Class AA Boys Hockey State Semifinal: Chanhassen 6, Cretin-Derham Hall 1
Posted: Friday, March 8, 2024 - 8:07 PM
Seven member schools have won championships during their debuts in the Minnesota State High School League’s Boys Hockey State Tournament. This season’s rookie, Chanhassen, is one victory away from making it the Great Eight.
The No. 2-seeded Storm took control early and didn’t waver in recording a 6-1 victory over unseeded Cretin-Derham Hall in the Class AA semifinals on Friday, March 8 at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. Senior center Jack Krist, a Minnesota State Mankato recruit, had two goals to fuel the Storm (25-5-0) as they earned a spot in the big-school championship game on Saturday night where they will face the winner of the second semifinal between No. 1 Edina and No. 5 Grand Rapids.
Chanhassen set the tone early with three goals in the first period. Christ had two of those goals sandwiched around an even-strength goal by senior center Brayden Willis.
The Storm controlled play throughout and held a 29-5 margin in shots on goal.
Cretin-Derham Hall broke through for a goal by sophomore wing Cam Autrey with just more than 10 minutes remaining in regulation time.
For the high school historians, here is a list of those other teams that won championships in their first state tournament appearance:
- 1945 --- Eveleth
- 1946 --- Roseau
- 1952 --- Hibbing
- 1977 --- Rochester John Marshall
- 1999 --- Benilde-St. Margaret’s
- 2004 --- Centennial
- 2021 --- Gentry Academy
