Over an hour after they left the Xcel Energy Ice, four Hill-Murray Pioneers returned to their bench to visit the site of their greatest hockey accomplishment to date. 

One held his phone in his hand, more than likely taking a video of the empty arena. One let out a joyful yelp. After a few moments, they retreated into the hallway that would guide them back to their team, with whom they will reign for a year as the best high school hockey team in Minnesota. 

“I love these guys forever, and we’re 2020 state high school hockey champions,” senior captain Charlie Strobel said during the postgame press conference. “We can live with that for the rest of our lives,” Strobel continued. “It’s the best feeling in the world right now.”

Unlike Friday night’s semifinal win that went to overtime against St. Thomas Academy, Saturday’s result was only in doubt for the first two periods. 

Matthew Fleischhacker kicked off the scoring for the Pioneers (22-6-3) with a goal in the first period, while Owen Quast and Strobel adding tallies in the second period. Fleischhacker took over the top of the Hill-Murray power play after junior Joe Palodichuk was removed from the lineup hours before the hame due to the diagnosis of mononucleosis. 

“We’re not uncomfortable rotating five defensemen,” Hill-Murray assistant coach Pat Schafhauser said, citing injuries during the season that forced the Pioneers to solidify their defensive corps. “It wasn’t a difficult transition from that aspect. The other guys stepped up and did what they had done all season.”

Hill-Murray’s defenders frustrated the high-powered Eagles (24-6-1) all evening, forcing wide shots and excelling at clearly Eagles from the slot area. 

“They were getting in shooting lanes,” Eden Prairie senior forward John Mittelstadt said. “It wasn’t easy getting the puck to the net. They have an unbelievable goalie too, so that doesn’t help (us),” Mittelstadt added. 

Mr. Hockey finalist Ben Steeves scored to pull the Eagles within two early in the third period, but the Pioneers stuck to the script and got a boost from Strobel, who scored the game-clincher on a fabulous individual effort with 6:01 to go in the third.  

As the clock ticked down to zero, the Pioneers couldn’t hold in their excitement. Even the ill Palodichuk scurried to the dressing room after Strobel’s goal to get dressed so he could be a part of the celebration.

The Pioneers had accomplished the goal they had set for themselves. They had lived the dream they all harbored. 

“We met at Remington Keopple’s house in the summer,” Strobel said. “I’ll never forget it. We just kind of hung out, and ever since then, we’re like, why don’t we become state champs our senior year?” Strobel continued. 

“We’re a family, and we just completed our journey.”