The realm of high school sports in the United States is highly esteemed compared to other countries. From the ultra-competitive Texas football powerhouses to the highly selective Minnesota hockey academies, high school sports play an integral role in the lives of millions of Americans. The historic cross-town rivalries create a unique playing field that allows everyone to get a shot at glory. In early February, the Saint Louis Priory varsity hockey team was battling for a shot at the famed Wickenhauser Cup championship, a competition that the Ravens claimed first place in two years ago. This year, the Senior hockey players put everything on the line for one last taste of the glory that their Sophomore selves relished in.
The first round of the Missouri Mid States Club Hockey tournament took place the weekend of February 2-5. The tournament was designed in a pool-style play with one team advancing from each pool. For the Priory hockey team, this meant an extremely challenging weekend with games against Seckman High School, Lafayette High School, and finally Fox High School. In the week leading up to the first game on Friday against Seckman, it was clear that the team was in good spirits and ready to battle. When asked about his thoughts on the upcoming game, Senior winger Grant McGowan said, “The guys are excited to compete…it should be a good game against Seckman but I’m confident we have the better offense and more scoring threats on the ice.” Similar confidence was expressed by Senior defenseman, Gabe Kraus, when asked about the practice preparation strategies stating, “This week should be pretty light, in practice we are going to be focusing a lot on formation and finishing as well as watching film to prepare.”
On Friday, February 2nd, after a long week of practice, gameday had finally arrived and the excitement on the Priory campus was tangible. With the game quickly approaching, the necessary steps that players take to prepare are of the utmost importance. As the fifth-period bell rang, Senior winger Cole Clinton decided that he would be spending his lunch hour at Raising Cane’s where he ordered a basket of their famous fried chicken. Intrigued by this choice, I asked Cole why he chose this over the more nutritious options offered on campus. Cole responded, “Because I like chicken, and the lunches on Friday are always bad.” Cole seemed completely unbothered by the potential risks of eating fast food. With a quick Google search, it can be discovered that eating fried foods before engaging in strenuous activities can have many consequences such as sluggishness, fatigue, and bloating. Still, Cole remained unfazed by the facts and continued to indulge himself.
The game on Friday took place at the FSI Shark Tank; despite being over 20 minutes away from Priory, the student section had its largest showing of the year and packed an entire section of bleachers. The varsity hockey team did not disappoint and ended up handily beating the Seckman Jaguars 10-2. Following the win, Gabe Kraus, who found the back of the net twice, had this to say regarding the team’s performance, “We jumped on them from the start and didn’t let up…if we can play like that against Lafayette we should have no trouble.”
With their first postseason win secured, the Raven hockey players had no time for celebration as sights were set on the big game against Lafayette the following night. As the players packed their bags and left the arena for the night, a newfound sense of confidence was shared among the team. It was now time to get some rest in preparation for the battles ahead.
The following night, Saturday, February 3rd, the Priory Ravens met the Lafayette Lancers at the Maryville University Hockey Center for the most anticipated game of the season. For the Lancers, this meant a long-awaited chance for revenge. In 2021, the Ravens defeated the Lancers in a nail-biting comeback victory to claim the Wickenhauser trophy. As students and fans entered the arena, an overwhelming feeling of tension and angst circulated through the air.
Through two periods, the Ravens remained neck and neck with the Lancers. Both student sections erupted at the sight of crushing hits and close saves. In the final minutes of the third period, the Lancers capitalized on a broken play and finished the breakaway, taking the lead by one goal. The Ravens were down 1-2 with three minutes left; it was now time to put everything on the line for the seniors. After all, the team had come too far to give up now. As the puck dropped to center ice, it was clear that fire had been lit under the skates of every Priory hockey player. The Ravens shot down the ice, trouncing the unprepared Lancer defensemen. Eventually, the puck circulated to the veteran Gabe Kraus who sent it flying at the net with one swift sweep. The entire arena went silent as a herd of players surrounded the net, scrappily fighting for the puck. Simultaneously, the referee blew the whistle as sophomore winger Max Nadaud poked the puck past the goalie.
A brief minute of confusion throughout the crowd was quickly followed by outrage. Amid the chaos, the referee had prematurely blown his whistle and stopped play; as he explained to Priory’s head coach Paul Cavallini, the referee believed the puck had been covered by the Lancer goalie. This colossal mistake would decide the fate of the game as Priory was forced to pull their goalie in desperation, leading to another two Lancer goals in the final minutes. Riddled with disappointment, the Priory team exited the rink with their heads down as Lancer fans obnoxiously celebrated their victory.
Approximately 25 minutes after the final whistle, Cole Clinton left the locker room, still visibly distraught by the outcome. When asked about the deciding call, Cole said, “It was total bull****, the ref blew his whistle way too early…we definitely could have pulled that game out.” Despite their misfortune, the Ravens had no choice but to focus their attention on the next game against a highly skilled Fox team.
Two nights later on Monday, February 5th, the Priory Ravens took to the ice for one final test. The game was played at the South County Ice Rink, home of the Fox Warriors. Both sides battled till the final whistle, putting on an exhilarating spectacle for the many fans who made the trip. The Warriors and Ravens went back and forth, but with a third-period surge, the Ravens were able to sneak in two late goals and win the game 5-4.
With no chance of advancing, the Priory hockey team’s season ended in a bittersweet fashion. However, the players held their heads high with pride as students and fans commenced in the traditional “Country Roads” and “Thank you, Seniors!” chants. As the herd of people rushed out of the double doors, an eerie silence infiltrated the rink. For the seniors, a chapter of life had been closed prematurely. In Gabe Kraus’ case, this meant an end to the 15 years of hockey that occupied much of his young life. As he unlaced his skates one final time, Kraus’ words captivated this feeling perfectly, “This sport has taught me so much and given me some of the best times of my life; it’s gonna be very difficult to say goodbye, but the hard truth is that only one team will be celebrating at the end of the season, that’s what makes high school sports enjoyable…the level of competitiveness.”
