The Superior High School boys hockey team was blanked for the first time this season with a 6-0 loss to the Hermantown Hawks Tuesday, Feb. 5, at Wessman Arena.
The Hawks, who scored twice in each period, improved to 16-3-1 overall and remained undefeated in the Lake Superior Conference at 4-0.
The Spartans fall to 15-5 and 3-2.
Justin Thomas, Aaron Pionk, Brady Baker, Matt Erickson, Joey Pierce and Blake Biondi scored for the Hawks, who are ranked No. 1 among small schools in Minnesota.
Cole Manahan stopped 14 shots for Hermantown and Dayton Podvin had 39 saves for Superior, ranked No. 4 in Wisconsin.
Up next for the Spartans is Wisconsin’s top-ranked Northland Pines (19-2) at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 7.
Superior then wraps up the season with road games at Eau Claire Memorial at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, and at Duluth East at 5:15 p.m. Monday, Feb. 11.
Hermantown 2-2-2-6
Superior 0-0-0-0
First period - 1. Justin Thomas (Sam High); 2. Aaron Pionk (Matt Erickson, Cole Antcliff), 9:10.
Second period - 3. Brady Baker (Blake Biondi), 10:04; 4. Erickson (Pionk), 13:42.
Third period - 5. Joey Pierce (Biondi), 8:00; 6. Biondi (Pierce), 10:49.
Saves - Cole Manahan, H, 10-1-3-14; Dayton Podvin, SHS, 8-12-9-29.
Wisconsinprephockey State Poll
Boys Rankings
1. Northland Pines 19-2-0
2. University School 20-2-0
3. Wausau West 17-3-1
4. Superior 15-5-0
5. SPASH 17-2-2
6. Verona 17-4-2
7. Onalaska/LaCrosse 21-2-0
8. Sun Prairie 18-4-0
9. Neenah/Hort’ville/Menasha 16-3-2
10. Eau Claire North 13-6-1
Honorable Mention: Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire Memorial, Hudson, Madison West, Green Bay Notre Dame.
Girls Rankings
1. Warbirds Alliance 18-2-0
2. Fox Cities 19-4-0
3. Central Wis. 17-6-0
4. Eau Claire Area 16-5-0
5. Western Wis. 14-4-1
6. St. Croix Valley 14-7-2
7. Hudson 10-8-2
8. University School 14-8-0
9. Rock County 12-7-2
10. Hayward 8-9-4
Honorable Mention: Bay Area, Cap City.
