SUPERIOR SPARTANS

Coach: Doug Trentor, first season

2019-20 record: 4-20

Conference: Lake Superior

Section: Sectional 1

Key departures: D Lucy Drougas (13-3—16); F Isabel Franta

Key returners: Sr. F Brooklyn Burger (8-15—23); so. F Madelyn Franta (11-8—19); sr. F Arika Trentor (8-4— 12); jr. D Callie Holmlund (1-5—6); sr. F/D Jillian Reuille (2-1—3)

Outlook: Doug Trentor takes over as head coach for Marc Franta after serving the previous three years as assistant coach. Trentor will be assisted by Ronald Praet Jr. in his first year as a Spartans assistant coach, and Kevin Mudrak, in his third year as goalie coach.

Superior returns the bulk of last year’s team as well as several young players who will contribute.

“We’re excited to be back on the ice despite it being a shortened season,” Trentor said. “The girls have followed through with the voluntary offseason workout program and it showed the first day of practice. The energy, attention to detail and willingness to learn are clearly apparent.”

The Superior School Board met in mid-December and agreed to allow the Spartans to start practicing on Dec. 21, with players wearing masks.

“They really felt the need to get these kids going, all winter sports, get them out there, get them playing, get them competing, get them practicing, so much for sitting home, let’s get these kids going.”

That created a scramble, a whirlwind of activity as the Spartans had to revamp their schedule.

“With Minnesota delayed, now we can’t play them, so we kind of had to rob Peter to pay Paul,” Trentor said.

“We moved the Wisconsin opponents up, the Minnesota opponents back. It was kind of a nightmare there for a few days.”

A nightmare yes, and this is an oxymoron, but a good nightmare. Trentor called it a good kind of busy.

“That’s exactly it,” Trentor said. “You couldn’t say it any better. If the circumstances were different, I’d be complaining, I’m too busy, but this is a different kind of busy. It’s all positive energy. You can just feel it throughout the ice rink. The girls are just flying.”

Jon Nowacki, News Tribune

Schedule

7:30 p.m.