Delano pulled out a thrilling 7-6 double-overtime win over Cloquet-Esko-Carlton Tuesday afternoon in the quarterfinal round of the 16th Annual Hilltopper Classic Holiday Tournament at Mars Lakeview Arena in Duluth.
The win helped set up a semifinal meeting between the top-two ranked teams in Class A, as the No. 1 ranked Tigers (7-0-1) play No. 2 Hermantown (6-1-1) today at 5:45 p.m.
Hermantown defeated Bemidji 4-0 Tuesday evening.
Roseville and Duluth Marshall play in the other semifinal game tonight at 8 p.m. In the semifinals Tuesday, Roseville defeated St. Francis 3-1, and Duluth Marshall defeated Brainerd 3-0.
John Keranen’s goal in the 3-on-3 double overtime gave Delano a 7-6 win over Cloquet-Esko-Carlson Tuesday afternoon in the semifinals of the Hilltopper Classic Holiday Tournament in Duluth. The No. 1 ranked Tigers play No. 2 Hermantown in the semifinals today at 5:45 p.m.
Delano’s overtime winner came off the stick of John Keranen, who redirected a shot from line mate Brian Halonen in the second overtime period, which was played 3-on-3.
The statistics in the second overtime do not count toward season totals. The game counts as a tie, moving the Tigers’ record to 7-0-1.
Halonen had five points for the game. He scored a hat trick and two assists.
Keranen had three assists.
The third member of that Legion of Zoom line, Ben Meyers, had four points on two goals and two assists.
For the season, the Legion of Zoom line has accounted for 106 of Delano’s 156 points through eight games.
Entering the Hermantown game, Meyers leads the state in goals (18), assists (24) and points (42).
Halonen has 16 goals and 20 assists for 36 points.
Keranen has 12 goals and 16 assists for 28 points.