Teammates refer to Warroad forward Matt Hard as Jimbo, a nickname inspired by his resemblance to the character in the animated comedy film "Boss Baby."

After first objecting, Hard said he “learned to roll with it.”

Accepting his identity as tough, physical hockey player took no time. Hard welcomes doing the less glamorous work on a line with premium playmakers Daimon Gardner and Jayson Shaugabay.

“That’s the way I’ve played throughout my entire life,” Hard said. “I’ve really been a grinder who gets down low and dishes it off to these guys and let them go score.”

Hard can finish, too. His overtime goal Friday in the boys' hockey state tournament gave Warroad a 5-4 victory against Mahtomedi and the program’s first Class 1A title game appearance since 2009. The goal was Hard’s 23rd of the season.

Gardner tallied a hat trick and Shaugabay scored once against Mahtomedi. Both enjoyed seeing Hard score the biggest goal.

“It’s always nice to see Jimbo get one,” Shaugabay said.

Warroad coach Jay Hardwick kept the Warriors’ top line intact for the first four or five games. Hard, an aptly named middle linebacker on the football team, threw his 6-foot, 195-pound frame around.

“He uses his big body to protect the puck,” Hardwick said. “He wins a ton of battles in the corner and along the wall. It doesn’t always show up on the score sheet, but when it comes to winning hockey games, it’s a huge part.”

Still, Hardwick mixed and matched his line combinations all season. But the Gardner, Hard and Shaugabay trio remained in his back pocket.

“We knew we could always come to these three,” Hardwick said.

Hard’s clutch goal evened a game within the game against the Zephyrs’ elite goaltender, Ben Dardis.

“He’d had a couple dandy chances earlier in the game,” Hardwick said. “In the first period he shot it into his glove, and we talked about staying away from his glove because that’s where he wants you to shoot it.”

Hard listened. But in the moment, in overtime, scouting reports can become hard to follow. Hard shot glove side again.

“I kept it low,” Hard said, “and it bounced off his glove and went in.”