A pewter cup purchased in Scotland is the new symbol of inner-city hockey vitality.

Highland Park and Johnson, the last two remaining St. Paul Public School boys’ hockey programs, meet at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Charles Schultz Arena in the Battle for the St. Paul Cup. The winner takes home the traveling trophy.

“I hope the cup is a tradition for years to come,” Scots’ coach Mark Prokop said.

Thursday’s game marks another step in the comeback of Highland Park hockey, which vanished as a varsity program after 1987. Strong youth program numbers and interest in developing another high school option in the city led to the Scots dressing only junior varsity teams in 2008-09 and 2009-10. Varsity hockey came the next season, an unprecedented achievement.

Kelly Brooks Paradise, daughter of legendary Minnesota hockey figure Herb Brooks, will drop the ceremonial first puck on Thursday.

“He would be very happy to see these two St. Paul teams thriving,” said Brooks Paradise, a member of the Herb Brooks Foundation board of directors. Her father starred for the Governors’ 1955 state championship team.

The trophy itself has connections to both programs. Jay O'Neill, a Johnson graduate, purchased the cup in Scotland. His son, Aedan, is a Scots’ senior defenseman.

“It came to Jay’s mind that this would be a great tradition to start and everyone loved the idea,” Prokop said.

Randy Lindstrom, whose son Evan is a Scots’ junior forward, constructed the trophy’s wooden base.

Prokop said longtime Governors coach Moose Younghans greeted the idea with excitement and the game was set. The Scots and Governors play twice each season but only Thursday’s game will be for the cup. The winner puts the trophy on the line next season at their home ice.

Under Younghans, the Governors have weathered the Capital City’s changing demographics and maintained a hockey program. Highland Park’s privately funded locker facility was completed last year and became centerpiece of a remarkable comeback. Last season, players from Central High School joined Highland Park in a co-operative agreement. Como Park did the same with Johnson. More competitive hockey has followed.

Prokop said the Scots scrimmaged the Governors two years ago and “could barely get the puck out of our own end.” Last year, Johnson beat Highland Park 4-2 on the Governors’ senior night and Younghans paid the Scots a postgame visit.

“Moose had so much respect for our improved level of play the he asked if he could come into our locker room,” Prokop said. “He told out guys how much he respected all that they have put into rebuilding hockey at Highland Park.”

The St. Paul Cup, Prokop said, is another symbol of the reborn program’s intentions to last.

“We have a group of people who will not lie down,” Prokop said. “They are constantly helping to build the program.”


The St. Paul Cup