MOOSE LAKE AREA REBELS INTERNATIONAL FALLS

Coach: Co-head coaches Reilly Fawcett, first year, and Chris Gamst, third year

2019-20 record: 12-14

Conference: Independent

Section: Section 7A

Key departures: F Jamie Benzie (25-19—44, All-Area selection, now playing at St. Benedict’s); F Savannah Gamst (9-8—17); F Lexi Bonneville (3-12—15) and G Jo Wekseth (.904 save percentage)

Key returners: Jr. F Raechel Painovich (10-16—26); jr. F Gabby Gamst (8-8—16); jr. F/G Julia Jusczak

Outlook: The Rebels have 12 returning players who saw a lot of varsity experience last season but will need to develop goaltending as Wekseth kept them in many games where they were outshot the past two years.

Painovich, Gabby Gamst and Jusczak will serve as captains. Jusczak is an interesting story, having played both forward and goalie the past three years — occasionally, even in the same game. She had a goal and an assist as a forward and played 204 minutes of varsity goalie last season.

The Rebels also have all four defensemen returning in eighth grader Hallie Klavu (1-18—19) and

Schedule

Jan. 19 — at Duluth Marshall

Jan. 23 — Dodge County

Jan. 26 — Hibbing-Chisholm freshmen Jorja Jusczak (2-5—7), Megan Hattenberger (0-6—6) and Lily Kahara (1-2—3). Freshmen forwards Sandra Ribich (14-12— 26) and Gracie Hartl (7-7—14) also return. Eighth grader Mallory Hartl will back up Jusczak in net, having already played 114 minutes of varsity action last season as a seventh grader.

Jan. 28 — Duluth, 6:15 p.m.

Feb. 2 — at Henry Sibley, 7 p.m.

Feb. 4 — at Princeton, 7 p.m.

Feb. 9 — at Eveleth-Gilbert, 7 p.m.

Feb. 11 — at Northern Tier, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 16 — North Shore, 7 p.m.

Feb. 18 — at Duluth, 7 p.m.

Feb. 23 — Princeton, 7 p.m.

Feb. 25 — at Duluth Marshall, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 27 — International Falls, 2 p.m.

March 5 — at Hibbing-Chisholm, 7 p.m.

March 12 — Cloquet-Esko-Carlton, 7:30 p.m.

March 13 — at Hopkins/St. Louis Park, 4:15 p.m.

March 15 — Northern Lakes, 7:30 p.m.

March 16 — at Proctor-Hermantown, 7 p.m.

Fawcett, who is in her first year teaching elementary physical education at Moose Lake Elementary School, should provide a jolt of energy to the program. The 2014 Proctor High grad played for the Mirage from 2009-2014, making it to the state tournament her eighth-grade year (2009-2010) and senior year (201314). She played NCAA Division I hockey at Bemidji State and professionally in Germany for one year with the Eisbaren Juniors Berlin team.

“Our goal is to make our program’s first appearance in the Section 7A title game,” Fawcett said. “We return a lot of young eighth and ninth grade players who gained a great amount of experience and ice time last season. Goaltending will have to be huge for us this season.”

Jon Nowacki, News Tribune

Roster

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21 Aila Oswald

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