson was assisted by Wyatt Mineheine and Nolan Okstad. A short time later, Hermantown’s River Freeman answered with a short-handed goal. Score is 1-1 at the end of the first. Freeman was assisted by Drew Nelson.

Hermantown will score two unanswered goals in the second period, with goals from Evan Gunderson and Bradford Skytta. Joshua Kauppinen and Nelson assisted Gunderson.

It was a penalty heavy game for the Hawks, with 5 penalties during the game. The Rails hit hard during the power plays but couldn’t bring it home.

It was a crazy third period. Junior Henry Peterson scored for Hermantown just two minutes into the third, with Proctor’s Blaine Boysen helped by Ethan Carter slipping one past goalie Dane Callaway. Score is 4-2. Skytta scored his second goal of the night for Hermantown with a pass from Sawyer Rust. Two minutes later, Proctor answered with a goal from Austin Bryant. The score is 5-3. Then River Freeman slipped one past AJ Reyelts for his second goal of the game, assisted by Skytta and Peterson.

Hermantown shut out No. 8 International Falls 14-0 to advance to the Semifinal round. Proctor defeated No. 5 North Shore 5-1 on February 20.

Proctor’s A.J. Reyelts has been named one of three statewide finalists for the Frank Brimsek award, which goes to the top senior goaltender in Minnesota boy’s high school hockey. The winner will be announced at the annual Mr. Hockey/Frank Brimsek award banquet on March 10th in St. Paul.