DULUTH MARSHALL HILLTOPPERS

Coach: Amanda Boulier, first season

2019-20 record: 14-9-2

Conference: Lake Superior Section: Section 7A

Key departures: F Victoria Thorson (15-13—28); F Caitlin Breen (139—22) ey League All-Star and played for the Minnesota Whitecaps. bers are down a bit so the Hurricanes don’t have a lot of depth.

Boulier inherits a team that, while the roster isn’t huge, has some talent, especially from the blue line back.

“The girls have been working hard and cohesively throughout the season, and we’re hoping that continues,” Stark said.

Besides Hayward and Ashland, the co-op also includes Rice Lake, Spooner, Barron and Shell Lake. Stark said her team just wants to play.

“We have girls driving an hour both ways just to make it to practice, so the dedication these girls have is astounding,” she said. “We are just grateful to be able to play during the pandemic. Although things are a little different when it comes to traveling, locker rooms and the mask mandate, the girls are resilient and are just thankful to have a season. We are trying to get in as many games as possible for these girls.”

Jon Nowacki, News Tribune

Roster

Key returners: Sr. D Maren Friday (20-11—31, two-time All-Area First Team selection); sr. G Charlie Prior (7-5-1, 2.57 GAA, .899 save percentage); so. F Merideth Boettcher (6-12—18); Outlook: Former St. Lawrence University women’s hockey player Amanda Boulier takes the helm. Boulier was a two-time captain at St. Lawrence who earned All-American honors. She played on the gold-medal winning U.S. National Team in 2011 and went on to be a three-time National Women’s Hock-

Schedule

Jan. 14 — Grand Rapids-Greenway

Jan. 19 — Moose Lake Area

Jan. 21 — Hibbing-Chisholm

Jan. 26 — at Superior

Feb. 2 — Duluth, 7 p.m.

Feb. 5 — at Pine City Area, 7 p.m.

Feb. 16 — at Duluth, 7 p.m.

Feb. 18 — at Hibbing-Chisholm, 7 p.m.

Feb. 23 — Grand Rapids/Greenway, 7 p.m.

Feb. 25 — Moose Lake Area, 7:30 p.m.

March 4 — Proctor-Hermantown, 7 p.m.

March 6 — at Eveleth-Gilbert Area, 1 p.m.

March 8 — Cloquet-Esko-Carlton, 7 p.m.

March 10 — at Cloquet-Esko-Carlton, 7:30 p.m.

March 13 — at Proctor-Hermantown, 7 p.m.

March 16 — North Shore, 5:30 p.m.

Friday, a Union recruit, and Prior give the Hilltoppers the ability to win games defensively, while Friday provides a cannon shot from the point on the power play. Freshman forward Ilsa Lindaman and junior forward Kendra Royer are two new players who will play critical roles this year.

“We are thrilled to finally start our season,” Boulier said. “While many things look different this year playing amidst a global pandemic, once we step onto the ice as a team for practice or games, a much-needed sense of normalcy returns.”

Jon Nowacki, News Tribune

Roster

1

Feb. 1 — Chippewa Falls/Menomonie, 6 p.m.

Golden Bears

Coach: Earl Fitzgerald, third season

2019-20 record: 9-15-1

Conference: Independent

Section: Section 7A

Key departures: F Anna Sietz (6-7— 23); F Autumn Gregorich (6-6—12); F Sophia Flatley (3-9—12); F Kada Ceglar (1-0—1)

Key returners: Sr. G Rachel Woods (.878 save percentage); sr. C Anneka Lundgren (16-18—34); sr. D Sydni Richards (9-9—18); jr. D Jennie Krause (6-8—14); jr. F Kylie Baranzelli (15-14—29)

Outlook: Juniors forwards Kaitlynn James and Rhys Ceglar and sopho-

Schedule

Jan. 14 — Superior

Jan. 21 — at Cloquet-Esko-Carlton, ppd.

Jan. 22 — Northern Lakes mores forwards Sydney Fitzgerald, Katelyn Torrel, Kendra Rosati and defenseman Maggie Koskela fill out the list of returners.

Jan. 28 — International Falls, 7 p.m.

Jan. 29 — at North Shore, 7 p.m.

Feb. 4 — North Shore, 7 p.m.

Feb. 6 — at Northern Lakes, 3 p.m.

Feb. 9 — Moose Lake Area, 7 p.m.

Feb. 12 — Cloquet-Esko-Carlton, 7 p.m.

Feb. 16 — at Princeton, 6 p.m.

Feb. 18 — at Superior, 7 p.m.

Feb. 23 — Hibbing-Chisholm, 7 p.m.

Feb. 25 — at International Falls, 7 p.m.

March 2 — at Hibbing-Chisholm, 7 p.m.

March 6 — Duluth Marshall, 1 p.m.

“We feel our strength will be our defensive coverage along with some strong goaltending, along with some goal-scoring potential,” Fitzgerald said. “We’re happy to be back on the ice during this shutdown. All of the players are excited to be back with each other. Hopefully we can have a healthy season along with the rest of the teams … we wish them all the best.”

Jon Nowacki, News Tribune

Roster

March 9 — Grand Rapids-Greenway, 7 p.m.

March 11 — Proctor-Hermantown, 6 p.m.

March 12 — Princeton, 7 p.m.