Crusaders Hockey Completes Comeback To Advance To State Title Game

(KNSI) – Controversy almost cost Cathedral a chance at a boys’ hockey state title. Instead, the Crusaders charged from behind for a 4-3 overtime victory in the Class A semifinal.

Forward John Hirschfeld played Superman, deflecting a rebound in with only 1:06 left for the equalizer with an empty net behind him. He then got another one in overtime. A shot by Andrew Dwinnel from between the circles was kicked right to Hirschfeld, who finished it off.

Warroad broke a 2-2 tie 10:37 into the third period on a goal from University of Minnesota-Duluth commit Ryan Shaugabay. The forward struck at the tail end of a five-minute major power play, poking a rebound past Crusaders goaltender Nick Hansen.

One of the referees blew the whistle, clearly seen on replay, before the puck was banged home. The crew overturned that call via review.

Cathedral fell behind 2-0 after one, the goals being tallied by Warroad’s Ryan Lund and Taven James. The team regrouped and carried the play in the middle stanza. Griffin Sturm lit the lamp with the extra man. Cole Hwang knotted it at two apiece. He beat Warrior netminder Benjamin Norris five-hole after a spectacular assist from Landon Swenson. He dived past a hip check along the boards and, with one hand, put a perfect pass onto the tape of Hwang’s stick.

You can hear the championship game on KNSI beginning at 12:00 p.m.

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