After a 0-3 defeat to Benilde-St. Margaret’s, senior captain Jacob Favour said he was proud of the team’s tenacity, despite the loss, which puts Park at a record of 5-9-1.  

“I think it went very well. It didn’t have the results that I wanted, but with everything going on with our team, I’d say I’m really happy with the result,” Favour said. “Obviously, I’m not happy that we lost, but the effort our team put in is what I’m really proud of.”

The team went into the game as heavy underdogs, as Benilde hockey is the 5th ranked program in class 2A. However, acting head coach Andy Ewald said the fan presence helped vitalize the team, which held Benilde scoreless through two periods Jan. 22.

“I don’t think the crowd impacted the outcome,” Ewald said. “But I think the crowd impacted our team and our bench because I believe that our bench, and I know I felt it, was getting energized by our crowd.”

According to sophomore Griffin Krone, the team’s defense was the main contributor to competing against Benilde. However, Benilde was able to put in three goals early in the third period which put the game away.

“We played really good defense. Our goalie played out of this world, but it was just those last five minutes that hurt us,” Krone said.

Ewald said he enjoyed seeing the team stick together through the game and not lose heart.

“Just seeing the kids work hard and play together and not drop their heads and how they were on the bench with each other, to in the locker room (was nice),” Ewald said. “They’re a really close group and that’s just fun to see.”

Favour said the opposing team played strategically and to its strengths, and capitalized off of Park’s game plan.

“They just were really smart. They took advantage of us not having the strongest coaching because we didn’t really have a strong coaching plan,” Favour said. “They took advantage of that by coming at us with schemes that we couldn’t really battle.”

Ewald said success is bound to occur for the team, given that they stay committed and consistent through the rest of the season.

“If they just keep with that type of togetherness and that type of energy and attitude and effort, they’ll win a lot of games during the rest of the season,” Ewald said.

Park’s next game is against Waconia 7 p.m. Jan. 25 at the St. Louis Park Recreation Center.