Raider Hockey Takes 3rd in State with Notable Moments On and Off the Ice
March 13, 2024
The CDH Boys Hockey Team took home 3rd Place in State at the 2024 MSHSL Boys Hockey Tournament on March 8-10 in their third appearance at State in three years. The action on the ice was impressive and the athletic skill and perseverance of the Raiders was on full display, representing the best of Cretin-Derham Hall Athletics. The Raiders delivered an epic showing in the CDH vs Centennial quarterfinals to win the game in double overtime 4-3, completing the comeback and a berth in the State Semifinals for the second year in a row. Congratulations to the boys hockey team and coaches on an impressive season!
But that’s not all.
In Minnesota, the culture of high school hockey brings its own storied traditions, and in this arena as well, the Raiders did not disappoint in 2024!
One of the traditions of tournament hockey is the skate up introductions, where athletes often mouth greetings to moms, grandmas and other important people in their lives. Last year, this team made it to State, after the loss of a beloved teammate, Cormick Scanlan, during the hockey season. Jimmy Dodig ‘25, a good friend and hockey teammate of Cormick, mouthed his own tribute to Cormick at this year’s tourney with a simple, “I miss you, Cormick” as his name was announced. John Millea of the MSHSL called it the ‘biggest statement at the state hockey tournament.”
The family of Cormick posted their gratitude for this moment on Cormick’s Caring Bridge and congratulated the team on their impressive 3rd place finish. Coach Matt Funk said, “This team embodied Mick in how they carried themselves and most importantly was their never give up, team first mentality. It was never more evident when the Raiders trailed Centennial 3-0 in the first period of the state quarterfinal.”
Fans Bring that Raider Energy
While the team had their work cut out for them on the ice, the Raider fans knew what they had to do.
“Our fans made such a difference,” stated Matt Funk, Head Hockey Coach and Athletic Director. “Even when we were down, the energy from the stands was so powerful and it meant the world to our team.”
The student section showed up. It wasn’t just the Raiders who noticed. At one point, several cheers, led by the CDH Super Fans, a group of students who take rallying the fans very seriously, were caught on camera. Gray Hummel, ‘24 was in the center of the student section and set the vibe with an iconic moment shared multiple times in social media and on the broadcast.
And the athletes saluted the fans in response to points scored with their own celebration style. At one point, the Max Anderson ‘26 and teammates’ selfie-stick pose after his first goal in the game against Centennial was captured not only on the broadcast and in local media, even ESPN and SportsCenter shared the ‘iconic’ moment on Instagram. The moment even made the NHL game broadcast that night.
Perhaps no other tradition brings as many smiles as the hockey athletes’ dedication to their own brand of hockey hair. This year’s 2024 Minnesota State High School All Hockey Hair Team, named Raider Max Bennett ‘24 as #1 on the All Hockey Hair Team in the annual video recap entitled, “Friends in FLOW Places.’ This annual review of tournament hockey hair, sponsored by Pulltab Sports and Duke Cannon, is not simply a fun tradition, it benefits the Henrickson Foundation which supports sled, special, military, blind, deaf and hard-of-hearing hockey in Minnesota.
