The Saint Xavier Ice Tigers made history on March 2, 2025, capturing their first-ever KHSHL state championship in dramatic fashion. In a hard-fought battle against Northern Kentucky, the Tigers secured a 5-4 victory in a shootout, avenging last season’s heartbreaking finals loss.
Entering the tournament as underdogs, the Ice Tigers started strong with a dominant 4-0 win over Louisville Metro in the quarterfinals. They then faced Owensboro in a rematch of last year’s championship game, delivering a commanding 5-0 victory to advance to the finals.
In the championship game, the Tigers faced Northern Kentucky, a powerhouse team that had already beaten them twice this season. Senior captain Colin Duncan described the locker room atmosphere before the game as “nervous and anxious,” but that changed just three minutes into the first period when Henry Arnold found the back of the net. The Tigers led 2-1 at the end of the first period and extended their lead to 3-1 after two.
Momentum shifted in the third period when Northern Kentucky capitalized on a power play to cut the lead to 3-2. The Tigers responded, making it 4-2 with five minutes remaining, but Northern Kentucky refused to back down, scoring twice to force overtime.
After a scoreless five-minute overtime period, the game was decided in a shootout. Despite the pressure, the Tigers felt prepared.
“We felt pretty confident when the game went into a shootout,” Duncan said. “Nick [Beam] scoring first really eased the nerves on our bench. Junior Goalie Ethan Spalding was locked in all night saving every shot he faced in the shootout, and when Spalding made that final save, it was just pure joy.”
For Duncan and his teammates, this championship was a part of a mindset they embraced from the start of the season. Duncan said earlier in the year, “As long as we play for the name on the front of the jersey and not the back, we will be on our way to a very successful season and hopefully bring home the state championship.” That mindset proved to be key. Duncan credited a shift in attitude late in the season for keeping the team focused on their goal.
“With two weeks left in the season, we really started preparing to make a run at state by shifting our attitude,” Duncan added. “As a team, we knew our expectation was to win the whole thing, but we did a great job of focusing on one game at a time. Going into the tournament, we knew staying positive was a priority, so we all made sure to keep a good attitude on the bench, even when we weren’t getting the bounces.”
With their teamwork, determination, and team culture, the Ice Tigers achieved what no Saint Xavier hockey team had before. From the start of the season, their goal was clear, and they embraced every challenge along the way. This championship not only cements their place in school history, but also proved that with the right mindset and a commitment to each other, anything is possible and now, they are state champions.
“To be a part of this team is so special not only because we accomplished something that has never been done before, but also because I have played with most of the players on this team since I was ten years old,” Beam said. “For my last game with them to be winning the state championship is amazing.”
