After an incredible and hard-fought season, Liberty fell short in the championship game for their division. With some ups and downs, good games and bad games, the Eagles ended the regular season with a record of 9-9-2, 20 points, and 7th place in the St. Charles Division. 

In the 23-24 season, Liberty got all the way to the Founders Cup championship game, and won the tournament. This playoff season, the team was playing to defend their title as champions. In the first round, they swept Francis Howell Central, moving on to the quarterfinals. In the quarterfinals, Liberty faced St. Dominic. The Eagles took the first game 6-3, but lost the second game 2-3. Because of the tie in points, Liberty and St. Dominic played a 10-minute mini game to decide who would move on. Liberty took the mini game 1-0, moving on the the semifinals. In the semifinals, the Eagles faced John Burroughs, sweeping them and moving on to the Founders Cup championship game. 

“We’re a second-year team. We’ve won a championship and we came runner up, in two years,” head coach Mark Turnipseed said. “It’s pretty good.”

In the championship, Liberty faced off against Fort Zumwalt East and came up short, 4-2 at Affton Ice Rink on Feb. 25. In the regular season, meeting twice, Liberty won a game and East won a game. In the playoffs, Liberty’s record was 6-1-0 going into the game, and East’s record was 6-0-0.

In the first period, East opened the scoring at 6:55. At 4:26 Liberty’s captain Lucas Kempf (11) scored Liberty’s first of the night, with the assists going to Greyson Howarth (11) and Nicholas Kuhn (10). At 0:59 Jake Meyer (9) got the Eagles second of the night, assisted by Cam Winkler (10) and Mason Nickler (9). At 0:19 East got a 2 minute minor penalty for roughing.

In the second period, while there were many chances and it was a strong period by both teams, ended with no goals. At 2:03, Garrett Katz (10) got a 2 minute minor penalty for elbowing.

To open the third, Zach Pruss (11) got a 2 minute minor penalty for high sticking. On the power play, East was able to score, tying the game. East got a 2 minute minor for tripping at 13:26. On the penalty kill, East scored the game-winning goal at 11:25. At 8:20 East got another 2 minute minor for roughing, killing it off. At 6:28, Kuhn got a 2 minute minor for slashing, which Liberty was able to kill off. East got another 2 minute minor at 5:59 for tripping. At 1:30, Liberty pulled their goalie Ethan Eager (9) in hopes of tying the scoring. At 0:29 East got an empty net goal, giving them a two goal lead. To end the eventful period, East got a 2 minute minor for cross-checking. 

“The team played great, I love that team,” Kempf said. “I’ll do anything for that team, they have a special place in my heart and their my second family so, I don’t think they needed to change anything.”

After East celebrated their win, both teams lined up on their respective blue lines for the awards and medals ceremony. Liberty received a second place plaque, and everyone on the team received a medal.

Liberty ended playoffs with a record of 6-2-0.