The puck hit the back of the net, ending the Rangers hockey season in the blink of an eye. Despite battling Flint Powers, the number one ranked team in the state, for three periods and then some, FHC fell to their foes for the second time this season. In the most highly anticipated matchup of the season, FHC forced overtime, but could not pull out a quarterfinals win.

“Flint [Powers] handed us two of our three losses in the season,” said senior defenseman Mackey Withey, who’s played on the team for all four years. “They’re one heck of a team. I wish the outcome would have been different but there’s nothing we can do about it now. We had a great group of guys, and I’m fortunate that we were so successful my senior season.”

Despite falling short in the state quarterfinals, the FHC hockey team had a memorable season that will be remembered for years to come. Graduating fourteen seniors, the 2016-17 season was a highly anticipated one. The pre-season hype proved true, as the twenty-four man roster lived up to and exceeded expectations.

“Coming into the season, our goal was to compete with the best and bring home a state championship,” sophomore goalkeeper Carl Mielock said. “We did just that and proved a lot of people wrong. We had a good group of seniors that a bunch of us underclassmen look up to; I was fortunate enough to play with them.”

FHC flew through a large part of their regular season schedule with ease, finishing with only two losses. On their way to the state quarterfinals, the Rangers claimed both a conference and regional championship.

Individually, the Rangers had a laundry list of accomplishments. Seniors Zak Currie and Nick Sarjeant were selected to be on the Division Three all-state team. Nicko Withey, Mackey Withey, Jack Bowling, and Carl Mielock also had honorable mentions at the state level.

“We had lots of success as a team and as individuals,” senior Nick Sarjeant said. “We were fortunate enough to have a great groups of guys that all loved to compete together.”

Despite falling short to Flint Powers in the state quarterfinals, the Ranger hockey season exceeded expectations and left a legacy on the program for years to come.

“Playing hockey for FHC has brought me some of my best memories,” Mackey said. “I think us seniors made a mark and helped better the program. I loved my time playing hockey for FHC and will never forget competing alongside my brothers.”