Defending AA boys hockey champ Hill-Murray routs rival White Bear for return to State
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Defending Class AA champion Hill-Murray will be back in St. Paul looking fo defend their boys State Hockey title thanks to a 5-0 rout of rival White Bear Lake in the Section 4AA Championship game Wednesday night at Aldrich Arena.
Click the video box on this page to see KSTP Sports’ extended highlights of the Section 4AA Championship game between Hill-Murray and White Bear Lake
The Pioneers (18-2) had five different goal-scorers and outshot the Bears (16-4-1) by a 43-15 margin in the 88th playing of "The Rivalry".
Tristan Tabucol had the only goal of the first before Anthony Madigan and Matthew Fleischhacker gave the Pioneers a 3-0 lead after two.
Five minuts into the third, Hill-Murray all but sealed it. Axel Begley fired a pass from behind the Hill-Murray goal line that connected with Hunter Lachsinger on the far blue line. Lachsinger split the defense, took the puck in stride and slid the puck into the net for a 4-0 lead.
Hill-Murray players celebrate their Section 4AA Championship win over White Bear Lake. The Pioneers won 5-0 at Aldrich Arena on Wednesday night.[KSTP Sports]
Begley closed out the scoring with 7:45 left in regulation.
Jackson Kohnen made 38 saves for the Bears, Nick Erickson kept out all 15 shots to earn the shutout win for Hill-Murray.
The Pioneers will make their third State appearance in the last four years, and hope to become the first Class AA champs to repeat since Edina in 2013 and 2014.