The jubilation was evident in the St. Thomas Academy locker room; there were hugs all around, including a few with a family feel.  Co-head coaches Tom and Greg Vannelli are brothers, and senior defenseman Rob - who was named to the all-tournament team - is Tom’s son.  All three noted how thankful they were to be able to not only win the title, but to do it with family around.  Said Tom, “It is special, to be able to hug your brother and your son, knowing you just won a state crown.  It’s pretty amazing.”

More reaction from St. Thomas Academy after the jump….

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St. Thomas Academy is the 2008 Class 1A state champion.  The Cadets won their second title in three years thanks to yet another offensive explosion - STA scored 19 goals in three tournament games.

The celebration is on here at the Xcel Energy Center… a pileup of white and blue in the right-hand zone.

Christian Isackson has just plunged a dagger into Duluth Marshall’s chances.  The sophomore picked up the puck in his own zone, stickhandled all the way down the ice through traffic, beat a defender, and wristed the puck through the five-hole. 

The goal came just as Marshall appeared to be once again starting to get the better of the Cadets - and now the Hilltoppers have one heck of a Hill to climb.

The Cadets spent the last few minutes of the second period stuck in their own zone, but they’re still carrying a 3-1 lead as we head to the third.  Shots are 17-10 in favor of St. Thomas, but both teams have had an equal number of chances - including a great one for Dano Jacques with less than a minute to go in the second.  The defenseman drove to the net on his backhand, then cut to his forehand near the crease, but the puck just rolled off his stick as he went around Kurt Altrichter.

This one could easily go either way in the third; Marshall appears to be turning the tide right now.

The Toppers are on the board, with a breakaway goal from Pat Mahoney.  Duluth Marshall managed to get two players behind the Cadets defense during a line change, and Mahoney took a long pass from David Hafferty, skated in alone, and beat Kurt Altrichter for the Hilltoppers’ first goal.

You could sense the goal coming - Marshall had several good chances leading up to the goal - and the Hilltoppers are most definitely back in this game.