DULUTH NORTHERN STARS

Coach: Jamie Kenyon-Plesha, 6th season

2019-20 record: 8-16-2

Conference: Lake Superior Section: Section 7AA

Key departures: G Sarah Spencer (4.19 GAA, .858 save percentage, two shutouts), D Jorja Schooler (3-9—12), D Katie Kroska (2-5— 7), F Quinn Clark (2-4—6)

Key returners: Sr. F Molly Henderson (6-10—16), jr. F Annika Lindgren (14-18—32), jr. D Hannah Martin (7-6—13), jr. F Emma Fellman (12-8—20), so. F Jenna Horvat (8-11—19)

Outlook: The Northern Stars have reasons for optimism with a lot of key returners, including their top five scorers from last year.

Duluth should have more depth this season but will need to develop goaltending, with senior Jules Lebsack, junior Sophie Mitchell and freshman Ella Brisbois competing in net.

“The season definitely looks different, but we are happy to be on the ice and playing,” said Kenyon-Plesha, a former Minnesota Duluth hockey captain from Sparta, Wis. “I think we do have an emerging team. I expect our juniors to really step up this year. We have a few incoming players that will be in the lineup and contributors in their first year. The biggest unknown is our goaltending. All three of our goalies will be competing for that starting spot.”

Jon Nowacki, News Tribune

Schedule

Essentia Duluth Heritage Center

Jan. 15 — Cloquet-Esko-Carlton, ppd.

Jan. 19 — Superior

Jan. 22 — Dodge County

Jan. 25 — Grand Rapids-Greenway

Jan 28 — at Moose Lake Area, 6:15 p.m.

Feb. 2 — at Duluth Marshall, 7 p.m.

Feb. 4 — at Cloquet-Esko-Carlton, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 9 — at Hibbing-Chisholm, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 13 — at Northern Tier, 3 p.m.

Feb. 16 — Duluth Marshall, 7 p.m.

Feb. 18 — Moose Lake Area, 7 p.m.

Feb 23— at Proctor-Hermantown, 7 p.m.

March 5 — Princeton, 7 p.m.

March 6 — at Princeton, 7 p.m.

March 8 — at Pine City Area, 7 p.m.

March 12 — at Grand Rapids-Greenway, 7 p.m.

March 15 — Proctor-Hermantown, 7 p.m.

March 18 — Hibbing-Chisholm, 7 p.m.

Roster

Jed Carlson / jcarlson@ superiortelegram.com

Duluth’s Lucy Fellman (30) keeps the puck away from Superior’s Arika Trentor (11) in the first period of the game at the Heritage Sports Center in Duluth Jan. 19.