Mid States Challenge Cup semifinal, Game 2: De Smet 6, Marquette 1
De Smet Spartans defenseman Jayson Drezek (71) keeps Marquette Mustangs defenseman Noah Huber (16) from getting to the loose puck after De Smet Spartans goalie Brian Ray(50) knocks it to the side during a Mid States Club Hockey Challenge Cup semi final playoff game two on Saturday February 21st, 2026 at the Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights. Rick Ulreich, Special to the Post-Dispatch
De Smet Spartans forward Ryan Gissy (17) battles with Marquette Mustangs defenseman Declan Riley (86) in front of Marquette Mustangs goalie Aidan Reatini (3) during a Mid States Club Hockey Challenge Cup semi final playoff game two on Saturday February 21st, 2026 at the Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights. Rick Ulreich, Special to the Post-Dispatch
De Smet players celebrate their win moving them to the Championship game during a Mid States Club Hockey Challenge Cup semi final playoff game two on Saturday February 21st, 2026 at the Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights. Rick Ulreich, Special to the Post-Dispatch
De Smet Spartans forward Dillon Grupe (97) skates with the puck during a Mid States Club Hockey Challenge Cup semi final playoff game two on Saturday February 21st, 2026 at the Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights. Rick Ulreich, Special to the Post-Dispatch
De Smet Spartans forward Colin Varady (12) scores from one knee past Marquette Mustangs goalie Aidan Reatini (3) during a Mid States Club Hockey Challenge Cup semi final playoff game two on Saturday February 21st, 2026 at the Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights. Rick Ulreich, Special to the Post-Dispatch
De Smet Spartans goalie Brian Ray(50) makes the save on Marquette Mustangs forward Kyle Hancock (52) before the collide during a Mid States Club Hockey Challenge Cup semi final playoff game two on Saturday February 21st, 2026 at the Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights. Rick Ulreich, Special to the Post-Dispatch
De Smet Spartans goalie Brian Ray(50) makes a blocker save during a Mid States Club Hockey Challenge Cup semi final playoff game two on Saturday February 21st, 2026 at the Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights. Rick Ulreich, Special to the Post-Dispatch
Marquette Mustangs forward Drew Cloninger (29) skates with the puck during a Mid States Club Hockey Challenge Cup semi final playoff game two on Saturday February 21st, 2026 at the Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights. Rick Ulreich, Special to the Post-Dispatch
De Smet Spartans forward Colin Varady (12) steps around the poke check of Marquette Mustangs goalie Aidan Reatini (3) before back handing the puck into the net for his second goal of the game during a Mid States Club Hockey Challenge Cup semi final playoff game two on Saturday February 21st, 2026 at the Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights. Rick Ulreich, Special to the Post-Dispatch
De Smet Spartans forward Broderick Gilbert (10) checks Marquette Mustangs forward Alexander Kaber (27) into the boards during a Mid States Club Hockey Challenge Cup semi final playoff game two on Saturday February 21st, 2026 at the Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights. Rick Ulreich, Special to the Post-Dispatch
De Smet Spartans forward Miles Heller (13) passes the puck while on the power play during a Mid States Club Hockey Challenge Cup semi final playoff game two on Saturday February 21st, 2026 at the Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights. Rick Ulreich, Special to the Post-Dispatch
De Smet Spartans forward Braden Tillitt (8) tries to center the puck against the defense of Marquette Mustangs defenseman Noah Huber (16) during a Mid States Club Hockey Challenge Cup semi final playoff game two on Saturday February 21st, 2026 at the Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights. Rick Ulreich, Special to the Post-Dispatch
De Smet plays celebrate in front of some of their student section fans after scoring a goal during a Mid States Club Hockey Challenge Cup semi final playoff game two on Saturday February 21st, 2026 at the Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights. Rick Ulreich, Special to the Post-Dispatch
Marquette Mustangs forward Drew Cloninger (29) celebrates with teammates on the bench after scoring the first goal of the game during a Mid States Club Hockey Challenge Cup semi final playoff game two on Saturday February 21st, 2026 at the Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights. Rick Ulreich, Special to the Post-Dispatch
