The St. Paul Academy and Summit School/Mounds Park Academy boys hockey team defeated Providence Academy for the first time in the brief history of this new Tri-Metro Conference rivalry.  The Spartans were forced to rally back from an early 2-1 deficit against one of the top goaltenders in the state, junior Mike Taffe, to earn the 4-2 win at Drake Arena.  The resilient Academy boys were opportunistic, scoring three power play goals in as many chances, and were able to hold off the ferocious offensive attack of the Lions, led by John Noble (two goals) and Mitchell Roux.

Spartan junior wing Wyatt Wenzel netted two power play goals, and junior center Luc Bruggeman added the third.  Junior wing John Tocho scored what would prove to be the game winner in the second period, knocking in a rebound off of junior defenseman James Trevathan's shot from the point.  Senior captain Mike Falvey, playing his first game of the season at defense, assisted on three goals, as senior goaltender Steve Estep shut Providence out over the final two periods to earn his fifth victory of the season, making several key saves as the Spartans killed off six penalties through the second and third periods.

The Spartans have a busy week coming up as they are scheduled to play Como Park at the Fairgrounds Coliseum on Tuesday at 8:00PM, at Minnehaha Academy on Thursday at 7:00PM, and the Saints on Saturday afternoon at SPA, 4:00PM.  Providence will be equally as busy, taking on Prairie Centre, Blake, and Meadow Creek Christian this week.  The Academy and Providence will meet again on February 14th at Plymouth Arena (Valentines are not expected to be exchanged).