Stillwater forward Matthew Volkman (18) holds up the Class 2A Section 4 championship trophy after defeating Hill-Murray 4-3 in double overtime at Aldrich Arena in Maplewood. (Alex Kormann/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Stillwater’s boys hockey team wished to party like it was 2016 again. That was the year the Ponies defeated Hill-Murray in the Class 2A, Section 4 title game. They had not beaten the Pioneers since.

Stillwater fans are not likely to forget Noah Cates, driving and then spinning toward the Hill-Murray goal, scoring the only goal of the game at 3:58 of overtime to give the Ponies the Class 2A, Section 4 championship.

Cates called to wish the Ponies well before Friday’s section final, again against Hill-Murray. And the student section displayed the same red, white and blue color scheme.

The Ponies faithful will have to make room in memories for senior forward Matthew Volkman, who completed the hat trick with his final goal coming 59 seconds into the second overtime and securing a 4-3 victory over Hill-Murray. The Pioneers are No. 1 in the Minnesota Top 25 and in Let’s Play Hockey’s Class 2A rankings.

For more on Stillwater's victory, click here to read the story on startribune.com.