St. Ben’s hockey clinches No. 3 seed in the MIAC playoff tournament

Last weekend, the CSB Hockey team ended its regular season with a 2-0 series sweep against Concordia-Moorhead. With this win, the Bennies were able to clinch a playoff spot in the MIAC tournament. This is their first tournament appearance since the 2022-23 season. They earned the No. 3 seed and will face the No. 2 seed Hamline on Saturday.

Senior Mia Lopez was excited about the regular season, saying the team did better than they were expecting. There were some records broken this season and they tied for the most wins in a season in CSB Hockey history. Heading into the postseason, the Bennies are focusing on one game at a time.

“Our goals for the postseason are to continue putting in the work and staying focused on what’s directly in front of us, starting with our game this Saturday. We’re taking it one game at a time, trusting our preparation, and pushing to go as far as we can in the playoffs,” Lopez said.

The team has been making their final preparations in practice ahead of Saturday’s game.

“Focusing on our systems, our strengths, and the little things that will make a huge difference in our game. We’re emphasizing playing our game, supporting one another, and giving it our all since this is what we have been trying to accomplish all season,” Lopez said.

As a senior, Lopez has many memories from her time at CSB.

“One of my favorites has been the way our team has grown closer both on and off the ice. The chemistry we’ve built and the resilience we’ve shown in tough moments has made this season unforgettable,” Lopez said.

Senior Jamie Bimberg also said the team exceeded their expectations.

“Our goal was to do well in the regular season, so we could make playoffs and be in a good spot for that. We achieved this by being back in the tournament as a third seed. Everyone worked so hard and had great attitudes, which helped us to be successful,” Bimberg said.

With a young team, the Bennies knew this would be a rebuilding year, but still had high hopes and goals.

“We wanted to make playoffs. We wanted to build chemistry and confidence in our younger players, pull off some upsets. We wanted to prove we were a team that couldn’t be taken lightly,” Bimberg said.

After not making the MIAC tournament for two seasons, the Bennies were finally able to clinch a spot. Bimberg attributed this success to hard work of every single player.

“It started from the very beginning where every single player on this team was fully committed and wanted to reach this goal. This is one of the most hardworking teams I’ve been on. With a common goal and a common attitude, we were able to achieve more success,” Bimberg said.

Being her senior season, Bimberg’s favorite moment was beating Gustavus because CSB has never done this. She also enjoyed their game against Concordia as that was the win which clinched them the third seed.

Junior Shae Stinnett said the final series against Concordia was meaningful for the team.

“We knew what was on the line, and I think that brought out the best in our team. Everyone bought in, played physically, and stayed disciplined. It was such a complete team effort, and you could feel the urgency from the first puck drop,” Stinnett said.

Heading into the game against Hamline, the Bennies’ goal is to complete for a full 60 minutes.

“We want to make a strong run and show how much this program has grown. Being back in this position means a lot, and we’re motivated to make the most of the opportunity,” Stinnett said.

One of Stinnett’s favorite moments from the season was the final game against Concordia where she scored the game-winning goal.

“I was grateful to score the goal, but it really came from the effort and support of my teammates throughout the entire game. It was a true team win and a reflection of the hard work, resilience, and commitment everyone has shown all season to earn our spot,” Stinnett said.