Spartans win Hilltopper Classic opener.

Byline: Ken Olson

Dec. 29--DULUTH -- The Superior High School boys hockey team kicked off the Duluth Marshall Hilltoppers Classic with a 4-2 win over the New Ulm (Minn.) Eagles Monday afternoon at Mars Lakeview Arena.

Superior coach Jason Kalin gave junior goaltender Joel Pettingill his first varsity start, and early on the move may not have looked like a good one as the Spartans found themselves trailing 2-0 just 1:04 into the second period.

But Pettingill settled down, as did the rest of the Spartans as they improved to 5-2 on the season.

"It feels pretty good. I had a lot of fun out there," Pettingill said. "I was pretty nervous, especially when it went to 2-0. But I stuck with it and didn't let any more in.

"The guys were pretty good about it (being behind). They've played varsity before and had been through it."

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