Boys hockey hopes to add banner during youth movement
March 2, 2018
The varsity boys hockey team has created waves across the state of hockey this season. Their relentlessness and willingness to win is evident, despite being undersized and inexperienced. Starting out the 2017-2018 season on a six game winning streak has shown that the Ponies’ winning mentality has not disappeared after the loss of last year’s senior class. While playing some of the best high school teams in the country, the Ponies are after yet another conference championship, and to make a run to the Xcel Energy Center for the third time in five years.
The trek to the Xcel will be a long vigorous one, but the Ponies are prepared to lay it all on the line for each other to get there. High school hockey is some of the most exciting, emotional and passionate hockey in the state of Minnesota. Great teams create chemistry, relationships and memories far before coming together on the varsity team. Summer camps, youth teams, tournaments and playing on club teams are some of the many ways teammates build their connections.
“Growing up, the best memories were the Duluth tournaments or any out of town tournaments where you really got to know your teammates,” senior captain Matthew McGinley said. “Hockey Day Minnesota last year was a great high school experience… [As well as] the bond you form with your teammates throughout the years.”
Growing up, the best memories were the Duluth tournaments or any out of town tournaments where you really got to know your teammates.
— Matthew McGinley
After losing 15 seniors to the class of 2017, there was to be some “reloading” to do in order to make up for the losses. With only five seniors, nine underclassmen have joined the boys hockey team, including freshmen sensation Noah Tussey, who is currently committed to the University of Minnesota.
“I’ve liked playing with [the upperclassmen], they’ve taken me in as best as they could. I don’t see me that much different from them,” Tussey said. “It’s just a good team atmosphere… I like them a lot and I like the senior class a lot too.”
“Early in the season, not as many of us five seniors knew the younger guys,” McGinley added. “But right away. we got to know them pretty good and a lot of them have stepped up in big roles this year.”
Tussey and junior Spencer Scott lead the team with 14 points each, followed by sophomore Cooper Wylie and junior captain Joe Raleigh with 13 and 12, respectively. This is huge for the Ponies, as increased depth has encouraged everyone to take part in contributing to wins. Key wins against Cloquet, Benilde-St. Margaret, Mahtomedi, as well as hard fought losses against Cretin-Derham Hall and Roseville has shown the Ponies resiliency throughout the season.
“The biggest thing we got going for us right now is to play simple and not try to do too much in order to succeed,” Raleigh said. “[Considering] this years team, we’re not the most talented, but we work our hardest and our chemistry is improving.”
With pivotal games to finish the regular season at St. Thomas Academy, and at home versus Cretin-Derham Hall, East Ridge and Holy Family, Coach Hamilton preaches consistency in order to bring home a conference title and to make a run in sections.
“[We need to] make sure to play all three periods and be consistent for three periods,” Hamilton said. “Realize that every time we step on the ice, every moment is a crucial moment, especially when you’re playing tough teams. Come sections, when you lose, you’re out. The next couple weeks are going to be crucial for many of our guys to learn that.”
Stillwater hockey is known for its winning tradition. Completing three trips to the state tournament in five years is what the Ponies have been focusing on since the summer. Hours of training, ice time and dryland has prepared them for a long season, hoping to end at the Xcel.
“Every kid in the locker room wants to win just as much as every other year,” McGinley said. “You should expect us to win, we expect nothing less for ourselves.”
Mason Wylie • Apr 12, 2018 at 12:06 pm
The introduction was really well written, and set a good path for the next paragraph to start. Overall the article was very descriptive and used quotes in order to further the points. Great job with the article!
Wyatt Wasko • Mar 12, 2018 at 3:11 pm
This story was very well done. The facts and quotes that are included in the story portrays the team well.
I also think that the quotes show the work that everyone had to put in to get the team where it is today.
Ellie Fedorowski • Mar 12, 2018 at 8:11 am
I agree with Hunter, it had great quotes and facts. It showed the seniors growth and what they have been through these past 12 years of hockey.
Aubrey Kelley • Mar 12, 2018 at 1:12 am
This article was very well written and appealed to the emotions involved in Stillwater hockey and Minnesota hockey as a whole. Great reporting and use of language and vocabulary!!
Hannah Sween • Mar 11, 2018 at 10:27 pm
This was a great story! I loved all the emotional underdog appeals with the very compelling quotes, they really pulled the story together and made the reader feel like they were almost part of the hockey team too.
Max Kennedy • Mar 11, 2018 at 8:49 pm
I can tell there was a lot of work put into this article considering the length of these quotes and the amount of info included with the teams and each of the players. The fact quote fact was very smooth and had a lot of connections. Overall this was a strong article and really did learn about the high school hockey team.
Daniel Schlenker • Mar 11, 2018 at 8:44 pm
Well written article, the relationships between the players and the boundaries of class are shown very well and it adds a more personal side to the story itself. This story does a good job at being optimistic and keeps a good attitude about the season.
Noah Schoolman • Mar 11, 2018 at 8:31 pm
This article was very well-written and provided a lot of information. There was clearly a lot of research done and had a lot of good quotes.
Hunter Hippel • Mar 11, 2018 at 11:40 am
This story was written very well and emotionally. It appealed and showed how far the seniors have come, but was also realistic about the team. It also gave readers a sense of how important hockey is in Minnesota. I could tell you also did your research and did excellent reporting.
Logan Huber • Mar 9, 2018 at 9:59 am
I really like this page and article. It had a lot of very good, descriptive, and accurate details about the team and the season. The pictures were very good and it was just a well done article overall.