Cretin-Derham Hall ends 13-year State Hockey drought with 3-0 win over Eastview

Senior forward Drew Fisher scored twice and senior goalie Marko Belak posted a 35-save shutout for a 3-0 win over Eastview that sends #1-ranked Cretin-Derham Hall to their first State Boys Hockey Tournament since 2009.

Click the video box on this page to watch KSTP Sports’ extended highlights of Cretin-Derham Hall and Eastview in the Section 3AA Championship, plus postgame celebration and interviews with the Raiders

After neither team scored in the first period, Fisher’s third-effort flick of a loose puck opened the scoring in the first couple minutes of the second period.

Still clinging to that 1-0 lead with 12 minutes left in the game, Gabe Rasmussen gave the Raiders (24-3) some breathing room sending a short-range shot in making it 2-0.

Fisher, a finalist for this year’s Mr. Hockey Award, closed the scoring with a late empty netter.

Belak, a finalist for this year’s Brimsek Award, made save after save with the game in the balance before Rasmussen’s goal widened the gap.

As the horn sounded, Raiders head coach Matt Funk stretched his arms straight up above his head as his players cascaded over the boards and raced to climb the glass in front of their student section.

Lightning goalie Jay Svaren made a run at playing the hero for a second straight game. After a 49-save performance allowed Eastview to upset St Thomas Academy in a double overtime Section Semifinal, he made 44 saves in the Final against CDH.

Eastview finishes the season 17-11.

Cretin-Derham Hall heads to Saint Paul on an 18-game win streak. They, and the rest of the tournament field, will learn their State Tourney seeding when the brackets are announced on Saturday. They will begin play in the Class AA Quarterfinals on Thursday.

All the State Boys Hockey Tournament games at the Xcel Energy Center are broadcast live in the Twin Cities market on 45TV, and live streamed at 45TV.com.