HSE Hockey Club senior Grant Compton knew his team was destined for big things.
“The team chemistry was like no other and I believe that is what pushed us to be state champs,” he said. “There were hardly any arguments or fights between anyone, and if there were, they were resolved within the same week and moved on to achieve our goal.”
The HSE Hockey Club, which includes students from Hamilton Southeastern and Fishers high schools, won the Indiana State High School Association’s Class 4A state hockey championship March 7 by beating South Bend Saint Joseph 1-0 at the Midwest Training and Ice Center in Dyer. There are five classes in hockey.
“All the players buying into the system and working really hard to achieve the goal we set out at the beginning of the year (were keys),” HSE coach Adrian Render said.
Senior Andy Grasso scored the winning goal for HSE, which finished 32-27-3.
Senior David DeSplinter led the team with 31 goals. Compton was next with 28.
Grasso, DeSplinter and Compton were co-captains.
The state title was the second for Render as coach. His team also won in 2018.
“Our five seniors helped lead the way but we had a good mix of freshmen, sophomores and juniors,” Render said.
There were 20 members on the winning “A” team and 42 in the whole program.
“We peaked at the right time,” Render said. “The last month-and-a-half we were playing our best hockey.”
The early schedule was packed with strong teams, Render said.
“I wouldn’t say we had a rough start by any means, but we definitely kicked it into high gear as 2020 started,” Compton said.
Compton was on the state championship team as sophomore, but this was more meaningful for him as a senior captain.
“My father always tells me there is no such thing as a bad team, only bad leaders,” Compton said. “I took this quote to heart, and to end off the career as a state champ is something I will remember for the rest of my life.”
