MAML's Cinderella Run Comes Up Short Against Hermantown

They were the Cinderella story of the 2017 State Tournament.

That’s how the 2016-17 Monticello/Annandale/Maple Lake Moose will be remembered, as they went toe-to-toe with the big boys of Hermantown in Saturday’s Class 1A Final at Xcel Energy Center.

It was the first trip to the big dance for the Moose in their program’s history, and they didn’t exactly feel the love when they made their first trip to St. Paul on Wednesday. “The whole state wrote our section off as weak,” said senior forward Nick Zwack.

After not getting the respect they felt they deserved, the Moose upset second-seeded Delano — the team everyone had upsetting Hermantown in the final — 3-2 on Wednesday afternoon behind a big performance from Zwack (two goals) and a 33-save night from goaltender Tyler Klatt.

The Moose came back Friday afternoon against a similar Cinderella story in Northfield. The Moose fell behind 2-0 early in the second period, but were able to battle back and tie the score late in the third. The game was seemingly destined for overtime, but Zwack hammered a goal home with 2.3 seconds remaining in regulation to send the Moose to the state final.

It was the matchup everyone seemed to love in the final. The heavy favorite (Hermantown) against the scrappy underdog (MAML). The scrappy underdog took that heavy favorite to double-overtime on Saturday afternoon.

After a scoreless first period in which the Moose were outshot 15-1, they came out in the second and scored two goals in the first 1:53 of the period. Casey Chiodo struck first, then Ben Ward (on a great feed from Zwack) followed it up. Head coach Eric Nelson said on the lack of shots early on (and the game in general), “We knew that if we just got pucks on net we might have an opportunity.”

But the quick skating/transition team that is Hermantown, as Nelson described it, quickly fired back as Tyler Watkins scored on a rebound to bring the Hawks back to within a goal. Thanks to big saves time after time from Klatt, the score remained 2-1 heading into the locker room. “Klatt stood on his head. You need a brick wall back there, and he was a stalwart for us all weekend,” said Nelson.

It looked like the Cinderella story would have its fairy tale ending, as Zwack scored 26 seconds into the third for the Moose. All they had to do was play sound defensively, and Klatt was poised to keep Hermantown off the board.

But it did not go that way for the Moose.

Hermantown scored twice, 2:09 apart, in the third period, as it capitalized on turnovers from the MAML defense. The teams exchanged chances to end the period, but neither could score and the game went to overtime.

The first overtime was back and forth, as both teams were getting their chances. It might have been the most evenly played period of the game, as both teams were showing signs of fatigue, as there was only a three-minute break separating the third period and overtime. But neither scored, and they got an intermission and a second overtime.

The Hawks had a bit more spring in their step in the second overtime, and it looked like they had scored the winner midway through the period as Watkins put home a rebound. But fortunately for the Moose, they caught a break. Ryan Sandelin ran into Klatt in the crease and the goal was called back. Hermantown had to pick up all their equipment, after celebrating what they thought was the game-winning goal.

Usually, after a moment like that, the script almost writes itself, and Nelson certainly thought so as well. “I thought [the call] would benefit us,” he said. Zwack also offered similar thoughts by saying, “For us to have that spark, I thought it would be good enough for us to get that energy back.”

But Hermantown was able to put their emotions aside and pick up right where they left off before the goal. They couldn’t beat Klatt, and the game looked like it was destined for a third overtime. With 20 seconds left, the Moose lost a defensive zone draw, and Dylan Samberg fired a shot from the point that Klatt did not see until it was too late. No review needed this time, and the Moose had lost the state championship, twice, in a mere matter of minutes.

But the play of the Moose was not lost on Hermantown head coach Bruce Plante, who had high praises for MAML. “I have such great respect for them. One of the things that caught my eye was they played two lines. When we scouted them Wednesday, they played two lines. Yesterday when we scouted them they played two lines. Today, two lines. Credit goes to them for the season they’ve had. It’s amazing to be able to do what they did with two lines.”

I’m happy with how we’ve done, just would have liked to [win it] once more.

In the loss, Nelson commented on how his team might have fared against Hermantown in a non-playoff setting. “Obviously you gotta be happy when you go toe to toe with them,” he said. “Eight out of ten times they might beat us, but the state tournament is a whole different deal.”

In defeat, the large portion of the community (as described by Nelson) the Moose brought with them could only stand and clap after that game. They weren’t supposed to get this far, and they pushed mighty Hermantown to a second overtime. The run was certainly not lost on the fan base.

That fan base, Nelson said, was largely due to the team. “This team has done such a good job of bringing in the fan base. I can’t thank them enough.” Nelson also commented on the solace having a great fan base in the end by saying, “Sucks to be on the losing end of it but when you look up at the fans, win lose or draw, and you know you got a fan base that supports you and brings a little bit of comfort there.”

The program made their first trip to the tournament, and it was quite the run. They’ll still go down as the Cinderella story of the tournament, even though they ultimately fell short. Nelson said of his players, “They’ll look back and have a lot of good memories on this [run].” Zwack said on the run, “I’m happy with how we’ve done, just would have liked to [win it] once more.”

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