The boys hockey team has three goals, according to Coach Tony Navarre: to win conference, to win the Admirals cup and to win sectionals. This weekend, the team looks to take a first step at fulfilling the second goal. On Saturday, Dec. 27 at the Bradley Center, the team will go against Arrowhead in the first game of the tournament for the Admirals cup.

As many know, the Highlanders won the Admirals cup last year in a game against Marquette. But this year, the tournament will run differently than in years past. Instead of being an elimination-style match, all teams will play against each other, with three points awarded for victories and two for ties. The team with the highest amount of points at the end of the championship will win the cup.

“We’re feeling good,” Coach Navarre said of the team’s morale going into its first match up. “We had a rough weekend, so we’re refocusing and getting ready to play.” He also said the team has been focusing on “playing smart,” which includes connecting passes, getting shots on net and outworking the other teams.

“I feel like it’s going to be a really competitive game,” David Hathaway, senior, said about Arrowhead. “They always end up having a strong program.” Hathaway also highlighted a few more of the team’s goals, saying they need to “connect passes, take many shots, play physical and stay out of the penalty box.”

But Hathaway is optimistic about the team’s upcoming competition, saying, “I feel like we are going to come out strong. All of us want to get back on the ice after a tough weekend of games and play how we know we can.”

This game is bound to keep spectators’ pulses pounding. Check out the action at 12:30 p.m. at the Bradley Center on Saturday.