Chargers regroup after city tourney exit to punch ticket to state championship
Carroll hockey has truly turned the postseason into a second season. And for that, the Chargers will play for a state championship on Saturday.
"We've worked hard for this all season," freshman center Dylan Braun adds. "We had a lot of our freshmen step up, take some places and get some big goals to win us games."
The fourth-ranked Chargers advanced through the Indiana State High School Hockey Association state tournament a week ago, going 3-1 to punch their ticket to the 2A title game.
"We've been battling all year," freshman right wing Finn Cupp says. "We've had a rough year. A lot of kids had been out with injuries and being sick. We're all warriors, and we all care about this team with our whole heart."
Carroll dominated the #5 Columbus Icemen, 6-1, to open the playdowns last Friday. Saturday started with a bit of adversity when #1 South Bend Riley edged Carroll, 2-1, in overtime. The Chargers bounced back: taking another 6-1 victory over #8 Indianapolis Brebeuf, 6-1; and beating Fort Wayne Amateur Hockey Association league foe #6 Leo, 5-1.
"After losing in the semi-finals of (the Memorial Cup city championship), I think that fueled us," freshman center Carter Gnau tells the Parkview Sports Network. "We wanted to be better. We wanted to win state."
Carroll will meet top-ranked Riley once again Saturday, looking to avenge the sudden-death loss of a week ago. The puck drops on the 2A state champiop at 12:30 p.m. at the Ice Box Skating Rink in South Bend.
Carroll Chargers Hockey and the entire Fort Wayne Amateur Hockey Association partners with Parkview Sports Medicine for sports performance, athletic training, nutrition, athletic rehab and other sports medicine services. Learn more at www.parkviewsportsmedicine.com and www.fwaha.org.