“Ucci!” junior Zack Hale yelled as he walked off the ice at Blooming Ice Garden on Saturday, February 23. After the Red Knights held on for a 5-3 win over the Eden Prairie Eagles in the section 6AA semifinals, Benilde-St. Margaret’s earned their way into the section finals at the University of Minnesota’s Mariucci arena.

Upwards of 2000 hockey fans packed into the rink to see one of the most anticipated games of the section playoffs. Section 6AA has been an annual powerhouse in the state for hockey, as the champion has played in the state championship for four consecutive years, and won three of those.

The matchup was set for a fast-paced, physical game between fourth seeded Eden Prairie and first seeded Benilde-St. Margaret’s. The Red Knights won the first game between the two by a score of 3-2 just two weeks prior to the section contest.

BSM found themselves in a 2-1 deficit early in the second period, but senior Chris Hickok came up with a big goal to tie the game and change the momentum. “I think that changed the momentum of the whole game…when Chris [Hickok] scored, it stopped their momentum right in its tracks,” Head Coach Ken Pauly said.

The Red Knights will face the Wayzata Trojans on Wednesday, Feb. 27 at Mariucci. The two split games during the regular season, with Wayzata winning the first 7-1 in the Sports Authority Classic championship and BSM winning 5-2 just a week later.