Credit to Kyle Button

The FHN Goalie attempts to make a save against Francis Howell.

Many years ago, FHN had their own hockey team. The team had games and moments that are essential to FHN’s history. However, the team was disbanded due to unfortunate events that resulted in its current absence. These events include the struggles in player numbers, or in some cases, lacking the funding needed to continue. This led to the hockey team being discontinued from 2022 and onward until further notice. Someone who knows about some of the reasons is Joe Brocksmith whose son was initially going to play but ultimately decided not to.

“I was like, man, I’ll email the coach or something and tell them you’re not interested,” Brocksmith said. “But when I got there on Monday, the coach sent out an email that Sunday saying there wasn’t enough kids to play.”

Although there is currently no hockey team, the team’s legacy still plays a part in FHN’s history. A previous coach for the Knights during the 2014 and 2015 seasons is Matthew Jeans. 

“We always had limited numbers,” Jeans said. “There was a season where we only had eight kids in the JV team and we ended up winning the JV league because it was the right eight kids.” 

FHN’s hockey team has had plenty of special games, but among them were two games that truly defined the hockey team. These two games include the intense game against CBC and the win for FHN in the Wickenheiser Cup.

“The best game I’ve ever coached was when we played CBC,” Jeans said.

CBC had gone undefeated during the 2014-2015 season and with FHN not doing what they were supposed to do during the game. Things were not going well.

“They drilled us out here 8-1. I walked in the locker room, I was frustrated. I said ‘If we’re gonna play like this, I’m not coming tomorrow.’ I tell the team ‘Guys I’ve been going all year long about dividing the ice in half and working the system but all of a sudden big bad CBC’s here and it seems like we quit playing.”

The team was struggling with their teamwork skills. But once Jeans explained to them how they need to do what they practiced and work together instead of individually, the next day, the game took a turn for the better.

“With five minutes and 34 seconds left in the game we were tied zero to zero with CBC, on their ice which was huge,” Jeans said. “ CBC was getting mad, they were getting frustrated.”

But unfortunately the head coach for FHN made a mistake putting one of their AAA forwards on defense. Although Jeans protested against this, the head coach persisted. And with two faulting mistakes for the goalie on the FHN hockey team. CBC was able to score twice in the last minutes and win the game. 

“We lost the game 2 to nothing,” Jeans said “But we had them on the ropes, we pushed them to the limit that series, and that was the best game I’ve ever coached.”

Although FHN was not able to win the game. They were able to prove themselves able to go against the top team in the league, stand on their own, and leave the ice with pride. 

Another game that was definitive for FHN’s hockey team was when they won the Wichenheiser Cup in the 2013-2014 season. Someone who coached alongside Jeans for FHN’s hockey team during this time was Bryan Foeller.

“It was a one game, take all type of playoff format and the boys didn’t have an outstanding season to put us in that position, but they came together late in the season,” Foeller said.

Although the start may have been a little rough, with all team members healthy and ready for their games, the FHN hockey team continued to fight for the Wickenheiser Cup.

“It was a championship game and we played where the St. Louis Blues played at,” Foeller said. “They came together at the right time, the leadership in the locker room was fantastic, and the boys took it upon themselves to win that championship,”.

Although the FHN hockey program is currently discontinued, its lasting spirit still remains within previous coaches, players, and fans who happened to witness its times. Even though the skates are hung up for now, the hockey team will remain as an important part of FHN’s history and legacy going forward.