Class A Boys Hockey State Quarterfinal: Mahtomedi 5, Orono 1

Mahtomedi made a statement in the opening round of the Class A Boys Hockey State Tournament Wednesday night, defeating Orono 5-2 at the Xcel Energy Center. The Zephyrs, the defending state champs, are seeded fourth in the tournament field and the Orono Spartans are No. 5.

After a scoreless first period, Mahtomedi got on the board at 8:31 of the second period. The goal, on a power play, was scored by Max Stecker with the assist going to Winston Wright. The Spartans forced a 1-1 tie a little more than two minutes later, also scoring on a power play. Joseph Mugaas scored on assists by Easton Sankey and Trey Landa.

Orono took a 2-1 lead midway through the third period when Brooks Eggers used the shaft of his stick to deflect a puck sent to the front of the goal by Mugaas. The officials used video replay to review the play. Mahtomedi made it a 2-2 game at 10:53 of the third period, the goal scored by Jake Hodd-Chelbeck.

Gene Wegleitner put the Zephyrs ahead 3-2 at 11:11 of the third period when he won a faceoff in the Orono zone, grabbed the puck, and shoved it into the goal. The game’s final two goals came into an empty net by Samuel Harris at 14:49 and by Hodd-Chelbeck at 15:12.

Mahtomedi goalie Charles Brandt had 24 saves, and Orono goaltender Peyton Anderson stopped 22 shots.

Mahtomedi (18-11) advanced to Friday’s 1 p.m. semifinal against top-seeded Hermantown. Orono (20-9) will meet Alexandria Area in Thursday’s consolation bracket at 1 p.m. at Aldrich Arena.