Duluth Marshall goalie remembers to savor his Xcellent time

Bruce Bisping, Star Tribune

Duluth Marshall goalie Willie Paul stopped a shot by Warroad’s Brett Hebel during the Hilltoppers’ 3-1 victory in the Class 1A semifinals Friday. Paul, playing in rare back-to-back games after rotating with Matt Messina all season, has made 53 saves in two games at state.

Willie Paul, part of a rotation in net for Duluth Marshall, is getting all the action at state, but he's staying humble and enjoying the moments.

By John Millea, Star Tribune

Last update: March 8, 2008 - 11:49 PM

No matter how this state hockey tournament ends, Willie Paul will look back on two memorable moments.

The first came Wednesday evening, when Paul and his teammates from Marshall School in Duluth gathered for a meeting in their hotel. That's when the junior goaltender -- who had been in net for the Hilltoppers' 2-1 quarterfinal victory over Mankato West earlier in the day -- learned he would be on the ice again for Friday's Class 1A semifinal against Warroad.

Paul and classmate Matt Messina had alternated in net all season, so playing in back-to-back games was a surprise.

The second moment for Paul came during a television timeout Friday.

"I said to myself, 'You've got to take a look around and see where you are. You're at the Xcel Energy Center and there are 8,000 fans looking at you.' You've got to love this."

Paul was talking outside the locker room after Duluth Marshall's 3-1 victory over Warroad. He wore the official off-ice uniform of most teenage hockey players: ballcap parked backwards, wet hair poking out beneath the hat, a little redness in the cheeks, a smattering of whiskers on the chin and a smile.

"Everybody says, 'Remember this, because it's the greatest time in your life,'" he said. "And I'm having the most fun I've ever had."

When coach Brendan Flaherty decided to chuck the alternating goalie system, he knew there might be an upraised eyebrow or two. There can be no doubts now, though, after Paul has made 53 saves in two games.

"Our plan was to rotate," Flaherty said. "But after I saw his first game at state, that's what we've been looking for out of Willie all year. We just didn't give it to him, he earned it. That's the difference. For all the parents out there, all the critics, it has to be earned in our program."

Duluth Marshall, playing at state for the fourth year in a row, finished as the second-best team the past two years, losing to St. Thomas Academy in the 2006 title game and to Hermantown a year ago.

The Hilltoppers will meet St. Thomas Academy again in today's Class 1A championship game at noon.

Paul came into the tournament with a 10-5 record and 2.14 goals-against average. Messina, who was in net for a 4-3 victory over Hibbing/Chisholm in the Section 7 title game, is 13-0 with a 1.09 GAA. Those are darn fine numbers to have in a backup goalie.

But Paul was clearly on his game Friday, stopping 33 shots. Warroad's biscuit blasts had a better chance of dotting the i's on the Star Tribune signs behind the goals than getting past Paul.

"Willie Paul is a brick wall," said Duluth Marshall's Zach Mausolf, who scored two goals. "Our coach made a tough decision about who to play, and he just felt that Willie was the goalie to go with. And obviously he showed that. To me, he was the player of the game today."

When the game ended, the Hilltoppers rushed toward Paul, pinning him against the glass in a mob of celebration.

As the player began peeling away to shake hands with the Warriors, the last man to embrace the winning goaltender was Matt Messina ... the new backup goaltender.

"We have a great relationship," Paul said. "If he was playing I'd support him to the fullest, and he supports me. It's a team effort."

Indeed it is.

Remember those moments.

John Millea • jmillea@startribune.com