The LHS boys’ hockey team shot through the first round of the 4A State playoffs on Feb. 11, with a 6-2 win against Mullen High School. The team then won another game against Summit High School, with a final score of 4-2. The season came to an end for them, on Feb. 24, 2026, when the team lost the quarter-final game against Colorado Academy, 0-6.
Even though the loss ended Liberty’s season, the team came together, not only through the sport, but through teamwork , to get them this far. First-year coach Christopher DeMorett said, “ the team has worked to come together. I love hockey, the finer details of hockey and how those elements not only result in better hockey, but also helping to shape better student athletes. This team has been on a season-long journey that has culminated in coming together at the right time for some key victories.”
The team-bonding aspect of ice hockey is ultimately what pushed the team to playoffs, which is farther than the team progressed last year. While the loss took a toll on the team’s morale in the end, the relationships between the players has not.
The team still believes in community shaping their success. Senior Gabriel Stevens said, “We’re a good team. We work well together, and we do a lot of team bonding, so that definitely helps. You know, we’re just like a big family. We play for each other; we play for the school; we focus on just the team, and nothing else.”
A crucial part of the hockey team’s play is a mixture of their work on the ice, as well as their time spent off of it. Sophomore Rory McSparren said, “The team [likes] getting together, just hanging out, and going to dinners. We hosted a movie night at my house before our first playoff game, and it really helped the team talk to other people they didn’t really talk to much in the locker room or on the ice.”
McSparren is one of six sophomores on the team, but the community built within the sport does not shift between grade levels. The team has a relatively even roster, with all four grade levels represented on the team.
The younger players have people to look up to as they progress through high school. McSparren said, “Getting to meet new people throughout the years– it’s only been two years so far, but I’ve really grown as a player myself with meeting the older guys.”
With that team dynamic, the rest falls naturally into place. However, the most important aspect of any sport to the players is the training. McSparren said that the other factor to Liberty’s success and improvement this year compared to last would be, “a lot of late night practices, consistently,” McSparren added.
Liberty High School’s hockey team outperformed and excelled more than last year’s, finishing with a 12-8-1 record and league title. The team hopes to improve on this record next year and advance farther in the playoff competition.
