Hockey

When Roseville and Mounds View squared off in the last Section 4AA boys hockey quarterfinal on Saturday at Aldrich Arena, those in attendance expected a close game.

A year ago, the Stillwater boys hockey team surprised almost everyone by winning the Section 4AA championship and making its first appearance in the state tournament.

North High senior Maverick Meister (22) looks to make a play with teammate senior Joe Dahlberg (21) as Hill-Murray defends with sophomore goalie Jake Begley (1), Tyler Nowak (12) and Casey Staum (19).

The Hill-Murray Pioneers’ girls’ hockey six — with the exciting 3-1 victory over Cretin-Derham Hall in the Section 4AA finals — advanced to the Minnesota Girls’ Hockey Tournament, held Feb.

Being stuck in a section with a couple of perennial powerhouses makes its difficult for programs with less of a pedigree to get to the state tournament. That's the situation that the Irondale/St.

The Mounds View High School girls hockey team had reached the Section 5AA final for three years in a row prior this season. That streak was halted last week.

In a contest that wasn’t decided until the final period, the Hill-Murray Pioneers, the defending Class AA state champions, were pushed to the limit by Cretin-Derham Hall before gaining a third consecutive trip to the girls hockey state tournament.

In a couple of super girls hockey games played Feb.

If the Tartan boys hockey team had any thoughts about reversing a 2-1 overtime defeat at the hands of Hill-Murray in their first meeting back on Jan. 15, it soon vanished once the second period got underway at Aldrich Arena Wednesday, Feb. 11.

Being stuck in a section with a couple of perennial powerhouses makes its difficult for programs with less of a pedigree to get to the state tournament. That’s the situation the Roseville Area High School boys hockey team faces each year.