Mahtomedi Edges St. Cloud Cathedral in Class A Quarterfinal No. 4 Mahtomedi staged a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over No. 5 St. Cloud Cathedral in their Class A state boys hockey quarterfinal on Wednesday at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul. The Zephyrs, who entered the game with a 17-9-2 record, trailed early but rallied with goals from junior forward Will Seevers and senior forward Brayden Fuerst, with Fuerst’s game-winning tally coming with 2:59 remaining. Fuerst celebrated by skating the length of the ice toward the Zephyrs’ student section, expressing his gratitude for the community’s support. Zephyrs goaltender Jackson Chesak played a pivotal role in the comeback, making 35 saves to keep his team in contention. He emphasized the importance of defensive communication in stifling St. Cloud Cathedral’s potent attack. The matchup between the two teams, which combined to win four of the previous seven Class A state titles, highlighted their storied rivalry. Mahtomedi’s last state championship came in 2023, while St. Cloud Cathedral claimed the title in 2024. The game began with Mahtomedi firing 21 shots in the first period, though only 10 reached Crusaders goaltender Hunter Moreland. Coach Jeff Poeschl noted the team’s need to refine their approach, urging players to be more intentional with their shots rather than simply aiming for the net. “If a player makes a good block and you got your head up, you tip your hat,” Poeschl said. “But when you got your head down and buried, and you’re just trying to put it towards goal and hitting shin pads and bodies, that’s what we tried to adjust.” St. Cloud Cathedral took an early lead in the second period when sophomore forward Bo Schmidt scored just nine seconds into a power play following a penalty on Seevers.#grand_casino_arena #mahtomedi #st_cloud_cathedral #zephyrs
Mahtomedi tops St. Cloud Cathedral in Minnesota High School Boys Hockey State Tournament: Live Score Recap Senior Jackson Chesak made a standout performance in goal, stopping 35 shots to lead Mahtomedi to a 2-1 victory over St. Cloud Cathedral in the MSHSL Class 1A quarterfinal on Wednesday. The Zephrys’ win secured their place in the semifinals, where they will face No. 1-seeded Hibbing/Chisholm. Chesak’s efforts were critical, especially in the third period, where he turned away multiple power-play chances and kept the game tied until the final minutes. The game-winning goal came from senior forward Brayden Fuerst, who capitalized on a breakaway with 2:59 remaining. Fuerst chipped the puck over the leg of Cathedral goalie Hunter Moreland to give Mahtomedi the lead. Earlier in the second period, junior Will Seevers tied the game with a goal that followed a penalty call on his teammate. Seevers’ score came after Cathedral had taken an early 1-0 lead in the third period, thanks to a power-play goal by sophomore Bo Schmidt. Chesak’s performance was highlighted by his ability to stop high-danger chances, including a critical save with 7 minutes left in the third period when Cathedral was on a power play. The Zephrys’ defense also held strong, limiting Cathedral to just one goal despite the Crusaders outshooting them 24-19 in the second period and 36-29 overall. Chesak’s 35 saves marked his 16th time in 28 games recording 30 or more stops, showcasing his consistency throughout the season. The Zephrys’ victory extended their 7-game winning streak with Chesak in net, during which they have allowed only 8 goals. For the past four games, they’ve conceded just 3 goals per contest.#brayden_fuerst #mahtomedi #st_cloud_cathedral #jackson_chesak #will_seevers
Boys State Hockey: Mahtomedi edges St. Cloud Cathedral again in Class A thriller Mahtomedi secured a 2-1 victory over St. Cloud Cathedral in the Class A Boys Hockey State Tournament quarterfinals on Wednesday at Grand Casino Arena, repeating their earlier win from the regular-season finale. The matchup, which had been anticipated due to the teams’ frequent encounters, once again showcased high-scoring action and defensive resilience. The Zephyrs, seeded fourth, advanced to the semifinals for a potential rematch with No. 1 Hibbing/Chisholm/VCA. The game remained tightly contested throughout, with both teams demonstrating offensive creativity and clutch defensive plays. St. Cloud Cathedral took an early lead just over nine minutes into the contest with a power-play goal from sophomore forward Bo Schmidt. Schmidt fired a one-timer past Mahtomedi goalie Jackson Chesek, who made 35 saves during the game. However, Mahtomedi responded in the second period when junior Will Seevers netted an equalizer. Seevers received a pass from sophomore forward Vinny Redpath behind the St. Cloud Cathedral goal, steadied the puck with his stick, and fired a shot past goalie Hunter Moreland, who finished with 27 saves. The decisive moment came in the final minutes of regulation when senior forward Brayden Fuerst scored the game-winning goal. Fuerst raced down the left side of the ice, angled toward Moreland, and executed a backhand shot that trickled under the goalie’s pads. The puck deflected off Moreland’s left pad and crossed the goal line, sealing the Zephyrs’ victory. Fuerst described the play as a calculated risk, stating, “I saw the defense and I thought, just take it to the net.” While surprised the shot found the net, he added, “I don’t score on many of those shots but I’m glad it went in.#grand_casino_arena #mahtomedi #st_cloud_cathedral #brayden_fuerst #bo_schmidt
