After SSM students get a nice break in the spring, they tend to come back with a lot of energy and excitement for the final stretch of school. That couldn’t be more true for all members of the Hockey Signature Program.
From March 18-22, and March 24-29, every hockey team goes their separate ways to compete for national championships. For the Boys 14U team, they headed out to Plymouth, MI. The 15O and 16u team traveled to Green Bay, WI. The Girls 16U and Prep teams went all the way to Buffalo, NY. The Boys 18U and Girls 19U teams trekked all the way to Plymouth, MN. And finally, The Boys Prep team was in sunny Las Vegas, NV. It’s considered the best time of the year as it is the peak of the season and what they work for all year.
Two teams came out on top this year. The Boys 15O team and the Boys Prep Team.
The Boys 15O team at SSM had never won a title at the level. That is not the case anymore. They played a near perfect tournament with a 6-0 record and a commanding playoff performance. They capped it off with a 5-4 victory to clinch the title.
The hockey seasons are long at SSM, but things like these are what make it truly special. Brayden Hekle ‘28 explained,”Through the highs and lows of the season we knew we could win nationals and to see it all come together was amazing.”
One other team came home with a blue banner, and that was the Boys Prep team. This is now the fourth time in a row dating back to the 2022-23 school year that they have won.
It wasn’t a picture perfect start for the team though, winning the first game in a dramatic comeback, and dropping their second game of the tournament. But it may have lit a fire in the group. Garrett Glaser ‘26, a goalie on the team stated,” It wasn’t the start we wanted, but we had belief in ourselves and knew we could still win if we stayed together and played as a team.”
And that they did, winning four straight games en route to a championship. Something that they will cherish for the rest of their lives. Glaser said,”It was such a surreal moment, and to do it with this team made it even better. One of the best moments in my time at SSM.”
The Hockey Signature Program now is in the middle of their spring training program which they will continue until the end of the school year.
