Hermantown Hawks

Head coach: Patrick Andrews, fifth season

Key departures: F Ethan Lund (17-31—48); F Aaron Pionk (15-25— 40); F Aydyn Dowd (1821—39); F Cole Antcliff (14-23—37); D Joey Pierce (9-12—21)

Key returners: Jr. F Zam Plante (29-32—61); jr. D Ty Hanson (9-20— 29); sr. D Beau Janzig (7-17—24); sr. F Dominic Thomas (7-11—18); sr.

F Gavin Blomdahl (5-9— 14); jr. G Garron Opsahl (1.34 GAA, .907 save percentage)

Outlook: After graduating more 185 points of offense, most high school hockey teams would take a step back. But most teams don’t have two Minnesota Duluth commits returning for their junior seasons. That is exactly what Hermantown has in forward Zam Plante and defenseman Ty Hanson.

Plante scored 61 points in just 20 games last season and spent his offseason playing for the USHL’s Chicago Steel.

Plante was the Hawks’ only varsity skater to play in the Class A quarterfinal loss to Dodge County last season. The rest of the squad was in quarantine because of a COVID-19 exposure during the section tournament.

“We’re excited and obviously led by Zam, who everybody knows is a sensational talent and was unbelievable in that state tournament game last year,” coach Patrick Andrews said.

Hermantown has the talent to once again dominate Section 7A, but Andrews said their focus isn’t on their end-ofseason goals.

“You can’t win a state championship next week or next month,” Andrew said. “We really stress we have to get better every single day and enjoy that process of getting better. It’s a journey and you have to enjoy that journey, enjoy that process of becoming a family and working together for a common cause.”

Superior’s Drew Scharte (26) keeps the puck away from a Hibbing-Chisholm defender in the second period of a game at Wessman Arena in Superior two seasons ago.

Jed Carlson / File / Superior Telegram

HIBBING-CHISHOLM 2021-22 SCHEDULE

Nov. 27 — at Grand Rapids, 7 p.m.

Nov. 30 — at Cloquet-Esko-Carlton, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 2 — at International Falls, 10 a.m.

Dec. 3 — ROCK RIDGE, 7 p.m.

Dec. 7 — DULUTH DENFELD, 7 p.m.

Dec. 10 — at Rochester Mayo, 7:15 p.m.

Dec. 11 — at Red Wing, 2 p.m.

Dec. 18 — at Duluth Marshall, TBD

Dec. 21 — at Proctor, 7 p.m.

Dec. 28 — DELANO, 6 p.m.

Dec. 29 — MOUND WESTONKA, TBD

Jan. 6 — GREENWAY, 7 p.m.

Jan. 11 — at Moose Lake Area, 7 p.m.

Jan. 18 — at Hermantown, 7 p.m.

Jan. 20 — at North Shore, 7 p.m.

Jan. 28 — at Crookston, 7 p.m.

Jan. 29 — at Thief River Falls, 2 p.m.

Jan. 31 — PROCTOR, 7 p.m.

Feb. 4 — NORTH SHORE, 7 p.m.

Feb. 7 — INTERNATIONAL FALLS, 7 p.m.

Feb. 8 — at Greenway, 7 p.m.

Feb. 11 — at St. Paul Johnson, 6:30 p.m.

Feb. 15 — at Rock Ridge, 7 p.m.

2020-21 RESULTS

RECORD: 11-7-1

Jan. 17 — at North Shore, W, 7-4

Jan. 19 — HERMANTOWN, L, 10-0

Jan. 22 — CLOQUET-ESKOCARLTON, L, 9-1

Jan. 26 — INTERNATIONAL FALLS, W, 2-0

Feb. 1 — at Proctor, W, 7-2

Feb. 5 — EVELETH-GILBERT, T, 0-0

Feb. 9 — at Virginia/MIB, W, 4-2

Feb. 12 — GREENWAY, L, 3-4

Feb. 16 — at International Falls, W, 4-3

Feb. 18 — at Duluth Marshall, W, 5-2

Feb. 23 — at Duluth Denfeld, L, 4-2

Feb. 25 — at Eveleth-Gilbert, L, 3-2

March 2 — at Cloquet-Esko-Carlton, L, 3-0

March 4 — at Greenway, W, 4-1

March 8 — PROCTOR, W, 6-2

March 9 — NORTH SHORE, W, 7-1

March 11 — VIRGINIA/MIB, W, 4-3

March 20 — GREENWAY, W, 4-1

March 23 — at Duluth Denfeld, L, 6-1

Jamey Malcomb, News Tribune