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M H J O N L I N E . C O M | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9 12 Photos /Matt Dewkett, Cates Family, Jean Catuffe/Getty Images C/LW 24/23 POSITION: AGE: Stillwater COLLEGE: DRAFT: University of Minnesota Duluth Jackson: UNDRAFTED Noah: FIFTH ROUND (No. 137 overall) by the Flyers in 2017 HOMETOWN: R CATES STILLWATER, MINNESOTA Three-year-old Jackson and two- Three-year-old Jackson and two- year-old Noah frequented the St. year-old Noah frequented the St. Croix Valley Recreation Center for Croix Valley Recreation Center for open skate. It didn't take long for open skate. It didn't take long for either to fall in love with the game. either to fall in love with the game. Their father, Jeff Cates, played Their father, Jeff Cates, played Division-III hockey at the University Division-III hockey at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Uncle Jay of Wisconsin-River Falls. Uncle Jay Cates played for the Gophers. Cates played for the Gophers. When it wasn't open skates, it was When it wasn't open skates, it was in the garage, down in the basement, in the garage, down in the basement, and any where the duo could practice and any where the duo could practice one-timers, dangles, and passes. one-timers, dangles, and passes. "We learned pretty quickly that we "We learned pretty quickly that we were able to play together instead of were able to play together instead of against each other," recalled Jackson. against each other," recalled Jackson. With less than two years separat- With less than two years separat- ing them, Jackson and Noah were ing them, Jackson and Noah were teammates ever y other year in teammates ever y other year in Squirts, Peewees and Bantams, fol- Squirts, Peewees and Bantams, fol- lowed by two years together on the lowed by two years together on the varsity squad in high school. varsity squad in high school. Ask either Jackson or Noah what Ask either Jackson or Noah what stands out about playing together stands out about playing together as kids and they both immediately as kids and they both immediately share the same answer: 2016. share the same answer: 2016. 2016 is the year that Noah scored 2016 is the year that Noah scored an overtime game-winning spin- an overtime game-winning spin- o-rama goal to capture the Section o-rama goal to capture the Section 4A A title and send Stillwater to the 4A A title and send Stillwater to the state high school tournament. state high school tournament. It was a highlight-reel goal that It was a highlight-reel goal that went viral on social media and news went viral on social media and news outlets, including SportsCenter's outlets, including SportsCenter's No. 1 play of the night. It began with No. 1 play of the night. It began with Gavin Holland's stretch pass to Gavin Holland's stretch pass to Noah, who had enough confidence Noah, who had enough confidence in his puck-protecting ability to do in his puck-protecting ability to do a 360-degree spin around a Hill- a 360-degree spin around a Hill- Murray defense- Murray defense- man before pow- man before pow- ering to the front ering to the front of the net, bury- of the net, bury- ing it w ith a crash ing it w ith a crash in epic fa sh ion. in epic fa sh ion. The Ponies' stu- The Ponies' stu- dent section went dent section went w i ld at sold-out w i ld at sold-out Aldrich Arena. Aldrich Arena. "To do that with that team, with "To do that with that team, with my brother and four or five best my brother and four or five best friends, it's what you dream of," said friends, it's what you dream of," said Noah. "Since I was in second grade, Noah. "Since I was in second grade, I dreamed of saying 'Hi Mom' at the I dreamed of saying 'Hi Mom' at the tournament. So it was one of those tournament. So it was one of those lifelong dreams that you work for. lifelong dreams that you work for. "So that over time goa l was super "So that over time goa l was super specia l not just for me, but for the specia l not just for me, but for the entire organization and communi- entire organization and communi- t y in Stillwater. A lot of good mem- t y in Stillwater. A lot of good mem- ories there." ories there." Jack son wa s a proud a nd g rate- Jack son wa s a proud a nd g rate- f u l brother. f u l brother. "Suddenly I was one of the few kids "Suddenly I was one of the few kids who got to play in front of 18,000 at who got to play in front of 18,000 at the state tournament," said Jackson. the state tournament," said Jackson. "I was pretty star struck at the time. "I was pretty star struck at the time. There's nothing like that." There's nothing like that." The Ponies won their quarterfi- The Ponies won their quarterfi- nal matchup against Farmington, nal matchup against Farmington, 4 -1—Noa h ta llied a goa l and t wo 4 -1—Noa h ta llied a goa l and t wo assists. Stillwater fell to the even- assists. Stillwater fell to the even- tual state champs from Wayzata in tual state champs from Wayzata in the semifinals. the semifinals. "It wasn't the outcome we wanted, "It wasn't the outcome we wanted, but it truly is a memory that will but it truly is a memory that will last a lifetime," said Noah. "That's last a lifetime," said Noah. "That's why you play high school hockey. To why you play high school hockey. To achieve and live a dream like that achieve and live a dream like that with your best friends you grew up with your best friends you grew up with. Having my brother is definite- with. Having my brother is definite- ly an added bonus." ly an added bonus." From left to right: Noah Cates, Jackson Cates and Roseville native Mikey Anderson celebrate the 2019 NCAA National Championship. M H J ON L I N E . C O M | O C T O B E R 2 0 2 2 12 JACKSON/NOAH Noah and Jackson have been teammates at virtually every level—Squirts, Peewees, Bantams, High School, College and the NHL. LOVE Brotherly Since I was in second grade, I dreamed of saying 'Hi Mom' at the state tournament. So it was one of those lifelong dreams that you work for." —Noah Cates