High School Hockey Preview 2018 - 2019

Donovan back for last hurrah

Duluth East senior and Mr. Hockey hopeful spurned junior hockey to return to Greyhounds

By Louie St. George III lstgeorge@duluthnews.com

Ryder Donovan was wearing a goofy aviator hat festooned with a Minnesota Twins logo, its furry ear flaps touching his shoulders, before the Duluth East hockey team held its second practice of the season Nov. 13 at Heritage Center. Donovan had his sweats tucked into his socks and grinned throughout a 10-minute interview as his teammates filed into the locker room, laughing as they passed.

This was one of the things that lured Donovan back to high school hockey — one more chance to enjoy the camaraderie of longtime buddies as they chase a state championship.

Practically minutes after the Greyhounds received their runner-up ribbons on the ice at Xcel Energy Center last March 10, where they had fallen to Minnetonka in the Class AA final, speculation commenced regarding Donovan’s status for his senior year. Already a North Dakota commit, and coming off a 62-point campaign, he had options.

Would the 6-foot-4 puck-distributing forward return to the Greyhounds or jet off to juniors?

Last spring, he said he couldn’t foresee a scenario in which he wouldn’t be wearing an East sweater. Other standouts have made similar declarations in the past, only to backpedal.

Donovan said he never wavered.

“No, there was no way,” he said. “The last four years here, I just kind of always had it in my head that I wasn’t going to go anywhere.”

Likewise, Greyhounds coach Mike Randolph said he never doubted Donovan’s commitment to skating a fifth varsity season.

“Ryder is a very honest person,” Randolph said. “He told me he was coming back, and I took his word for it.”

That didn’t change even as Donovan was pressured to leave. The Dubuque Fighting Saints of the

United States Hockey League wanted him on their roster — something the North Dakota coaching staff likely would have preferred — and the U.S. National Team Development Program made a push to get Donovan to Plymouth, Mich.

“I remember a conversation we had on the phone when the U.S. team was going after him,” Randolph explained. “He said, ‘I’m getting a lot of pressure.’

“And I said, ‘Ryder, I want you to think about something. You got a rink in your backyard. You’ve grown up on that rink, and you got one more year on it. Because if you go to Dubuque or you go to (Plymouth), you’re not gonna be able to walk out your door and go on that rink. So think about that.’ ”

That would be “the Vault,” Donovan’s backyard sheet that resembles something out of a Norman Rockwell painting. It’s where Donovan has polished his game, which includes uncanny vision and a knack for making plays out of seemingly impossible situations, according to teammate Ricky Lyle.

“It seems like he’ll get caught in the corner and the second he slips free, you’re like, ‘Oh, OK,’ and you just have to drive to the net,” Lyle said. “And he’ll make a play wherever you are, so you have to always have your stick on the ice. People just get points off of him, goals off of him, because he can distribute the puck like that.

continued on page 8

Ryder Donovan of Duluth East controls the puck during a recent practice at Heritage Center The North Dakotacommitspurnedjuniorhockeytoreturnforhisseniorseason.

7 PLAYERS TO WATCH

BLAKE BIONDI

Hermantown

Junior forward

The Minnesota Duluth commit put together a dazzling offseason after leading the Hawks in goals as a sophomore

RYDER DONOVAN

Duluth East

Senior forward

North Dakota commit totaled 48 assists as a junior, and now turns his attention to being more selfish with the puck

DARIAN GOTZ

Hermantown

Senior defenseman

Another UMD commit out of Hermantown,

Gotz has a chance to become the fourth straight Reed Larson Award winner (top senior defenseman) from the Northland

DONTE LAWSON

Greenway

Senior forward

Natural scorer and Division I prospect followed up his 21-goal, 37-point sophomre season by totaling 37 goals and 35 assists in 2017-18

CHRISTIAN MILLER

Greenway

Junior defenseman

St. Cloud State commit notched 21 assists in his first season of varsi-

ty hockey while helping Raiders to Section 7A final

JACK PEART

Grand Rapids

Sophomore defenseman

Youngster with terrific vision verbally committed to St. Cloud State about six months before he’d even played for the Thunderhawks

BEN TROUMBLY

Greenway

Junior forward

The third St. Cloud State commit on this list, Troumbly scored 18 goals and assisted on 19 others as a sophomore despite missing time with an injury

