Knights, Eagles go the distance for MVCHA Championship

By Editor | February 25, 2026 |

By Ray Popkess

The Columbia Eagles and Triad Knights met again in the MVCHA 1A Championship last week, the first time since they met in the 2022-2023 championship when the Eagles won the series in two games.

The Game Three finale for this year’s title took place earlier this week on Monday, Feb. 23.

Game 1

Columbia began game one of the championship series down two of their stronger skaters in Kaden Ross and Cooper Ruess. Both players were ejected from their second round finale against Freeburg/Waterloo after each being granted game misconduct majors on separate occasions.

Ejections from a prior game equate to a one-game suspension in the MVHCA, so for the Triad Knights, game one was a good time to seize a golden opportunity.

They did exactly that, claiming game one by a final score of 6-2 at the East Alton Ice Arena.

The Knights take the ice as starting lineups are announced for Game 2. From left to right: Nolyn Moore, Jacob Perschbacher, Jackson McFarland, Luke Ulrich, Aston Blevins, Max Katich. (Ray Popkess photo)

Game 2

Columbia returned in game two with their two best skaters and vengeance on their mind. They scored within the first 30 seconds of the game off a rebound in front of the net.

Triad committed the first penalty of the game for roughing around the 9:40 mark, only to shortly be followed by the Eagles with a penalty of their own.

Four-on-four skating opened up the ice just enough for the Eagles to extend their lead to 2-0.

Triad cut their deficit in half with a quick response. Jackson McFarland sent a shot on net from near the blue line that deflected off Tyler Davis’ stick past the Eagles’ goaltender.

The first period ended with the Eagles leading 2-1 but Triad had put more shots on goal, outshooting Columbia 12-9.

Aston Blevins lines up a wrist shot on a breakaway during Game 2 against Columbia. (Ray Popkess photo)

It was Triad’s turn to get the scoring started out of the intermission, as fans only needed to wait 17 seconds to see the first goal scored in period two.

A few power play exchanges ensued to keep the frame interesting, but neither goalie yielded fruit to any scoring opportunities after Triad found theirs.

Period three began with both teams tied at two, but the Eagles still had 26 seconds leftover from a powerplay in the second.

Triad was able to kill off the powerplay, but surrendered a goal shortly after at the 10:37 mark. The Eagles doubled their lead not 30 seconds afterwards, forcing Triad to call their timeout down 4-2.

Game two came down to the Knights pulling goalie Max Katich with less than a minute left. Their man advantage couldn’t amount to anything, as the Eagles evened the series at the McKendree Metro Plex.

Game 3

Starting lineups for Games 2 and 3 did not change for the Triad Knights. (Ray Popkess photo)

The third game of the series was likely the smoothest, most intense high school hockey game of the trio.

From beginning to end, it seemed like one goal was all it would take to seal the deal for the championship.

Columbia struck first in the opening period with 4:07 left in the frame despite the Knights leading heavily in the shots-on-goal department. Reuss buried a wrist shot from the left circle, firing up the Eagles’ student section on the opposite end of the ice.

Triad only led 21-20 in shots on goal after the second period. However, neither team found the back of the net during the frame.

Both teams did start to throw harder checks in the period, tossing themselves at one another like WWE Superstars at times. Every whistle came with some jawing between players and the intensity had visibly emerged.

By the middle of the third period, both teams were gassed as Triad was desperate to even the game. Columbia passed up on a couple scoring opportunities to play “keep away” until the Knights called timeout with 1:53 left on the clock.

The plan was to pull Katich for a man advantage as soon as the opportunity presented itself, all while still trailing by a single goal.

Triad came away with the faceoff out of the timeout, but fumbled the puck back to Columbia near the center line.

Mason Niedbalski buried a point-blank shot for the Eagles to put the game on ice. Triad returned Katich to the net afterwards, but could not get their offense off the ground. Columbia’s netminder Ryder Kelly stopped all 31 shots he faced, earning his third shutout of the season.

Columbia was arguably the favorite to win the small-school trophy coming into the postseason, and that they did. They scored the most points of the tournament as a team in 54, outdoing second place Granite City who had 37. They also had the player with the most points in the playoffs, Reuss with 12. The Eagles have now won back-to-back MVCHA titles and three of the last four.