The unseeded Cadets, behind goaltender Tommy Aitken, defeated the Huskies 3-2 to reach the Class 2A semifinals.
March 5, 2020
Loren Nelson, MN Hockey Hub
At one point this season, St. Thomas Academy was drowning in both losses and disbelief. A players’ meeting was held, a commitment to one another was forged and the seeds of one of the biggest upsets in recent state tournament history were planted.
“When we were 5-7 in February or January or whenever it was, we went over to one of the guys’ houses and talked everything out,” said goaltender Tommy Aitken, who made 33 saves — 15 in the third period — as the ringleader of the unseeded Cadets’ stunning 3-2 victory Thursday over No. 1 seed Andover (24-4-1). “We all just decided to buy in. I think that’s what changed everything around.
Second-period goals by Will Soderling and Jared Wright allowed St. Thomas Academy to take the 3-2 lead, and most of the rest of the game was played in the Cadets’ end. The Huskies outshot the Cadets 35-16.
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