Stillwater boys' hockey brings success in waves

Along with starting 13-0 and ascending to a No. 1 ranking comes a grand stage for the Stillwater boys' hockey team to showcase its talents.

The Ponies will play host to Eden Prairie at 1 p.m. Saturday outdoors at Lowell Park in the featured game on Hockey Day Minnesota.

The 11th annual Fox Sports North broadcast creates a midseason rush for participating players.

"It's exciting; you can't deny the feeling," senior forward Mason Bartosh said. "Playing in it is a dream."

Star power and strong depth keeps Stillwater, a Class 2A state tournament entrant last season, in the mix of top teams.

Through 13 games, Noah Cates led the team with 13 goals and 21 assists while Luke Manning added 20 assists. In all, seven players have tallied 13 or more points.

"We've got depth, speed and skill," said Cates, who scored a memorable spin-around goal in overtime of the Section 4 championship last season. "Every line can skate and make plays. We come at teams in waves the whole game."

Critics question the strength of Stillwater's schedule — the Ponies face only a handful of ranked teams this season — but Manning said there is something important about getting on a roll and building confidence.

"Not having a tough schedule makes it hard because we don't know what it's like to be losing during a game very much," Manning said. "But we're proving we know how to win."

Said forward Mason Bartosh: "It comes down to who shows up to the rink every day because the best team doesn't always win."

Lately, Bartosh doesn't lose. He is one of three hockey players who helped the Ponies' soccer team to an undefeated (22-0) state championship this fall and then remained perfect through the first half of the hockey season.

Cates, a Mr. Hockey-caliber player, said Bartosh, the lone senior soccer/hockey player, sets a good example. Notching two game-winning goals this season helps, too.

Stillwater also received a lift from 6-5 goaltender Seth Eisele. He started 12-0, allowing 1.11 goals per game and stopping 93 percent of the shots he faced.

"I'm not surprised," Bartosh said. "He's a great goalie, and I'm excited to see him get the spotlight."

Eisele modeled his habits after Josh Benson, a Star Tribune All-Metro first team selection last season.

"He did a great job of passing the baton," Eisele said.

Hockey Day Minnesota in Stillwater has a similar feel.

"We've been more focused on the games at hand all season," Bartosh said.