Eden Prairie vs #1-A Hermantown Recap and Top Performers
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The #1 team in Class A and arguably in the entire state, Hermantown, hosted the defending Class AA State Champions, Eden Prairie, at Hermantown Arena on Saturday night. The Hawks won this one pretty handily with a final score of…
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Continue ReadingThe #1 team in Class A and arguably in the entire state, Hermantown, hosted the defending Class AA State Champions, Eden Prairie, at Hermantown Arena on Saturday night. The Hawks won this one pretty handily with a final score of 5-2. Special teams were key as the lethal Hermantown Power Play went 3 for 3, while the Eagles were 0 for 2. It was a Sophomore and Junior show in this one, with 6 of the 7 goals in the hockey game being scored by a player in 10th or 11th Grade. We also saw a first career Hat Trick, which belonged to a Sophomore from Hermantown and our #1 Star of the Game. More on that in the player analysis below. Without further ado, lets dive into the 3 Stars of the Game and breakdown key players from both teams for the entire season so far:
3 Stars of the Game:
3. Sen. #17 Jacob Luloff Jacob Luloff 5'10" | Forward Eden Prairie | 2022 State MN F/Eden Prairie – Prep Hockey’s #68 ’22’s
Being one of the lone returners from last years Eagles State Championship Team, Jacob Luloff Jacob Luloff 5'10" | Forward Eden Prairie | 2022 State MN has returned in a huge way in his Senior season. Luloff’s stat line includes 11 goals and 11 assists for a total of 22 points and is the leading point getter on Eden Prairie. Jacob also holds a vital leadership role for this inexperienced Eagles lineup. Down the stretch, #17 will continue to be the “Carter Batchelder” of the team, making the big plays in key moments. Luloff tallied 1 goal vs Hermantown off a nice feed from Teddy Townsend, earning 3rd Star of the Game Honors.
2. Jun. #11 Kade Kohanski F/Hermantown
In Hermantown’s first game of the season vs Benilde-St. Margaret’s, Junior Kade Kohanski tallied 2 assists in his first career high school game. Playing with one of the best players in the state in Sam Rinzel Sam Rinzel 6'4" | Defense Chaska | 2023 State MN on the first line right from the get go, it made sense that the rookie Kohanski was off to such a dynamite start. Fast forward to Saturday night, Kohanski scored 2 goals vs the Eagles and is now the leading point scorer with 21. Kade has accomplished this feat without Plante in the majority of the games. It just shows that #11 is a legit and skilled player and he will defiantly be included in our updated Class of 2023 Player Rankings right here on Prep Hockey!
1. Soph. #24 Dallas Vieau F/Hermantown
What a game for the Sophomore Dallas Vieau scoring the Hat Trick vs Eden Prairie. Vieau got the scoring going for the Hawks in the first period, scoring the first 2 goals of the game. Dallas is off to a nice start this season with a stat line of 8-3-11. #24 is a player I’ve had my eye on even before High School at the Bantam ranks. I had the opportunity to watch him last year at the Bantam AA Region Tournament in Grand Rapids and you could tell he was poised in becoming a dominant high school hockey player one day. Honestly, I did not anticipate him to make this big of an impact this early in his career, but he has proved me wrong. When we release our Class of 2024 Rankings during the offseason, I can almost guarantee Vieau will be in the Top 10 for sure.
Season Top Performers:
Soph. #26 Max Plante F/Hermantown
Max Plante is another Sophomore on this Hermantown team who has contributed a ton early in his high school career, with 2 goals and 19 assists so far this season. Along with Kohanski, Plante was also apart of that top line with his brother Sam Rinzel Sam Rinzel 6'4" | Defense Chaska | 2023 State MN . Even with Z. Plante out of the lineup right now, Max hasn’t floundered at all. #26 tallied 2 more helpers vs Eden Prairie on Saturday night. Plante is another Sophmore along with Vieau who will be ranked pretty high, once we release our Class of 2024 Rankings this offseason on Prep Hockey.
