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EVELETH-GILBERT GOLDEN BEARS

Coach: Jeff Torrel, 10th season

2019-20 record: 17-10

Conference: Iron Range

Section: 7A

Key departures: F Elliot Van Orsdel (22-31—53); D Will Troutwine (1621—37); F Bryce Kopp (13-23—36); D Nick Beaudette (7-13—20); D Gage Everson (1-14—15); G Noah Shuck (2.91 GA, .908 save percentage)

Key returners: Jr. D Nick Troutwine (6-11—17); sr. F Tommy Schlotec (3-8—11); sr. F Brandon Lind; sr. F Cooper Mattson; jr. D Gavin Skelton; sr. G Andrew Torrel (6-1, 2.00 GAA, .920 save percentage)

Outlook: The Golden Bears lost a stunning amount of firepower from a team that posted more victories than any other season during Jeff Torrel’s tenure on the bench and won eight

Schedule

Jan. 14 — at Greenway

Jan. 16 — Hermantown

Jan. 19 — at North Shore

Jan. 21 — at Virginia/Mountain Iron-Buhl

Jan. 26 — at Duluth Denfeld (Heritage Center) in a row at midseason. Van Orsdel’s production up front and Troutwine’s play from the blue line will be hard to replicate as Eveleth-Gilbert seeks to replace its top four scorers, eight of its top nine and the starting goalie.

Jan. 29 — Superior, 7 p.m.

Feb. 5 — at Hibbing-Chisholm, 7 p.m.

Feb. 6 — Duluth Marshall (Hoyt Lakes), 2 p.m.

Feb. 9 — Proctor, 7 p.m.

Feb. 11 — North Shore, 7 p.m.

Feb. 13 — Providence Academy, 3 p.m.

Feb. 18 — at Cloquet-Esko-Carlton, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 23 — International Falls, 7 p.m.

Feb. 25 — Hibbing-Chisholm, 7 p.m.

Mar. 2 — at International Falls, 7 p.m.

Mar. 4 — Virginia/Mountain Iron-Buhl, 7 p.m.

Mar. 9 — Greenway, 7 p.m.

Mar. 11 — at Proctor, 7:30 p.m.

Despite the loss of a large crop of seniors, another one follows in its place, including goaltender Andrew Torrel, who put up better numbers as the backup.

“It should be a fun season, another senior-laden team,” Torrel said. “I am excited that the boys can get back out there and play after the layoff.”

It’s been 22 seasons since the Golden Bears last went to the state tournament, where they beat Hermantown to capture the Class A title.

Rick Weegman, News Tribune

Roster

Several Hermantown and Eveleth-Gilbert players contend for the puck behind Eveleth-Gilbert’s goal during a game last season.

GOOD LUCK GOLDEN BEARS!

Grand Rapids Thunderhawks

Coach: Wade Chiodo, second season

2019-20 record: 18-8-1

Conference: Lake Superior

Section: 7AA

Key departures: F Maccrea Murphy (9-18—27); D Grant Wilson; G Carter Clafton (1.58 GAA, .935 save percentage)

Key returners: Sr. D Jack Peart (13-18—31); sr. F Braeden Holcomb (8-21—29); jr. F Joey DelGreco (6-13—19); sr. F Hunter Bischoff (107—17); sr. D Easton Young (7-7—14); sr. F John Bonner (7-4—11); jr. D Sam Sterle; jr. D Ren Morque

Outlook: The Thunderhawks dominated late in the season, allowing only five goals during an eight-game winning streak that extended into the playoffs. But that came with Clafton in net. Now Grand Rapids must find a new netminder, something that isn’t keeping Chiodo up at night.

“It’s a position of ours that’s up in the air,” he said. “We have good goalies here and they are battling for that No. 1 spot until someone takes it and runs with it. I have total confidence with what we have. I’m not worried about it.”

Part of that confidence stems from Peart returning to school from the Fargo Force of the United States Hockey League, where he played 16 games during the fall. Considered one of the best defensemen in the state, the St. Cloud State commit and onetime U.S. junior player is the key to the team winning more games last season than the previous two years combined. Toss in talented players such as Holcomb, DelGreco and Bischoff and Grand Rapids should be a player again in Section 7AA and the Lake Superior Conference.

“We have depth, we have speed and we have size this year,” Chiodo said. “I think there’s a lot of kids who will have opportunities. We have internal competition, which is good because it’s going to be tough to make our lineup.”

Rick Weegman, News Tribune

Schedule

Jan. 14 — at Cloquet-Esko-Carlton

Jan. 16 — at Moorhead

Jan. 19 — Duluth Marshall

Jan. 23 — at Hill-Murray

Jan. 28 — Duluth East, 7 p.m.

Feb. 2 — Duluth Denfeld, 7 p.m.

Feb. 5 — at Roseau, 7 p.m.

Feb. 9 — Brainerd, 7 p.m.

Feb. 11 — at Hermantown, 7 p.m.

Feb. 16 — Superior, 7 p.m.

Feb. 25 — Moorhead, 6 p.m.

Feb. 27 — Warroad, 2 p.m.

Mar. 2 — at Duluth East (Heritage Center), 7:30 p.m.

Mar. 6 — Cloquet-Esko-Carlton, 3 p.m.

Mar. 9 — Roseau, 6 p.m.

Mar. 13 — at Wayzata, 2:30 p.m.

Mar. 16 — at Duluth Denfeld (Heritage Center), 7 p.m.

Mar. 18 — at Proctor, 7:30 p.m.

Roster

Elk River’s Jake Kotzian (from left), Grand Rapids’ Jack Peart, and Elks’ Nik Hughes contend for the puck during their Section 7AA semifinal game at Amsoil Arena last season.

Elk River won 3-1.

Steve Kuchera / 2020 file / News Tribune

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Schedule

Jan. 14 — Eveleth-Gilbert

Jan. 16 — at North Shore

Jan. 19 — International Falls

Jan. 23 — Duluth Marshall

Jan. 26 — Ely

Jan. 28 — at Northern Lakes, 7 p.m.

Feb. 2 — at Hibbing-Chisholm, 7 p.m.

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

Feb. 11 — Virginia/Mountain Iron-Buhl, 7 p.m.

Feb. 16 — North Shore, 7 p.m.

Feb. 19 — Thief River Falls, 6 p.m.

Feb. 23 — at Virginia/Mountain Iron-Buhl, 7 p.m.

Feb. 27 — at Hermantown, 3:15 p.m.

Mar. 2 — at Proctor, 7:30 p.m.

Mar. 4 — Hibbing-Chisholm, 7 p.m.

Mar. 9 — at Eveleth-Gilbert, 7 p.m.

Mar. 11 — at International Falls, 7:30 p.m.

Mar. 13 — Duluth Denfeld, 3 p.m.