Gabardi, Hildenbrand lead Hibbing/Chisholm to 4-1 win, Class A semifinals

Tate Swanson opened the scoring and, fresh off being named the Star Tribune’s Class A Player of the Year, helped top-seeded Hibbing/Chisholm beat the Dodge County Wildcats 4-1 to advance to the MSHSL Class A semifinal round.

In St. Paul the Bluejackets pushed past a scoreless first period to seize control in the second, exploding for three goals that turned the game into a rout. For the second straight season Hibbing/Chisholm reached the state semifinal round, extending a run that has become a focal point for St. Louis County prep athletics.

The middle frame belonged to Hibbing/Chisholm: Tate Swanson opened the scoring in the second period, and Isaiah Hildenbrand followed with the Bluejackets’ second goal. Joe Gabardi added the third goal of the period, giving Hibbing/Chisholm a commanding 3-0 lead before the third period began.

Sophomore defenseman Whitaker Rewertz capped the scoring late in the third with his 20th goal of the season to make it 4-0, and the final read 4-1 in favor of Hibbing/Chisholm. The Dodge County Wildcats managed a single goal, leaving the Bluejackets with a multi-goal cushion built largely on their second-period surge.

The Northern News Now feed carried the result under the header "Hibbing/Chisholm Bluejackets Section 7A Title," and the victory was framed as another addition to the region’s athletic achievements in St. Louis County, Minnesota. With the win the top-seeded Bluejackets lock in a spot among the last four teams in Class A and will prepare for the semifinal round in St. Paul.

Key details from the game: scoreless first period, three Hibbing/Chisholm goals in the second by Swanson, Hildenbrand and Gabardi, and Rewertz’s 20th of the season late in the third to close out a 4-1 final. The Bluejackets’ advance keeps local attention focused on Hibbing/Chisholm’s state-tournament run and the continued production of players such as Swanson and Rewertz as the program represents St. Louis County at the Class A semifinals.