De Smet Spartans forward Luke Grupe (98) pushes the easy button supplies by a member of the student section after scoring a goal during a Mid States Club Hockey Challenge Cup semi final playoff game two on Saturday February 21st, 2026 at the Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights. Rick Ulreich, Special to the Post-Dispatch
De Smet Spartans defenseman Cooper Lamia (43) keeps the puck in the offensive zone as he chips it off the boards past Marquette Mustangs forward Drew Eshelman (66) during a Mid States Club Hockey Challenge Cup semi final playoff game two on Saturday February 21st, 2026 at the Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights. Rick Ulreich, Special to the Post-Dispatch
De Smet Spartans defenseman Jayson Drezek (71) looks for a teammate to pass the puck to during a Mid States Club Hockey Challenge Cup semi final playoff game two on Saturday February 21st, 2026 at the Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights. Rick Ulreich, Special to the Post-Dispatch
Marquette Mustangs goalie Aidan Reatini (3) makes the save on a high shot during a Mid States Club Hockey Challenge Cup semi final playoff game two on Saturday February 21st, 2026 at the Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights. Rick Ulreich, Special to the Post-Dispatch
Marquette Mustangs forward Kyle Hancock (52) follows through with a check on De Smet Spartans forward Thomas Pickett (86) during a Mid States Club Hockey Challenge Cup semi final playoff game two on Saturday February 21st, 2026 at the Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights. Rick Ulreich, Special to the Post-Dispatch
De Smet Spartans defenseman Cooper Lamia (43) gets ready to take a shot towards the goal during a Mid States Club Hockey Challenge Cup semi final playoff game two on Saturday February 21st, 2026 at the Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights. Rick Ulreich, Special to the Post-Dispatch
Marquette Mustangs goalie Aidan Reatini (3) kicks the puck off to the side during a Mid States Club Hockey Challenge Cup semi final playoff game two on Saturday February 21st, 2026 at the Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights. Rick Ulreich, Special to the Post-Dispatch
De Smet Spartans forward Broderick Gilbert (10) gets a high five from De Smet Spartans forward John Pennington (11) after tying the game up at one late in the first period during a Mid States Club Hockey Challenge Cup semi final playoff game two on Saturday February 21st, 2026 at the Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights. Rick Ulreich, Special to the Post-Dispatch
De Smet Spartans forward Joey Pupillo (36) gets to the puck before Marquette Mustangs defenseman Nathan Suftko-Odman (6) can and tips it to De Smet Spartans forward Ryan Gissy (17) during a Mid States Club Hockey Challenge Cup semi final playoff game two on Saturday February 21st, 2026 at the Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights. Rick Ulreich, Special to the Post-Dispatch
De Smet Spartans forward Joey Pupillo (36) checks Marquette Mustangs forward Alexander Kaber (27) into the boards during a Mid States Club Hockey Challenge Cup semi final playoff game two on Saturday February 21st, 2026 at the Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights. Rick Ulreich, Special to the Post-Dispatch
Marquette Mustangs defenseman Declan Riley (86) circles behind his own net with the puck during a Mid States Club Hockey Challenge Cup semi final playoff game two on Saturday February 21st, 2026 at the Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights. Rick Ulreich, Special to the Post-Dispatch
Marquette Mustangs forward Daniel Shapovalov (33) and De Smet Spartans forward Parker Hagen (9) battle for control of the puck during a Mid States Club Hockey Challenge Cup semi final playoff game two on Saturday February 21st, 2026 at the Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights. Rick Ulreich, Special to the Post-Dispatch
De Smet Spartans forward Dillon Grupe (97) wins the battle along the boards against Marquette Mustangs forward Huston Meisinger (5) during a Mid States Club Hockey Challenge Cup semi final playoff game two on Saturday February 21st, 2026 at the Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights. Rick Ulreich, Special to the Post-Dispatch
De Smet Spartans forward Thomas Pickett (86) skates away from the crowd with the puck during a Mid States Club Hockey Challenge Cup semi final playoff game two on Saturday February 21st, 2026 at the Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights. Rick Ulreich, Special to the Post-Dispatch
"Just glad to be back out here with the boys and get a few wins.â€
