Brock Wrisberg, senior, will play the game of his childhood dreams in front of a sellout crowd for the Challenge Cup.
Marquette hockey will make their third appearance in the finals today at Centene Center with 3,000 fans packing the stands and a State title on the line.
“We’re a public school. We’re not supposed to be here,” Wrisberg said. “Even though we are the one seed, we’re always the underdog. We have that chip on our shoulder and we’re gonna use that to our advantage tonight.”
Wrisberg said he’s playing for his grandpa in the crowd and his Minnesota relatives tuning in to watch the contest against defending champion DeSmet.
The senior is soaking in all the excitement. The team held their last practice last night and will sit down for their last team dinner before arriving at Centene, where they will spend their final hours together before puck drop.
“It’s gonna be awesome seeing all my friends and family coming in. But you know, at the end of the day, we’re doing this for the 20 guys on the ice and, but it is a cool little addition to have as well,” Wrisberg said.
The season has boiled down to this night and the atmosphere is sure to be electric, he said.
“I think we have their number. We just got to get a couple goals early and then I think we’ll be good,” Wrisberg said.
Gary Tockman, head coach, said this team has been turning heads in high profile match-ups all season long.
“That type of competition for the full season makes you better prepared once the playoffs come. Being in the finals is an incredible accomplishment for any school, but more importantly, any public school,” Tockman said.
Marquette has faced DeSmet three times in the past six months, each resulting in a tie. Tockman said his guys are fired up to settle things on the ice tonight.
“That ‘getting kicked in the gut’ feeling doesn’t go away easily, so while we don’t dwell on it, we don’t forget it,” Tockman said.
Nine seniors will play their last high school game. Tockman said the seniors’ talent and work ethic is off the charts. He said they’ve set the bar high for underclassmen.
“We preach that each player is to leave the program in better shape than when they came in and I think that this Senior Class has accomplished that for sure,” Tockman said.
With the stress of the game and wild environment, keeping emotions in check and focusing on the small things that make the team special will be key in beating DeSmet, Tockman said.
Brian Eisenloeffel, vice president of the club board, said tickets sold almost instantly. Six hundred tickets will be offered in-person before game time tonight, and a free broadcast will be offered for those tuning in at home.
Eisenloeffel thanks parents and volunteers for making this once-in-a-lifetime match-up an invaluable experience for the program. The board has been hard at work this week promoting the game.
“There really isn’t a lot extra we have to do to make this something special. They all know this is a special opportunity. Many of these kids have been dreaming about this game since they were little kids,” he said.
A number of alumni are coming in to watch. Eisenloeffel said this game will only add to the proud tradition and encourage other young hockey players to be future Mustangs.
“This is Marquette’s third opportunity to play for the championship. It’s time to add our name to the Challenge Cup,” Eisenloeffel said.
