Hermantown's Luke Olson seizes spotlight with title-game shutout

Hermantown goaltender Luke Olson dined on the hotel buffet Saturday morning, a meal consisting of eggs, potatoes, orange juice — and a doughnut.

Shutouts in sports are also known as doughnuts, and Olson enjoyed a second helping Saturday afternoon as the Hawks blanked Breck 5-0 in the Class 1A state championship game.

Olson made all 23 saves to defeat the Mustangs at their own game. Breck did not allow a goal in its two previous tournament games.

"Luke has never let us down one time this year," senior defenseman Wyatt Aamodt said. "Every big game, he's stood on his head for us."

Olson poke-checked a chance away from William Blake and later got his right-leg pad on a drive from Tyler Scott. Instead of going down by a goal or two, Hermantown built a 3-0 first-period lead.

"He played a great game all the way through," Breck senior Chase Ellingson said. "We get one early in that game and it's a whole different ballgame."

Disappointment made a championship sweeter for Olson, who was not selected to play in the Fall Elite League going into his senior season.

Then Hermantown coach Bruce Plante pounced.

"I was actually pretty upset about him not making the Elite League," Plante said. "I thought he was the best goalie in our section, the best goalie in the state. He has been overlooked by a lot of people because of his size, I think."

Olson, who stands 5-7, lost the Elite League spot to 6-3 sophomore Zach Stejskal of Grand Rapids. Stejskal was the Hawks' third goalie this season and was a late add to the state tournament roster. A bright future likely awaits Stejskal, but Olson gets to enjoy this moment.