DULUTH MARSHALL HILLTOPPERS

Coach: Jasen Wise, first season 2019-20 record: 3-23 Conference: Lake Superior Section: 7AA

Key departures: F Dakota Oman (5-5—10); F Xavier McNulty; D Griff Pichetti; D Charlie Kleinschmidt

Key returners: Sr. F Vance Johnson (6-7—13); jr. F Samuel Aamodt (4-7—11); sr. D Carson Mehling; jr. G Sam Anderson (6.34 GAA, .848 save percentage)

Outlook: Wise takes over a program that has seen little continuity since former longtime coach Brendan Flaherty had to step down due to throat cancer and a brain infection. Two previous coaches spent one season each at the helm as the onetime Class A state tournament finalist reached rock bottom.

The Hilltoppers lose nine seniors from a team that averaged only 1.3 goals per season and allowed 5.7. Johnson and Aamodt are two players with whom to start the rebuilding process. Despite the challenges, Wise is upbeat that, like Flaherty did upon taking over Marshall in the 1990s, the Hilltoppers can rise from the ashes.

“You look at the banners that are up there in Mars Arena and that tells our current players and our current and future families that it can be done at Marshall, and if we can do things the right way it will be done again,” said Wise, who coached the Concordia University-Wisconsin men’s team before moving to Duluth to find better options for his hockey-playing sons. “I have no doubt that we are going to climb the mountain in front of us.”

Wise expects Marshall to continue to opt up to play at the Class AA level.

“This might be controversial and I don’t know if people will agree or not, but I feel that private schools should play at the Double-A level,” Wise said. “Marshall is a college school preparatory academically, and we want to have a hockey program that does the same.”

Rick Weegman, News Tribune

Head coach: Ben Johnson, sixth season

2019-20 record: 3-16

Conference: Independent

Section: 7A

Key departures: F Luke Olson (32-11—43); F Jason Skube; D Dalton Schreffler; D Seann Prigge

Key returners: Jr. F Jimmy Zupancich (4-9—13); Jr. G Chase Sandberg

Outlook: The Timberwolves lost more than 60% of their offense with Olson’s graduation. The team only returns 11 goals, and depth and a lack of experience have been long-standing issues in the program. The team has no seniors and has several eighth and ninth graders on the roster.

Ely welcomes back its starting goalie in Sandberg, who was bombarded with shots through- out the season and the Timberwolves had 11 games in which they allowed at least eight goals, so they will need to try and limit opponents’ chances with more puck control.

The delay to the season and Ely’s independent status affected the schedule as the team has only 12 games listed in the regular season.

Rick Weegman, News Tribune

Schedule

Jan. 16 — WSFLG

Jan. 26 — at Greenway

Jan. 29 — at WSFLG, 7 p.m.

Feb. 2 — at North Shore (Silver Bay), 6 p.m.

Feb. 6 — Moose Lake Area, 2 p.m.

Feb. 9 — at Duluth Marshall, 6 p.m.

Feb. 13 — Mora/Milaca, 2 p.m.

Feb. 19 — Bagley/Fosston, 6 p.m.

Feb. 26 — at Moose Lake Area, 6 p.m.

March 4 — at International Falls, 7 p.m.

March 6 — at Bagley/Fosston, 1 p.m.

March 11 — Duluth Marshall, 6 p.m.

Roster

1 Chase Sandberg G So.

2 Logan Loe F Fr.

3 Lexi Halberg F So.

4 Jack Mathias

5 Owen Brekke

6 Drew Marolt F 8th

7 Tommy Homer D 8th

8 Jakson Hegman D Fr.

9 Jace Huntbach

10 Breken Sandberg F 8th

12 Alex Merriman

14 Brady Eaton

15 Wes Sandy D 7th

16 Chase Anderson F 8th

17 Ty Walker D 8th

18 Jon Schlosser

19 Garret Rohr

20 Kole Macho F Fr.

21 Sam Leeson F Fr.

22 Kaden Zupancich F 8th

23 Jimmy Zupancich F Jr.

31 Ben Cavalier G Fr.

Ely