ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- Cretin-Derham Hall's first trip to state since 1988 ended with a flurry of third-period scoring -- and a gold medal around each of the Raiders' necks.
Chris Hickey had two goals, giving him six for the tournament, to lead Cretin-Derham Hall to a 7-0 victory over Grand Rapids on Saturday night in the Class 2A championship.
The Raiders (27-4) were never behind in any of their three games, beating Eagan 5-2, Blaine 4-2 and then dominating the Thunderhawks (21-9) with a frighteningly easy performance capped by a five-goal outburst in the final 15 minutes.
Ryan McDonagh also scored twice for Cretin-Derham Hall, a private-school power from St. Paul in several sports that was making only its second appearance in the state tourney. Stingy on defense all season long, the Raiders held Grand Rapids to eight shots on goal. Ben Hause stopped all of them for the shutout.
Less than 3 minutes into the game, Hickey scored on a nifty move around Thunderhawks defenseman Cory Kosak that set up a far-side shot that slid under goalie Reidar Jensen's glove.
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The Raiders, who had 32 shots on goal, actually got a little lucky on that one. Corvin Kieger's pass to Ryan Bohrer was too long, but Bohrer was able to stretch his stick out at mid-ice and direct the loose puck toward Hickey as he streaked across the blue line. McDonagh then made it 2-0 midway through the first on a long wrist shot that beat Jensen cleanly on his stick side.
It took Cretin-Derham Hall more than 30 minutes to score again, but the Raiders were in control the whole time. Then, with less than 3 minutes elapsed in the third period, Jensen and the Grand Rapids defense -- a strength all season -- just collapsed.
Only twice this season did the Thunderhawks give up five goals in a game, let alone in one period.
Kieger fought off a check attempt by defenseman Tony Clafton along the boards and lifted a shot from the lower right circle that glanced off Jensen and went in.
Ben Kinne scored barely 1 minute later. Joe Bonfe sent one in 2 minutes after that off Jensen's thigh pad. Less than 2 minutes after that, Hickey knocked in a rebound after a shot by McDonagh played pinball against sticks, defenders and the Raiders' Ryan Kurtz.
Then, with 3:36 left in the game, McDonagh wiggled his way open for a slap shot from the right circle that beat Jensen and gave Cretin-Derham Hall a seven-goal lead.
Note
E Minnetonka beat Eagan 3-2 in the consolation game, and Blaine topped Hill-Murray 4-2 for third place.
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State Boys Hockey
Games Saturday
CLASS 1A
Consolation championship
Blake 4, Thief River Falls 3
Third place
Hermantown 8, Little Falls 4
Championship
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St. Thomas Academy 4, Duluth Marshall 3
CLASS 2A
Consolation championship
Minnetonka 3, Eagan 2
Third place
Blaine 4, Hill-Murray 2
Championship
St. Paul Cretin-Derham Hall 7, Grand Rapids 0
