HIBBING-CHISHOLM BLUEJACKETS

Coach: Eric Rewertz, first season

2019-20 record: 4-22 Conference: Iron Range

Section: 7A

Key departures: F Mitchell Ziemba (16-15—31); G Vytek Vozdecky (3.97 GAA, .877 save percentage)

Key returners: Sr. F Joe Allison (7-22—29); sr. F Ethan Lund (8-19—27); sr. F Blake Frider (9-4—13); jr. F Kasey Kemp (5-7—12); sr. D Erik Sanborn; jr. D Drew Kubena

Outlook: Rewertz steps into a rebuilding project after back- to-back four-win seasons that included three losing streaks of at least eight games in that span. The program is a long way removed from the team that reached 10 consecutive section finals, though improved scoring depth and an experienced top defensive pairing give the Bluejackets hope.

Five of the team’s top six scorers from the 2019-20 season return, highlighted by Allison and Lund, while Sanborn and Kubena are quality defensemen. Scoring has been a problem in recent years, with the Bluejack- ets averaging 1.5 goals a game in 2018-19 and 2.0 last season.

“A year of experience with some of the younger players should help with experience, and a new-look attitude and coaching staff hope to see the team continue to improve throughout the season,” Rewertz said.

Hibbing-Chisholm plans to leave the Iron Range Conference after this season to join the Lake Superior Conference. That would leave the IRC — once the state’s most-feared conference — with five teams.

Rick Weegman, News Tribune

Coach: Chad Baldwin, first season

2019-20 record: 13-12-1

Conference: Iron Range

Section: 7A

Key departures: F Bradyn Dremmel (13-15—28); F Kian Gonzales (7-13—20); F Jaxon Germain (106—16); D Anthony Saari (4-13—17); Travis Kalar

Key returners: Sr. F Brady Wicklund (17-16—33); sr. G Mitchell Nemec (2.71 GAA, .910 save percentage); jr. F Parker Sivonen; sr. D Tucker Hell

Outlook: Baldwin takes over at his alma mater and while losing a large senior class, he returns key elements behind the Broncos’ winning season. Wicklund, the team’s leading scorer in each of the past two sea- sons, has had back-to-back 30-pluspoint campaigns and Nemec lowered his goals-against average by more than a goal as International Falls put together five-game and four-game winning streaks. The Broncos entered the season having won their last four home games in the Nation’s Icebox.

“We had a large senior group last year, so there has been some turnover,” Baldwin said. “But I am excited about our returning core and expect big things out of them. We also have some underclassmen that should step in and do a good job of filling the holes left from graduation. We will have a group that competes on a nightly basis.”

Rick Weegman, News Tribune

Schedule

Jan. 16 — Kittson Central

Jan. 19 — at Greenway

Jan. 21 — North Shore

Jan. 26 — at Hibbing-Chisholm

Jan. 28 — at Virginia/Mountain Iron-Buhl, 7 p.m.

Feb. 2 — Lake of the Woods, 7 p.m.

Feb. 4 — Greenway, 7 p.m.

Feb. 9 — at North Shore (Two Harbors), 6 p.m.

Feb. 11 — at Lake of the Woods, 7 p.m.

Feb. 16 — Hibbing-Chisholm, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 20 — at Duluth Denfeld (Heritage Center), 2:30 p.m.

Mar. 2 — Eveleth-Gilbert, 7 p.m.

Mar. 6 — at Red Lake Falls, 2 p.m.

Mar. 9 — Virginia/Mountain Iron-Buhl, 7:30 p.m.

Mar. 11 — Greenway, 7:30 p.m.

Mar. 13 — at Kittson Central, 3 p.m.