7A Final- #1 Cloquet/Esko/Carlton vs #3 Hibbing/Chisholm

[ClassAGuy]

Section 7A Final I February 26th, 2025 | 7:00 PM CT | @ Amsoil Arena, Duluth

#1 seed Cloquet/Esko/Carlton (20-7-0)
Cloquet/Esko/Carlton enters the 7A Final for the first time in program history and it's their first Section Final appearance since 2008 overall. The Lumberjacks have had an incredible season that saw them now win 20 games and they held the #1 spot in the Class A Rankings at different moments during the year. Now they will take on a red hot and talented Hibbing/Chisholm team that they were able to split with during the year but they did lose the last meeting just two weeks ago. It won't be easy but CEC is looking for their 1st Tourney berth since 2008 with a win in this one.

Lumberjacks Leaders- Seniors #13 Grady Knutson (28-18-46 pts), #14 Nikolas Gentilini (19-32-51 pts) & #15 Bobby Thornton (21-20-41 pts) make up CEC’s dangerous top line that has been electric all year. Seniors #5 Karson Young (9-27-36 pts) & #12 Hudson Snesrud (3-19-22 pts) lead the defensive unit and they can both join the rush as needed and play a very good physical blueline.

Lumberjacks Goalie- Junior #1 Jacob Iallonardo (13-4-0) 1.86 GAA .926 SV% won the starting job down the stretch for the Lumberjacks after splitting the net for much of the season. He has the ability to steal a game on any given night when he is on his game and he will need to be at his best vs the Elite skill of Hibbing’s lineup.

Lumberjacks Secondary Scoring- Everyone knows the strength of CEC is their big top line and their outstanding top defender. However, in the playoffs they have been some much needed secondary scoring from Juniors #11 Conor Sullivan (7-14-21 pts) & #8 Lucas Gentilini (7-6-13 pts) and 9th grader #17 Jordan Sewell (10-8-18 pts) as they have all been contributing more of late. They will be critical in the third go around vs Hibbing as the Bluejackets have two legit scoring lines and the Lumberjacks will need depth in this matchup to keep up with all the elite skill of Hibbing.

Lumberjacks Special Teams- The Power Play is at 25% and Penalty Kill is at 81.2%

#3 seed Hibbing/Chisholm Blue Jackets (18-9-0)
Hibbing/Chisholm enters the Section 7A Final having dethroned the kings of the region over the last few decades. This team did struggle at times during the year but they have won their last 6 straight games to come into the 7A Final red hot. Now they face what might be the toughest test yet to stay focused and realize that beating mighty Hermantown doesn’t guarantee anything to them moving forward. The team they are playing CEC knows this well as they struggled after beating the 7A bully to stay focused on the next games at hand but if they can it will be their first State Trip since 2011.

Blue Jackets Leaders- Senior #3 Jace Kampsula ( 18-12-30 pts), Juniors #8 Tate Swanson (19-36-55 pts), & #5 Isaiah Hildenbrand (12-28-40 pts) and 9th grader #2 Cole Swanson (16-28-44 pts) lead an elite offensive attack. Junior #6 Ethan Sundvall (12-16-38 pts) & Sophomore #28 Jackson Strukel (3-5-8 pts) and 9th grader #40 Whitaker Rewertz (8-9-17 pts) are gifted elite playmakers on blueline.

Blue Jackets Goalie- Senior #30 Rex Walli (13-5-0) 2.24 GAA .901 SV% has been this starter this year and he has been a key piece to their red hot finish this season as he has been at his best down the stretch and he was phenomenal in net on the Semifinal win over Hermantown and they will need him to be at his best again in this one.

Blue Jackets Young Guns- Many heard the accolades about this group of Hibbing young guns when they were coming up from the youth ranks. Most predicted they would be the group to change the power structure in 7A once they got to the high school level. Last year they got to the Section Final game but just could never find their game in that one. Now one year later they return having slayed Goliath and the stars seem aligned for them to break the door down and get back to state for the first time since 2011. They will need to be focussed though as CEC will give them everything they got.

Blue Jackets Special Teams- The Power Play is at 23.7% and Penalty Kill is at 83.7 %

[north_bear]

Excellent write up! This was a heck of a game. Really looking forward to continued success for hibbing, they have some outstanding young talent.