The boys hockey team took the ice with optimism on Feb. 24 against the Hudson Raiders. The team came to the quarter final game off a hot 5-2 win against Eau Claire Memorial the week prior. It felt like everything was coming together, but it just wasn’t their night. The Hudson Raiders took a 3-1 victory over the Spartans to advance to the section final game where they will be facing the Stevens Point area Panthers.
This game was highly anticipated because the Spartans walked into the Raiders home rink as the No. 4 while Hudson remained the best team in the state at the No. 1 slot.
While the Spartans had previously fallen to the Raiders in a 4-0 home loss, the optimism of the team remained high as the Raiders had just gone through a close battle with the Tomahawk Hatchets who Superior managed to beat 7-1 earlier in the season.
The Raiders were ready, and so were their fans. The atmosphere was electric and it felt as if the roof would fly right off. The student section roared as the players took the ice and the game was on its way.
The student section was quickly silenced by a Spartan goal scored by senior forward Maverick Milroy (27) on the first shot and shift of the game. That would be all for Spartan scoring, as halfway into the second period, Hudson’s Caiden Spreiter (22) received a pass from across the crease and scored a backdoor goal to tie the game at one on a powerplay.
Then, with nine minutes left in the second, on another power play, the Raiders passed around the zone moving it to Brady Swanson (11) in front of the net who capitalized to give the Raiders a 2-1 lead. Finally to end out scoring for the night, Hudson’s Will Mauer (15) extended the Raiders lead to 3-1.
The Spartans ended the season with a 8-15-1 record and two playoff wins. Back in the locker room, the large senior class shared their last moments all together at the rink. Senior captain Brady Haroldson and head coach Rob Downs shared a hug before he took his memory-filled jersey off one last time.
“My favorite part of playing Spartan hockey was coming to the rink everyday and playing with friends I’ve played hockey with my whole life. It has meant a lot to be a part of this program the past four years and leading the team to the best of my ability,” said Haroldson.
The returning players are starting to reflect on their season while already thinking ahead to next season.
“Watching the older guys has taught me how to become a leader and how to play better as a team, which I will take into next year,” said sophomore Thoren Netland.
Players are preparing for next year by staying conditioned through their spring seasons and lifting with the off season program.