7 GAMES TO WATCH

Duluth Marshall at Hermantown

7:30 p.m. Dec. 11

Marshall ended Hawks’ winning streak in this series at 14 games via a 3-3 tie last December, but Hermantown’s unbeaten streak over Hilltoppers stands at 16 games

CEC at Duluth East

7 p.m. Dec. 13

In 2017-18, the Lumberjacks tied East in Cloquet and defeated the Greyhounds in Duluth; Cloquet-Esko-Carlton hosts the rematch Feb. 4

Minnetonka at Duluth East

3 p.m. Jan. 5

A rematch of the 2018 Class AA state final, won

5-2 by the Skippers, who avenged a regular-season loss to the Greyhounds

Grand Rapids at Duluth East

7:30 p.m. Jan. 10

After having their season ended by Grand Rapids in 2016 and 2017, the Greyhounds ousted the Thunderhawks in the 2018 Section 7AA quarterfinals

Greenway at Hermantown

7:30 p.m. Jan. 15

If this one comes even close to replicating the drama of last year’s Section 7A final — a 5-4 Hawks win in double overtime — fans will have gotten their money’s worth

Hermantown at CEC

7:30 p.m. Jan. 31

A year ago, the Lumberjacks snapped an eightgame winless streak (0-7-1) against the Hawks, which dated to Feb. 3, 2011

CEC at Grand Rapids

7:30 p.m. Feb. 12

This is the second of two meetings between these clubs (the first is Jan. 15 in Cloquet), which split a year ago, with the Thunderhawks bouncing back from a 7-3 loss to win 4-3

Louie St. George III, News Tribune

CLOQUET–ESKO–CARLTON LUMBERJACKS

Coach: Shea Walters, first season

2017-18 record: 17-8-1

Conference: Lake Superior

Section: 7AA

Key departures: FJeddAnich (1016—26); FBrandenMatteen (126—18); DRyan Nelson (4-23—27)

Key returners: Sr. DAndy Acers (4-8—12); sr. FJon Baker (9-22— 31); sr. FKadeBender (8-6—14); jr. GOwen Carlson (2.52 goals-against average, .894 save percentage); sr. FLandon Langenbrunner (25-23— 48); sr. FGavin Rasmussen (14-13— 27); sr. DDane Stoyanoff (6-19—25)

Loose pucks: The Lumberjacks have been eyeing this season for years, ever since the currentcropofseniors started having state success all the way up through youth hockey. The same can be said for the junior and sophomore classes, as well. So not only is the high-end talent there, but depth pervades the roster. That includes between the pipes. Walters, the 31-year-old first-time head coach, said as much when he noted that Cloquet-Esko-Carlton has four capable goaltendersthatcould get the job done. The Lumberjacks received abig blow when 6-foot-4 defenseman Stoyanoff tore his anterior cruciate ligament in August during a football scrimmage. It’s unknown if

Stoyanoff will returntothe ice. For the third year in arow,the Lumberjacks hos in the 2018 but unlike the meetings b

CEC victories Northwoods A

Among the Lu of Elite Leagu Mason Langen defenseman a brother.CEC t th East ayea get reacquain Center.That CEC’s taxing includes cont North, St. Th netonka and E teams present in 7AA, Rasm “Andover and the whole sec it always is,” played agam Wilderness of Hockey Leagu

After a7-2 lo January, the L an 8-2 stretc lar season, alb es coming ag Grand Rapids. trip to state have to keep w better,” Lando

stedDuluth Marshall section quarterfinals, e previous two playoff both of which were 2-1 —the Hilltoppers left Arena with a6-4 win. umberjacks’contingent ueplayers thisfall was nbrunner, asophomore and Landon’s younger tied and defeated Duluarago, and the rivals ted Dec. 13 at Heritage showdown is part of opening month, which tests againstLakeville homas Academy, MinElk River. Asked which t the biggest challenges mussen didn’t hesitate: d East, likealways. But ction will be tough like ” he said. Rasmussen mefor the Minnesota f the North American ueearlier this month. oss to Andover in early Lumberjacks reeled off chtoclose the regubeit with curious lossgainst Forest Lake and . CEC is seeking its first since 2008. “We just working. Every day, get onLangenbrunner said.

