ST. PAUL - Star power. 

St. Cloud Cathedral has it in spades, and that’s never a bad thing at one of the nation's premier high school events.

Senior forwards Joey Gillespie and John Hirschfeld, twin engines that drove the Crusaders to the state Class 1A championship last season, were up to their usual antics on Wednesday in a 3-0 quarterfinal victory over Mahtomedi at the Xcel Energy Center.

And by antics we mean pinpoint passes, laser shots, scintillating solo rushes and all the other goodies in the overstuffed bags possessed by two of the state’s elite forwards.

“They are as good as it gets from what we have seen this year,” said Mahtomedi goaltender Wes Strub, who faced elite-level talent on Class 2A powers such as Metro East Conference foes Hill-Murray, St. Thomas Academy as well as most all of the top teams in Class 1A during the regular season. “We had a plan to slow them down … they are dangerous players. If you give them time and space, they are going to put it in the back of the net.”

Gillespie scored twice, and Hirschfeld, a Mr. Hockey finalist who owns almost all of Cathedral’s career scoring records, notched two assists. They hooked up for a shorthanded goal in the third period that all but sucked the life out of Mahtomedi, putting the Crusaders ahead 3-0.

Hirschfeld set up the play with a dazzling solo rush around a Mahtomedi defenseman. When his close-range shot was stopped by the right leg pad of the Zephyrs’ Strub, there were no concerns. Hirschfeld simply collected the rebound and fed his big wingman, who was wide open in the slot.

“When you are our career leader in points, a Mr. Hockey finalist, you’ve earned a few chances … as long as you get back on D,” St. Cloud Cathedral coach Robbie Stocker said about Hirschfeld’s offensive bent while killing penalties.

A Vermont commit, Hirschfeld extended his consecutive game scoring streak to 11. His fewest points in that stretch is two. He ranks fourth in the state with 78 points. Gillespie, meanwhile, bumped his point total to 67.

Hirschfield, Gillespie and junior defenseman Griffin Sturm were All-Tournament selections last season for the Crusaders, who stretched their Tourney winning streak to six games (they were consolation champions in 2023).

Disturbing news for the rest of the Class 1A field is that Cathedral’s star power stretches beyond its Big Three. At least that appeared to be the case on Wednesday. Freshman Bo Schmidt made a grand appearance on the big stage, stealing the puck at center ice after a thunderous hit and then racing in for a goal that showed a sniper’s touch.

“It was sweet,” Hirschfeld said about Schmidt’s goal. “He doesn’t play like he is a freshman.”

Maybe it’s too early to lump Schmidt in with Hirschfeld, Gilliespie and Sturm and call them the Big Four. Maybe not. He’s scored five of his 16 goals and nine of his 34 points in the postseason.

“Sometimes it’s good to have the fearless freshman going out there,” Stocker said. “Where maybe you don’t totally understand how big the moment really is and you’re just going out there and playing. Sometimes there’s a tendency to overcomplicate hockey … sometimes it's just going out there and being an athlete and making a play.”