Tiger Ice Hockey has written a near perfect story this season, outscoring opponents 171-12 in MVCHA play thus far and at Friday’s practice the team learned that their story just got a little bit better.

After many years of nearly making it, the team has received a bid to the High School National Ice Hockey tournament in Reston, Va. set to take place March 17-21.

“That was the best news we could have received and everyone was just excited to get the opportunity that we are,” senior Christian Blandina said.

Last season the Tigers were just one game away from punching their tickets to the national tournament but fell 8-0 to the CBC Cadets in a tournament qualifier.

The Tigers walked away with the loss but also with a glimpse of what it took to be a national qualifying team.

“I think that was quite heartbreaking for everyone,” junior captain Carson Lewis said. “The game gave us a good look at where we needed to be to make it to nationals, and I am confident that we have that team this season.”

The loss only lit the fire for the young team to ensure that the streak of almost making it would become a thing of the past.

“You play a phenomenal team like CBC and hang close for a couple periods, it definitely gives some confidence in our ability,” Lewis said. “We are all winners and won’t accept losing, so we were sure to put in work on and off the ice and come out better this season.”

And the work paid off.

This year a qualifier will not be necessary for the team to prove that they deserved the bid. The Tigers were selected by the Missouri Hockey governing body to serve as one of the representatives of the organization in Reston. The other likely to come from the Missouri side of the river.

“We are all pretty excited that Missouri hockey has given us the opportunity to represent them and we plan on giving them a good name,” Lewis said.

The Tigers still have a few things to take care of before they take the trip to Virginia in March and with the trip to nationals now a reality instead of just a possibility, the game plan for the rest of the season is simple.

“[We are going to] win the MVCHA title and go undefeated and work harder in practice than ever,” senior Tyler Hinterser said.

The program is well on track for their fifth straight 2A title. With only five games left in the regular season, the boys still boast an undefeated record. The team has utilized the 12-point short game rule nine times this season and recorded eight shutouts. The Tigers sit atop the 2A standings and will face Triad, Belleville, O’Fallon, Waterloo and Columbia, the second through sixth ranked teams, to wrap up the regular season.

“We look to use the MVCHA games to our advantage to prepare for nationals,” Lewis said. “The pace of our game will likely get faster and we will work on our passing and chemistry to be crisp and ready to go by time March rolls around.”

Last year’s loss to CBC marked the end to a record setting season for the Tigers in a place they know all too well – the East Alton Ice Arena. However, this year that will not be the case.

“It’s special that I get to play my last game for EHS at nationals,” Blandina said.

For the team, this season and the bid means more than just their work being worth it but also the work of the player that have come before.

“Knowing that all the work I and my teammates have put in was a great experience,” Hinterser said. “I just wish the guys who graduated before me could feel this.”