The Hastings Raiders boys hockey team entered the week with a 12-12-1 record, ready to begin Section 4A tournament play. As the No. 4 seed, Hastings faced No. 5 seed South St. Paul, which came into the postseason as the fifth seed in the section. The quarterfinal game was played Thursday, Feb. 19, at 7:30 p.m. at Aldrich Arena, a neutral site for all section games. With a trip to the semifinals on the line and top-seeded Mahtomedi waiting next, the stakes were clear from the opening puck drop.
The first period moved quickly, with both teams testing each other early. South St. Paul put 14 shots on goal in the opening frame, forcing Hastings goaltender Charlie Stoffel to stay sharp from the start. Hastings countered with eight shots of its own, but neither team found the net. Midway through the period, South St. Paul was assessed a five-minute major for unsportsmanlike conduct at 15:28, giving the Raiders a long power play chance. Hastings generated pressure but could not break through before the horn. The game remained scoreless after one, though the intensity already felt like playoff hockey.
The second period proved to be the turning point. Hastings increased its pressure and outshot South St. Paul 12-1 in the period. The Raiders finally broke through at the 10:51 mark. Finn Zaruba carried the puck around the back of the net and managed to stuff the puck between the goalie’s pad and the left pole, scoring the game’s only goal at even strength. Brecken Fullerton earned the assist on the play, setting up Zaruba for what turned out to be the difference. The Raiders continued to push after the goal, keeping the puck in the Packers’ end for long stretches. South St. Paul took a minor penalty for tripping at 13:36, but Hastings again came up empty on the power play. Still, the Raiders carried a 1-0 lead into the third period and had clearly swung momentum in their favor.
The third period was all about protecting the lead. Hastings recorded three shots on goal, while South St. Paul pushed back with nine in an effort to tie the game. Stoffel remained steady in net, turning aside each attempt. The Raiders were called for two minor penalties in the third, one for tripping by Carter Strong at 9:00 and another for interference by Jonas Schauer at 16:39. That gave South St. Paul two late power play opportunities and a final surge of pressure. Hastings’ penalty kill stood tall, blocking shots and clearing rebounds to help preserve the shutout. When the final horn sounded, the Raiders had secured a 1-0 victory and a spot in the semifinals.
For the game, South St. Paul outshot Hastings 24-23. The Raiders finished 0 for 2 on the power play, while the Packers went 0 for 2. South St. Paul had two infractions totaling seven penalty minutes, and Hastings had two infractions for four minutes. Zaruba’s second period goal, assisted by Fullerton, accounted for all of Hastings’ scoring. In net, Charlie Stoffel stopped all 24 shots he faced to earn the shutout, delivering one of his strongest performances of the season in a high-pressure playoff setting.
With the win, Hastings advances to face No. 1 seed Mahtomedi on Tuesday, Feb. 24, at 5 p.m., again at Aldrich Arena. The Raiders will look to build on their defensive effort and timely scoring as they continue their postseason run. The Zephyrs will be a tough match up after they took down St. Paul 11-0. We will have the results of the Tuesday game posted on our social media. If Hastings can pull off the upset and take down the top ranked Zephyrs, Hastings will play again on Feb. 26 at 7:00 p.m. at Aldrich Arena. If Mahtomedi is victorious, the Raiders season will come to an end, and we will have the full recap next week.