In a tough loss to continue an already tough season, the South varsity boys’ hockey team lost 1-4 against Brother Rice on Jan. 13, 2025. The game went back-and-forth, but only one team seemed to be able to find the back of the net, with South failing to profit off of their goal opportunities.

Disappointed yet hopeful, assistant coach Justin Kovacs didn’t see the outcome he hoped for his boys but is far from angry with the team, as he believes they put up a good fight against an impressive Brother Rice squad.

“We just didn’t capitalize on those grade-A chances,” Kovacs said. “It’s just about putting the puck in the net. The offensive chances are there; most of that third period, we just couldn’t find a way to put it in.”

The positive attitude of the coaching staff is fully reflected by the roster. Winger Ethan Zann ’27 has been a strong advocate throughout the season for the team to keep the glass half full and not think too heavily of the final scoreline.

“I think we came out strong, we played hard all three periods,” Zann said. “The score doesn’t dictate [who] we are as a [team]. The score doesn’t dictate who the player is.”

One of the reasons the team held optimism through a tough loss is the leadership by assistant captain Sam Koch ’26, who is working to keep his players’ heads up and aimed at the future.

“We’ve got a good chunk of the season left, so we’ve got some time to turn it around,” Koch said. “A lot of guys are out there just grinding and not stopping, and that’s what we need going forward. We’ve got to stay positive and come together.”