By Bruce Karnick

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Saint Thomas Academy, three words that will make any Hastings Raiders fan’s blood boil. There are a lot of things that can and do get said about STA around the metro, so when any other team is in a position to beat them, it’s a big deal and a great feeling. STA was ranked as the third best team in the state to start the hockey season. To add to the powerhouse status of STA, they have a player, #15 Jackson Hallum, that has already been drafted by the Las Vegas Knights. His rights were claimed in the third round of the 2020 draft. What does that do to opponents mentally?

“Yeah, I mean we played them last year and he was obviously a great skater and player and I feel like we really had him on the lockdown tonight. It just gets the boys riled up to play him because he’s a good player and we just get energized and ready to go,” Stephen Reifenberger said after the game.

If you watched the first two periods of the Hastings vs STA game on Thursday night, you might not have seen their full capabilities. Hastings had been in control most of the first two periods.

It started with a goal by #11 Luke Savage, 1:05 into the first period. #7 Connor Stoffel got the assist.

5:49 in the first, STA’s #11 Brooks Bond scored with seven seconds left in the first powerplay of the game to tie the score.

14:12 in the first #8 Jake Harris found the mesh after a beautiful pass from #16 Jager Kendall.

Hastings would end the first period up 2-1 on STA. The second period STA came out aggressive. The puck ended up behind the Hastings goal and Goalie Tyler McCarville went to set it up for his defense. STA’s forecheck was so quick and aggressive, McCarville had to make a decision to leave the puck, last second for his defense to take over. The defense did not take the cue and STA would gain possession. A quick pass out front caught McCarville out of position, allowing the game tying goal, even strength goal by #8 Tanner Brouwer at 13 seconds into the second period.

“You know I just talked to my defense and I’m like hey we got to communicate there and that was it, we just put it right past us. I think we’ll work on it practice tomorrow,” McCarville explained.

6:51 in the second, Harris would return the favor and feed Kendall for his first goal of the season. “The second one I actually got the assist. [#22] Joe Benson gave it to me on the strong side, I took it to the net Jager Kendall got the rebound in,” Harris Explained.

That gave Hastings the lead again, 3-2 until a St. Thomas penalty, Interference on #16 Jared Wright, would give Hastings a chance to extend their lead. At the 13:20 mark, #20 Stephen Reifenberger was setup by Harris and Kendall with a straight on shot at the goal. This was a close to a breakaway one could get with out it being called a breakaway. Reifenberger got to pick his target on STA’s Carsten Lardy and he went to the stick side of the net to give Hastings the 4-2 lead at the end of the second.

“The goal really started off the boys off and we just really got the energy going and try to get the puck in the net I think we just battled in there, St. Thomas is obviously a good team and all, but I think it really got the boys energized and ready to go and just came out and handle them in their end,” Reifenberger recalled after the game.

During the third intermission, with a 4-2 lead over the third ranked team in the state, what was coaches’ message to the guys?

“Just finished the game keep playing, just try and keep on them and put them in their zone. Obviously, they’re a good, skilled team and when you let off just a little bit, they can come in, put the puck in the net at any time so we just gotta, we’ve got to finish strong at all times,” Reifenberger added.

STA increased their pressure, and 16 seconds into the third period, closed the gap on Hastings on a goal from #7 Max Nagel.

Seconds later, #10 Jonathon Peine went to the box on a tripping penalty for Hastings and that opened the door for STA once more. At the 2:18 mark, with 19 seconds left in the powerplay, #9 Tyler Grahme found the back of the net behind McCarville and tied the game at 4.

After playing such a strong first two periods against a really good opponent, what was McCarville thinking after the second quick goal in the third?

“I was just trying not to overthink anything, and I was just trying to play my game. Then they come out fast and they get a couple,” he said.

McCarville did a great job of shaking it off, even after STA’s fifth and final goal of the game at the 7:01 mark of the third. #3 Johnny Johannson bounced one past McCarville for the eventual game winner.

“I think I did a good job putting it past me and then they get a lucky bounce, and that’s it,” McCarville said.

After the game, Head Coach Adam Welch explained how the guys were excited to have a test like St. Thomas to start the year to see where they are really at as a team.

“I think it was a great experience for our kids to recognize the pace that we need to play at, if we want to have success against these great teams like St. Thomas. It was kind of one of those things of, I know a couple of guys are definitely breathing heavy on the bench and in the locker room, so it just gives us motivation to you know, work a little bit harder in practice to be in that shape in that condition to be able to play at that speed. Because when we get into section play, you know that Lakeville north and Lakeville south and, and those teams are going to be playing at that pace too.”

The final would end up 5-4 in favor of St. Thomas.

Final stat lines for the teams.

Shots on Goal: STA 46, Hastings 30 Saves: STA 26, Hastings 41 Save Percentage: STA .867, Hastings .891 Both teams had three penalties for six minutes total.

STA was 2 for 3 on the powerplay and Hastings was 1 for 3.

#20, Stephen Reifenberger scores a powerplay goal to give the Raiders a 4-2 lead late in the second period of the 5-4 loss against St. Thomas Academy. Assisting on the Goal were #8 Jake Harris and #16 Jager Kendall. Photo by Bruce Karnick