Sen. #27 Ryan Andor Ryan Andor 5'9" | Forward Eden Prairie | 2022 State MN F/Eden Prairie – Prep Hockey’s #70 ’22’s
Ryan Andor Ryan Andor 5'9" | Forward Eden Prairie | 2022 State MN has proven to be a very important addition for this Eden Prairie team. Andor is a transfer Senior from Edina and creates a one-two punch with Luloff. On the season, Ryan has 9 goals and 13 assists and brings important experience for Head Coach Lee Smith. Even after losing practically everyone from lasts years team, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Eden Prairie in the State Tournament once again. It will be more challenging this year with the parody in Section 2AA, but I like the Eagles chances with leadership from players like Ryan Andor Ryan Andor 5'9" | Forward Eden Prairie | 2022 State MN .
Jun. #2 Tanner Luedtke Tanner Luedtke 6'0" | Forward Lakeville South | 2023 State MN D/Hermantown – Prep Hockey’s #4 ’23’s
Hermantown Junior Defenseman and UMD Commit Tanner Luedtke Tanner Luedtke 6'0" | Forward Lakeville South | 2023 State MN is one special player for the Hawks. Ty is a great two way defenseman, already contributing 6 goals and 11 assist this season, including 2 helpers vs Eden Prairie. The loss of 2021 Mr. Hockey finalist Joey Pierce proved to be a huge empty void, but Hanson has probably exceeded expectations and has filled that void in his second year of high school hockey. Look for Hanson to continue his success this season and if he sticks around next year, he will be a top player in the state for 2023’s and a possible Mr. Hockey finalist come that time.
Soph. #28 Teddy Townsend F/Eden Prairie
It’s Teddy Time in Eden Prairie! Teddy Townsend was a star on the Eagles Bantam AA team last season, tallying a whopping 107 points. Now as a Sophomore on the high school team, Teddy has made an immediate impact with 10 goals and 9 assists so far this season. Versus Hermantown, Townsend assisted Jake Luloff’s goal in the 2nd period on a beautiful feed. Teddy is a player you want to keep an eye on through this season and into his next two seasons at Eden Prairie. Big things are coming for this kid!
Jun. #27 Sam Rinzel Sam Rinzel 6'4" | Defense Chaska | 2023 State MN F/Hermantown – Prep Hockey’s #1 ’23’s
Our #1 player for the Class of 2023, Sam Rinzel Sam Rinzel 6'4" | Defense Chaska | 2023 State MN , has only played in a couple games this season, tallying 6 points. Zam is dealing with a recurring shoulder injury, something he dealt with late last season as well. Fortunately for Hermantown, their depth is a strength and the loss of Plante hasn’t hurt them too much. But, obviously the Hawks want to get their best player back and he will make his long awaited return vs #2-A Warroad on Saturday. When it comes to Class A implications, #1 Hermantown vs #2 Warroad is most defiantly the game of the year and both teams should be at full strength with the return of Plante.
Final Thoughts:
In my opinion, Hermantown is the best team in Minnesota, regardless of class. The way the Hawks have persevered after the loss of their top player in Sam Rinzel Sam Rinzel 6'4" | Defense Chaska | 2023 State MN has been impressive. Hermantown’s only loss came at the hands of Cretin-Derham Hall in a close game and a game that the Hawks arguably controlled. On the other side, Eden Prairie may not be the “flashy” Eagles of the past, but they are still very well in contention for a state tournament birth. Section 2AA will be very interesting this year as the top four teams (Eden Prairie, Minnetonka, Chaska, Prior Lake) so far are pretty similar when it comes to talent. They are all good teams, but not Top 10 teams, at least so far. We are entering the home stretch of the regular season and section playoffs will be here before we know it. To conclude, I wouldn’t be one bit surprised to see the defending Class AA State Champions in St. Paul again in March, while Hermantown should run the table in 7A and will most likely make a run towards that state championship game in Class A.