Benilde-St. Margaret’s sophomore goalie Ryan Bischel was surprised by the final score of the Red Knight’s Class 2A, Section 6 quarterfinal matchup with Holy Family Catholic.

Bischel, along with most of the Red Knights and Fire coaches, entered the game believing the contest would be low scoring and be decided by goaltending.

It turns out the consensus was incorrect.

The teams combined for seven goals, including the game winner scored by senior forward Chase Jungels late in the third period, as fourth-seeded Benilde-St. Margaret’s defeated fifth-seeded Holy Family Catholic 4-3 at the St. Louis Rec Center on Thursday.

“I thought it would be a (1-0) game,” Bischel said. 

The game may have deviated from the predicted finish, but Bischel was key in putting out the Fire with some timely saves.

“I thought (Bischel) was big when he had to be,” Red Knights coach Ken Pauly said.

So were several of the Red Knights’ seniors, who accounted for five points against the Fire. Jungels had the goal, while forwards Mark Kaske, Carter Roo and Will Duda combined for four of the team’s six assists.

“Our seniors came up big and played their hearts out,” Pauly said.

Kaske almost added another goal to the seniors’ stats. The forward said he slid the puck under Holy Family Catholic goalie Gabe Heifort and across the goal line late in the third period, but the official didn’t see it from his position on the blue line.

Jungels made the point moot when he unintentionally scored the game winner.

“I knew the clock was running out, so I just tried to get a shot out quick for a rebound but it went in the net,” Jungels said.

His quick shot contrasted how many Benilde-St. Margaret’s students spent their afternoon leading up to the game. Jungels said students select a theme for each game and the one for the game with the Fire was “old people.” The Red Knights’ student section was filled with fans sporting gray hair, suspenders and canes.

“They even walked slow in the halls at school today,” Jungels added.

The theme will be different when Benilde-St. Margaret’s takes on No. 1 seed Eden Prairie in the semifinals at Braemar Ice Arena on Saturday. So will the Red Knights’ game plan, one Jungels said will be more offensive.

“I think as long as we put the puck on net more than we normally do, we’ll be OK,” he said.

Bischel said this Benilde-St. Margaret’s team has a great shot to make the Class 2A state tournament because of the seven seniors.

“We got a great group of seniors and good leadership from our captains.”

Those captains are Jungels, Kaske, Roo and defenseman Ben Newhouse, and all four are among the team’s top point scorers.

Jungels leads the Red Knights 39 points (17 goals, 22 assists), while Kaske is in second with 35 points (13, 22) and Roo third with 34 (five goals, 29 assists). Newhouse’s 21 points (seven goals, 14 assists) is fifth best. 

Benilde-St. Margaret’s needs contributions from its seniors to top Eden Prairie. The Eagles have defeated the Red Knights in two of their last three meetings, including a 5-0 victory on Feb. 3 and a 3-2 double-overtime victory in last season’s section championship.

Pauly said his team is ready to put forth a better effort in the upcoming rematch.

Kaske said he can’t wait to play Eden Prairie again.

“Yes, I’m absolutely looking forward to it,” he said.

Senior forward Chase Jungels scored the game-winning goal with less than 2 minutes to play in the third period as fourth-seeded Benilde-St. Margaret's defeated fifth-seeded Holy Family Catholic 4-3 in a Class 2A, Section 6 quarterfinal at the St. Louis Rec Center on Thursday.

Junior defenseman Cade Gleekel finished with two goals and junior forward Zach Risteau had one for the Red Knights (15-9-2), ranked No. 11 in the Class 2A coaches poll.

Gleekel and Risteau each scored a goal late in the first period, as Benilde-St. Margaret’s entered the first intermission leading 2-0.

The No. 8-2A Fire (17-7-2) came out hot in the second period and took a 3-2 lead with goals from senior forward John Peterson and junior forwards Tyler Rock and Will Garin.

Gleekel tallied the equalizer 5 minutes into the third period, and Jungels gave the Red Knights the lead for good when he converted on a power play with 1:30 remaining in the game. 

Senior forward Will Duda had two assists for Benilde-St. Margaret’s.

Senior goalie Gabe Heifort made 33 saves for Holy Family Catholic, while sophomore goalie Ryan Bischel had 24 saves for the Red Knights.

Benilde-St. Margaret’s plays No. 1 seed Eden Prairie in the section semifinals at Braemar Ice Arena on Saturday, Feb. 21. Game time is 4 p.m.

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