Boys Hockey Team gears up to take the 2016 State Tournament

Clare Tipler, Sports Editor
February 28, 2016

Before the St.Paul Academy and Summit School Boys Hockey Team took the ice on Feb. 26 for their section final game, a major shock game in the form of their opponent.

The Mahtomedi Zephyrs were the first seed in the section 4A tournament and defeated SPA last season in the section final.

This year though, the Spartans faced the fifth seed Totino-Grace Eagles in the final and came out on top with a score of 7-1. The team expected to face the Zephyrs, however, the Zephyrs were defeated by the Totino-Grace Eagles in a huge upset.

“

I have said goodbye to three years of seniors, and every year we’ve promised them this is the year. We finally did it this year.

— Senior Justin Jallen

This win granted the Spartans a spot in the 2016 MN State Tournament, the first time since the team joined the Minnesota State High School League in 1975.

Senior forward Justin Jallen had a hat trick (three goals), and sophomore forward Dev McCabe, junior forward Jack Johnston, junior defenseman Noel Parker, and senior defenseman Evan Dahlseide each scored one goal.

“I have said goodbye to three years of seniors, and every year we’ve promised them this is the year. We finally did it this year,” Jallen said in an interview for the Pioneer Press.

Excitement is high for the team’s first State Tournament game on Mar. 2 at 8pm. The game is at the Excel Energy Center against St.Paul Cathedral and student tickets cost $11.

The remainder of the schedule will be determined after the first game. Check back here for the rest of the game results and for additional coverage of the games. The first game will also be live-Tweeted, so check social-media for updates.