Varsity Roller Hockey played Wentzville High School at Madison Square Garden and won with the score of 5-6 on April 6. Wentzville is seen as North’s biggest competition in the league. The coaches had specialized the practices in order to have the team prepared for a win.

“We had gone over what we thought they would do, and ran with it,” Assistant Coach Matt Stobart said. “We practiced plays we knew would benefit us.”

Within the first ten minutes, senior Ryan Krakowsky pulled back with a slapshot and the puck found its way past the goalie, scoring the very first goal. Wentzville came back quickly with two goals making the score 2-1. Knowing the competition, there was tension between the teams and penalties were a common sight. The penalties caused the teams to go into a four against two power play. North had the first penalty called on them; however, the defense and goalie kept Wentzville from scoring during it.

After several penalties ended, North tied it up, but Wentzville scored a third goal with barely twenty one seconds left in the first half.

“That kept my wheels moving and head up,” senior Ryan Salmon said. “ Like Coach Stobart always says, get your mind right  and get back out there.”

 The second half started off with North scoring twice within the first minute of the seventeen minute half, making the score 4-3, only to have Wentzville tie it up again.

“We’re playing one of the best teams in the league, of course it’s going to be down to the wire,” Stobart said.

The teams were neck and neck throughout the game and the score tied three separate times throughout the game, but near the end North took the lead, taking the victory.

“It felt amazing to win,” junior player Brendan Johnson said. “I knew it was going to be a close and competitive game.”