Stillwater vs.
White Bear Lake

7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 9

Often overshadowed by the White Bear Lake-Hill-Murray rivalry is another feud with equally deep roots.

The Bears' annual battles with Suburban East Conference foe Stillwater can be as heated and contentious as the ones with the Pioneers, instilled by years of competition through the youth ranks in District 2.

Last year’s Bantam AA teams played to three single-goal decisions, which prepared both programs for postseason success: White Bear Lake won the state title while Stillwater took third.

But at the varsity level, the programs reside in Class 2A, Section 4, leaving no chance for both to reach the state tournament.

Stillwater has won the past two Suburban East titles, which have coincided with two appearances in the section title game.

White Bear Lake’s last league crown came in 2014, but the Bears' postseason hopes were dashed by the Ponies in overtime of the section semifinals, ending the Bears' ambitions to return to state for the first time since 2011.

Approaching the halfway point of the regular season, White Bear Lake, ranked fifth in the Class 2A coaches’ poll, is atop the league standings and -- with a win over the Ponies (who are also unbeaten in the conference) -- could become favorites for the top seed for the section playoffs. The Bears strengthened their chances after recording a win over No. 19-2A Hill-Murray on Dec. 23.

The pedigrees of both youth programs has fueled an enduring rivalry at the high school level and helped make Tuesday’s matchup a shoe-in for our Top Game of the Week.

White Bear Lake dropped its first two games of the season — a 4-3 overtime loss at No. 3-2A Edina on Jan. 4 and a 3-1 home loss to Rochester Century on Jan. 5. 

Holding the Hornets below five goals for only the second time this season, the Bears defense showed it can contain one of the state’s most potent offensive attacks. That defense, featuring three blue-liners who played bantams a season ago, is allowing 1.45 goals per game and a Class 2A-best 18 shots allowed per game.

Chase Hamstad (8-11-19) leads a group of six players with double-digit point totals, while linemate Max Jennrich (11-6-17) is the Bears’ go-to scorer. Freshman defender Owen Gallatin (2-12-14) has meshed well in his first year of varsity hockey with a team-leading 12 assists for the Bears (8-2-2, 5-0-1).

Stillwater snapped a two-game skid by scoring three unanswered goals in a 3-2 win over Forest Lake on Jan. 6. Spencer Scott (5-5-10) scored the tying and deciding goals.

Just a year removed from bantams, freshman and Minnesota prospect Noah Tussey (5-3-8) has played will for the Ponies (7-3, 5-0).