In an elite match-up between the Red Knights of Benilde-St. Margaret’s and the Sabres of Shattuck-St. Mary’s, the boys’ hockey team dominated three periods with aggressive and physical play, coming out with a 5-2 win. While Shattuck doesn’t play a traditional schedule, the Sabres have a 0-2 record against MSHSL teams.

Both teams started strong with multiple scoring opportunities. Senior goaltender Andrew Sprang, a former Shattuck player, made several outstanding saves against the nationally acclaimed Sabres. “Sprang played really well and we needed him to play with that consistency with playoffs and he’s really starting to show that,” senior captain Grant Besse said.

Despite Shattuck’s advances, the Red Knights never lost the lead. Besse had the first goal for the Red Knights assisted by his linemate Dan Labosky and defender Peter Heimbold. Shattuck answered early in the second with a goal from senior Brett Boeing. Junior Spencer Naas responded with a pass from junior Evan Fleming, answered by SSM’s Marcel Godbout in the third. Newhouse scored the third goal, solidifying the Red Knight lead, assists coming from Besse and T.J. Moore. The final goals were scored by Besse from junior Johnny Austin, and the last by Austin unassisted on an open Shattuck net.

“In the four years that I’ve been here, it’s the first time we’ve beat them,” Besse said. “I think the game went really well, we played really well defensively and we need that defensive game, but it was an all out team effort.”