PARKLAND, Fla. (AP/WSVN) — The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School ice hockey team won the Florida championship, 11 days after a gunman killed 17 of their classmates and staff members.
The fourth-seeded Eagles upset top-ranked East Lake 3-1 in the Sunday morning semifinals at a minor-league rink near Fort Myers, then routed Tampa Jesuit 7-4 in the afternoon finals.
“This wasn’t for us. This was for the 17 victims,” said team member Joey Zenobi. “We played for them.”
“We almost didn’t even come here, because we didn’t know if we wanted to play or not,” said team member Ronnie Froetschel. “I’m glad we did it. I’m glad we came. I’m just happy to be alive, and I played for those who can’t.”
“It’s just nice to have this, you know?” said team member Matthew Horowitz. “We plan to bring all our medals to the school.”
And that’s exactly what they did. Upon returning to the school, each of the team’s 17 members placed their medal on each of the memorials in place for the victims of the mass shooting.
Ice hockey in Florida is a club sport sponsored by Statewide Amateur Hockey of Florida.
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