2 chances. That’s all that the HSE Hockey teams get to secure a spot in the state championship and possibly bring home a win for the HSE community. Unlike other state tournaments, the 2025-2026 4A State Tournament reserves the double elimination rule, giving teams 2 chances to continue, or end, their seasons.

The Indiana State High School Hockey Association, who hosts the state tournament, is holding the 2025-2026 4A State Tournament in South Bend, Indiana, with playoff games being held all in one singular weekend, taking place February  20^th-22^nd. This year, HSE A is ranked 2^nd in the state, a stark increase in ranking from last year where they placed 7^thout of the 8 teams in the 4A division. Only falling short to Culver A, the HSE A team is ranked above others such as St. Joe, Marian, Munster, Columbus, and Homestead.

Their bracket is based on crossover tournaments, where the team plays against 4 divisions of 8 teams from all over the state of Indiana. Their placement is determined on their overall performance, which explains HSE A’s seeding this year, as the team has gone 30-5-1 for the year.

Last year, according to HSE senior Will Ellenwood, #43, defensemen, HSE A unfortunately lost in their first two games of the life-or-death weekend to Caroll, on Friday, and St. Joe, on Saturday morning. He blames the team’s unfortunate demise due to their seeding, which placed them 7^th in the bracket, an unlucky position with even tougher competition.

While Ellenwood wouldn’t provide his own predictions for the team, primarily due to superstition, a huge aspect of the sport, he did provide some words of wisdom as he prepares the play the last games of his high school hockey career.

“[To a player who has never played high school hockey before], I would say that, even if you lose, it’s not really over until you lose again. Win or lose, you always have to show up to the next game, forgetting what about the one you played beforehand. All you got to do is win”.

Additionally, Ellenwood provided some insight into what the environment of the tournament, playoffs, and weekend looks like for those who have never experienced it before, whether that be player, parent, fan, or family.

“[The environment of it], it’s pretty competitive, because you play all year, building up to that point. We played 36 games so far and, you know, it can all go to waste in 2 games, in one weekend.”

“It’s also pretty hostile, you know. You have to see guys that might end your season walking around in the lobby [of the hotel] when you show up. It’s definitely a difficult environment to put myself in, and to put the team in”.

Reflecting on his past years with HSE Hockey, and playing in the State Tournament, #43 recounts his favorite memories being from the energy of his team, despite some rough games. He describes it as “do-or-die”, where the stakes increase the mentality of the team, ten-fold. When somebody scores, the bench gets out there, when there’s a “big hit”, it gets rowdier.

For himself, Ellenwood wishes to finish out on top. Whether that’s winning a state championship his senior year, or to enjoy playing with his team for the final time.

“[I want to] just give it our best shot. You want to finish out on top, that’s the mentality. This is it for me, so you know, I just got to put it all on the line”.

The HSE Hockey A team will play their first game of the playoffs on Friday, February 20^th, against #7 Columbus.