You never really understand how it feels to win, until it actually happens. And this year, we finally won.
March 21, 22 and 23 was the 2025 TAHA State Tournament. The Mansfield Varsity ice hockey team went into the tournament looking for pay-back, after losing in the city playoffs at the end of February.
Going into the weekend, I looked to stand out and be a difference-maker on the ice. In our first game against Birdville, I played on the top line with two very skilled seniors alongside me. We won that game 3-2, playing Odessa next. We’ve held a rivalry with Odessa for some time now, so we all knew that this game was going to be tough.
This game was interesting, and that is the only way to put it. We won 7-3, with one of our players scoring six of our goals. What makes it interesting is the fact that everybody played amazing. Everybody made the right passes, shots, hits and everyone was brought in to win.
Our last game in the round-robin was against Strake Jesuit, from Houston. This team had a rough weekend, getting blown out in their first two games. I knew that if I wanted to make a difference in the next round, I had to prove that I could do it now. We won this game 8-6, and I finished with a goal and an assist. It helped to see my friends and classmates on the other side of the glass cheering us on.
With the first round now over and us playing so well, our next game was the championship. We were set to play Southlake Carroll in the finals. This meant a little more to me and the other guys that go to Legacy because of how the football season ended. We wanted to win this for our friends who lost to Southlake in the past.
I woke up the morning of the 23rd, the game was in a few hours, my head was calm and ready to play. Getting dressed and eating, I locked in because I knew how much this game meant to everyone. Mansfield Hockey hasn’t won a state championship since 2003 and is not likely to win another one soon. This was the group of guys that had to get it done.
We played Southlake twice before this season, winning both games. While we were all confident, we knew that they were there to win also, so it would be a challenging game. Off-ice warmups held a certain vibe to it. Joking around with the fellas but also zoning into the game ahead of us.
We took the ice with the rink packed. The first period was smooth, we played great, they played great, and it ended 2-2. Things were feeling good, and I felt like I was playing my best and was ready to get the next goal.
On my very next shift, on my way to the puck in our zone, my season ended.
Skating on ice is always dangerous, especially when it has ridges and is beaten down and easy to fall on. My right skate caught an edge, sending me into the board’s head first. Luckily, I got my head out of the way in time, but that put my shoulder in a very vulnerable position. Landing hard on my shoulder and smashing into the boards tore the same rotator cuff as before. This was now my third time with this exact injury. It sucked. I didn’t play the rest of the game and was forced to watch from the bench.
As much as I wanted to be upset and feel all the emotions, we were still in the State Championship. After spectating the next two periods, we were tied 4-4 heading into overtime. This was incredibly stressful. The next goal determines if we are state champs or losers.
After two gut-wrenching overtime periods, nobody scored, and we were on our way to a shootout.
Our first and second shooters both did not score. Southlake’s first two shooters were stopped by our goalie. Next up was my best friend, a freshman, who served such a big role on our team. He skated in slowly, found his spot and sniped. Then, their third shooter was stopped. We followed up with yet another goal, meaning if our goalie saves the next shot, we win.
The whole year came down to this play. The Southlake captain slowly approached the goal preparing to shoot. He shoots! And… NO GOAL!
We did it. State Champions. The name does not feel real. No matter if I played or not, this feeling was surreal. I couldn’t ask for a better group of guys to call my fellow champs. My best friends for the past eight months, some for much longer than that. Now, we are state champs.
