Gentry Academy’s first trip to the Class 2A boys hockey state tournament was short-lived.
As the No. 8 seed in this week’s tourney, the Stars’ had their season end with a 5-0 loss to No. 1 Minnetonka in Thursday’s first quarterfinal at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul.
The Skippers (25-2-2) scored three goals in the span of 5:25 in the middle of the second period, helping Minnetonka grab a stranglehold on the contest. Gentry Academy was outshot 51-12 by the Skippers.
The Stars took the ice for the first time in the Class 2A tournament since making the move up from Class A. They made the jump after an undefeated (19-0-0) season and winning the Class A state title in 2021.
Gentry Academy head coach Kyle Follmer said the second half of the year is when things clicked for the Stars, and the hope is that it is a springboard into next season.
“We hope so, we hope we can get back here next year,” Follmer said. “That’s the plan is to build off this. I think this is what the program needed. We knew this would help us take the next step as a program if we could get down here, and something the school has wanted since we joined Class 2A.”
Follmer said this was always going to be the group that helped little Gentry make it to the big school tournament.
The Stars’ senior forward and co-captain Braden Korba said this opportunity does not come around every day, and it was a goal of his from a young age.
“It’s a dream come true,” Korba said. “Rarely do people get to do this, and it’s amazing that we made it. Love this team, love everybody. Just proud of everyone.”
The Stars boys’ hockey program debuted in the 2018-19 season and has finished over .500 every season since its inception. Even as a smaller school, there has been a ton of support for this team, according to Follmer.
Stars sophomore forward Jaxon Cook said it has been awesome to see all of the support they have gotten this season.
“Our community, even though we’re a small school, is really tight,” Cook said. “Everyone loves the team. They’ve gotten behind the team. I think that’s really cool.”
Gentry Academy’s student section filled up two full sections at Grand Casino Arena, one of the largest of the tournament so far.
Skippers’ sophomore forward Cash Hardie opened the scoring 10 minutes into the first. Mason Schemenauer’s shot caromed into the middle of the slot, where Hardie slammed home the rebound.
Minnetonka junior forward Liam Schultz found the back of the net seconds after Gentry Academy killed off a roughing penalty on Colby MaCoskey with 12:30 to play in the second. Hardie scored his second with a dazzling solo effort, swerving through the Stars and beating goalie Gavin Grose, making it 3-0 for the Skippers three minutes later.
Minnetonka senior forward Cooper Rannow’s quick reflexes on a rebound made it 4-0 with 7:01 left in the period. Schultz got his second of the game just 90 seconds into the third.
Gentry Academy made a change in goal following Minnetonka’s fifth goal as Grose left with the trainer, and Raef Roeller took his place between the pipes.
The Stars captain, MaCoskey, had to be helped off the ice after being cross-checked by Rannow with 1:17 left in the game. The final horn sounded on Gentry Academy’s season but not on the belief within the squad that the best is yet to come.
“We’re just getting started,” Follmer said as he and his players walked off the podium.
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