With Cal Conway doing his thing, two early goals were more than enough for Stillwater. Conway made 36 saves and the Ponies beat St. Thomas Academy 4-0 Friday in a Class 2A state boys’ hockey semifinal at Xcel Energy Center.

In the tournament for the first time since 2016, and set to make its first title game appearance, second-seeded Stillwater will face either top-seeded Moorhead or No. 5 seed Edina in Saturday’s 7 p.m. final.

Luca Jarvis, Trey Fredenberg and Blake Vanek each had a goal and an assist, and Jonas Kohn also scored for Stillwater (24-6-0), winners of 12 straight games, including both state tournament games via shutout. The Ponies beat Andover 5-0 Thursday. Stillwater’s shutout streak is now at 104 minutes, 15 seconds dating back to the section final.

Conway missed nine weeks due to a technical issue of his transfer from Andover and has been outstanding since his early-February return. He entered the game with 0.98 GAA and .949 save percentage in nine previous starts. His squad up 2-0 early in the third period, Conway made his biggest save of the game.

A lively bounce off the end boards went right to Cole Braunshausen, who had a step on his defender as he charging down the slot. The St. Thomas Academy junior snapped off a quick shot, but Conway just as quickly stuck out the right pad. A few minutes later, the Ponies had some good fortune too.

Jackson Rudh, St. Thomas Academy’s top scorer, couldn’t quite convert on a tough skate to forehand attempt near the post with Conway out of position. Thirty-five seconds later, Conway thwarted a Grade A chance from James Richardson, with the senior defenseman bending over at the waist in disbelief.

Fredenberg all but iced the game 24 seconds later potting a rebound of a Jarvis shot. Vanek added an empty-net tally. Each Stillwater goal was scored in front of the St. Thomas Academy student section.

Braunshausen thought he scored shorthanded for the Cadets with 6:45 to play, but video review determined there was goalie interference.

Cody Niesen stopped 19 shots for St. Thomas Academy (24-6-0), in the Class 2A tournament for the seventh time since 2015. The Cadets are still searching for their first-big-school title after winning five Class A titles from 2006-13.

Stillwater struck twice before the game was 10 minutes old. With Fredenberg perfectly screening the goalie, Kohn’s long wrister from the top of the slot went in for his fifth goal of the season at 4:03. Just over five minutes later, Fredenberg carried the puck into the Cadets’ zone, and left the puck for Jarvis. The sophomore’s shot from near the left dot just missed Fredenberg cutting across in front of the goalie and into the upper corner for a 2-0 lead.

Eight of the first nine shots and 10 of 12 in the second period were by St. Thomas Academy, but Conway remained calm and collected, including a glove save on a one-timer from the circle during a St. Thomas Academy power play.

Related Articles

Boys state hockey tournament: St. Thomas Academy outlasts Shakopee in quarterfinal

Boys state hockey tournament: Relentless Ponies tame Andover in quarterfinals

State hockey: Stillwater is back in the tournament, led by a deep, talented crop of seniors

High School Boys Hockey: Class A state tournament primer

High school boys hockey: Stillwater downs Hill-Murray in double overtime to reach state