In Hermantown, a new coach looks to fill the shoes of a legend

In an annual tradition, thousands of fans pack the Xcel Energy Center to watch the Boy's State High School Hockey tournament in St. Paul.

And, as in every year since 2010, Hermantown competes along with the other top teams in Minnesota.

But this year, there's one noticeable difference — the coach.

Patrick Andrews took over for legendary Hermantown coach Bruce Plante, who led the team to win its second consecutive state championship last year before he retired.

Bruce Plante spent 28 seasons coaching the Hermantown Hawks.

Plante, 68, coached the Hawks to three Class A state titles and 14 state tournament appearances.

He was in the stands Friday afternoon as Hermantown played Alexandria.

"It is a little more nerve-wracking in a lot of ways," Plante said. "You just don't have anything to do with anything. You don't know your place. It is a whole different kind of deal."

He's not the only one adjusting. Twenty years ago, new head coach Patrick Andrews played for Plante in the small town just outside Duluth.

Plante was more than a coach. Andrews was just 16 when his father died. He said Plante became a father figure to him.

"I was at a pretty vulnerable state there and my life could've gone any number of directions," Andrews said. "He is a big reason why I turned out pretty good. I am not the president or anything but I am living my dream."

As a social studies teacher at Hermantown High and now the head hockey coach, Andrews said he wants to help his players reach their own dreams.

He calls hockey part of the fabric of Minnesota, a sport that shows off the state's values.

"We have great people," he said. "Our core essence is hard work and dealing with adversity and grit and I think hockey is very much that way."

The Hawks had a strong season, going 21-6-2. The team came into the tournament again as a number one seed, and were favorites to win their third straight title.

But after beating Monticello in the first game of the tournament, the Hawks fell to Alexandria 6-1 Friday afternoon.

Still, for Plante, Andrews is the one who can carry on the school's legacy.

"Patrick is just about as genuine as you get," he said. "He is honest as the day comes long and he coaches for right reasons. He likes the kids. He's a smart guy who gets it."

The biggest advantage Hermantown has isn't any coach, according to Plante, it's an attitude.

That's something Andrews learned from Plante, and brought to the tournament. Before Friday's game he said the team would need to play hard from the start, but acknowledged that the game would be tough.

"It is the state tournament," he said. "Anything can happen."

Hermantown will play for third place Saturday morning against Mahtomedi.