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
