Stillwater at Hill-Murray
7:30 p.m., Saturday,  Jan. 23

In a meeting between the probable top two seeds in the Class 2A, Section 4 tournament, Stillwater travels to Hill-Murray Saturday night in what promises to be an energy-packed Aldrich Arena.

This game has been circled on Stillwater's calendar for some time, as the surging Ponies are eager to assert their belief that the section belongs to them.

The Pioneers are certainly no slouch, as evidenced by their 27 state tournament appearances. Hill-Murray has a way of finding the means to reach St. Paul on an annual basis, so why should this year be any different?

Stillwater (15-1-1) enters the week with an impressive goals-for (5.12) to goals-against (1.94) ratio. The speedy Ponies are unbeaten since falling to No. 4-2A Holy Family Catholic 5-3 on Dec. 28, a stretch which includes a scoreless tie to rival White Bear Lake on Jan. 9.

Until Stillwater faces the Fire again on Feb. 13, No. 10-ranked Hill-Murray figures to be the only remaining top-tier Class 2A challenge remaining on the schedule for the No. 5-2A Ponies.

Stillwater is scoring by committee, as Noah Cates (15-23-38), Luke Manning (14-19-33), Jackson Cates (10-19-29) and TJ Sagissor (14-9-29) all average better than a point per game.

The Ponies continue to get steady influence from senior goaltender Josh Benson, who enters the week with a 1.80 goals-against average and a .916 save percentage.

The Pioneers (11-4-1) face No. 2-2A Blaine Tuesday night and Henry Sibley Thursday before ending a challenging week with Stillwater.

Hill-Murray junior forward Marko Reifenberger leads the team with 14 goals and 26 points through 16 games. Junior goaltender Jake Begley takes an impressive .930 save percentage and a 1.94 goals-against average into the week.