Hill-Murray senior defenseman Leo Gruba donned dark sunglasses and a black compression shirt before Friday’s Class 2A, Section 4 boys' hockey championship game, fashion choices designed to ease teammates’ tensions.

Gruba injected a more potent calming agent with a goal not even two minutes into the game. Unburdened from big-game nerves, the Pioneers unloaded on rival White Bear Lake throughout a 5-0 victory.

“To be honest, I was shooting for a rebound,” said Gruba, a Mr. Hockey Award finalist with 11 goals this season. “When it went through, I was the happiest guy in the world.

“You try not to show that you’re nervous out there, but you have all these people and it’s so loud — it’s a madhouse.” 

Friday marked the Bears' and Pioneers' 19th section final meeting since 1984-85. Coming into the game, Hill-Murray had won 13 of 18 overall, including three of the past four.

The black-and-green portion of an estimated 3,000 fans packing Aldrich Arena came to life early. Top seed and second-ranked Hill-Murray (23-4-1) kept giving the people what they wanted.

Gruba’s goal at 1:40 was followed mid-period by teammate Jack Senden depositing his eighth goal of the season. Senden got loose during a White Bear Lake power play and scored shorthanded.

Superior special-teams play further separated the Pioneers in the second period. No. 2 seed White Bear Lake (16-11) was called for two penalties just 44 seconds apart. Senior forward Dylan Godbout, Hill-Murray’s other Mr. Hockey Award finalist, ensured the 5-on-3 opportunity wasn’t wasted.

His 29th goal of the season meant White Bear Lake faced a 3-0 deficit as its season began circling the drain.

“You worry a little because a 5-on-3 is great if you score,” Pioneers coach Bill Lechner said. “It’s not so great if you don’t because momentum changes the opposite way. So, it was good to finish there.”

Goaltender Jack Erickson, thrust into the starting role as a junior after Nick Erickson (no relation) left the Maplewood private school in early January, earned his sixth shutout of the season.

“Jack’s come in and we haven’t missed a step,” Gruba said. “He’s so calm and confident back there. To be honest, he’s the stem of our team.”

Hill-Murray previously beat the Bears 2-1 on Dec. 23.

A year ago, defending state champion Hill-Murray beat White Bear Lake 5-0 in the section final — only to have its ensuing state tournament trip nullified by a later-discovered COVID-19 exposure.

Lechner said that disappointment makes Friday’s victory and an assured trip to the Xcel Energy Center “extra sweet.”

“That was devastating last year,” Gruba said. “The fact that we earned our way back here with a full 51-minute effort feels amazing.”