10 years ago this week...

This is a look back at some of the people and teams making news in the St. Croix Valley 10 years ago, as reported in the Stillwater Gazette.

Special Olympics — The St. Croix Valley Lumberjacks endure frigid conditions while raising $8,865 for Special Olympics Minnesota by participating in a Polar Plunge at Lake Calhoun in Minneapolis. Temperatures for the plunge were minus-1 degrees with wind chill temps around 20 below, but that did not deter the 30 individuals representing the Lumberjacks from taking the plunge.

Boys hockey — Making its first-ever appearances in the boys hockey state tournament, Stillwater falls to state tournament regulars Edina (6-1) and Duluth East (2-1 in overtime). Edina, making its eighth straight trip to state, jumps out to a 4-0 lead in the opening period. Josh Benson totals 36 saves in goal for the Ponies against Duluth East, which is making its sixth consecutive and 20th state tourney appearance overall. The Ponies, advancing to state for the first time in 59 seasons, finish with a 16-12-2 record.

Girls basketball — Paige Becker scores a game-high 20 points, but the Ponies fall to top-seeded White Bear Lake in the semifinals of the Section 4AAAA tournament at East Ridge High School. The Ponies (9-19) lead by five points at the break, but are outscored 38-26 in the second half.