SCHEDULE

At 7:30 p.m., unless noted

Nov. 23 —vs. Lakeville North (Bloomington)

Nov. 24 —vs. St. Thomas Academy (Bloomington)

Nov. 30 —Chaska

Dec. 1— White Bear Lake Area, 2p.m.

Dec. 7—atBloomington Jefferson, 7p.m.

Dec. 8—atEagan

Dec. 13 —atDuluth East (Heritage Center), 7p.m.

Dec. 18 —Hibbing-Chisholm

Dec. 21 —Eastview

Dec. 27 —vs. Minnetonka (St. Louis Park), 5p.m.

Dec. 28 —vs. Elk River (St. Louis Park), 2:30 p.m.

Dec. 29 —vs. Maple Grove (St. Louis Park), 2:30 p.m.

Jan. 5—Stillwater Area, 3p.m.

Jan. 8—atDuluth Marshall

Jan. 11 —Eden Prairie

Jan. 15 —Grand Rapids

Jan. 17 —atDuluth Denfeld (Heritage Center)

Jan. 22 —Virginia/MIB

Jan. 24 —atSuperior, 7p.m.

Jan. 26 —atBemidji, 2p.m.

Jan. 31 —Hermantown

Feb. 2—atForest Lake, 3p.m.

Feb. 4—Duluth East

Feb. 8—atProctor, 7p.m.

Feb. 12 —atGrand Rapids

ROSTER

2Andy Acers DSr.

3Denny Genereau FSr.

4ColeKetola FJr.

5Kade Bender FSr.

7Christian Galatz FSo.

8Jon Baker FSr.

9Drake Nordin DSr.

10 Jake Huhta

11 Derian Durand

12 Cade Anderson

Louie St. G

George III, News Tribune

Duluth Denfeld’sNick Thompson (20) and Duluth Marshall’sJackDodd compete for the puck at Mars LakeviewArena in January 2015.

SCHEDULE

Home games at Heritage Center

At 7:30 p.m., unless noted

Nov. 23 —atMinnehaha Academy

Nov. 24 —atRed Wing

Nov. 27 —North Shore

Dec. 4— at Greenway

Dec. 11 —Virginia/MIB

Dec. 14 —atNew Prague

Dec. 20 —atSuperior, 7p.m.

Dec. 27-29 —Heritage Holiday Classic

Jan. 3—atProctor, 7p.m.

Jan. 4—Lake of the Woods, 5p.m.

Jan. 7—Duluth East, 7p.m.

Jan. 10 —Hermantown, 5:15 p.m.

Jan. 17 —Cloquet-Esko-Carlton

Jan. 19 —International Falls, 3p.m.

Jan. 25 —atThief River Falls

Jan. 26 —atWarroad, 3p.m.

Jan. 29 —Eveleth-Gilbert

Jan. 31 —Hibbing-Chisholm

Feb. 2—atPine City Area, 1p.m.

Feb. 8—atNorth Shore (T.H.)

Feb. 9—vs. Holy Family Catholic (Mariucci Arena)

Feb. 12 —atEveleth-Gilbert Area

Feb. 14 —atDuluth Marshall

ClintAustin /caustin@duluthnews.com

ROSTER

Caden Kuusisto FSo.

Caleb Perrault FJr.

Cole Olson F

Cyrus Behinia FSo.

Dominic Klaas FSr.

Jace Anderson FSo.

Jacob Horton FSo.

Jacob Snyder FSo.

Joseph Udd FSo.

Kade Shea FSo.

Logan Jasper FSr.

Parker Ray FSr.

Jacob Eskola FSr.

Darren Shykes FSr.

Zach DeCaro FSr.

Payton Budisalovich FSr.

Dylan Jouppi DJr.

Griffin Lehet FJr.

Caleb Perrault FJr.

Matthew Rukavina DSr.

Nate Johnson FSr.

Jake Johnson FSr.

Shawn Easty GJr.

DULUTH DENFELD HUNTERS

Coach: Dale Jago, second season

2017-18 record: 10-16

Conference: Lake Superior

Section: 7A

Key departures: FBrady Bastyr (7-13—20); FLuke Eilefson (8-14— 22); GBenjamin Lafont (4.04 goalsagainst average, .888 save percentage); FRyan Lemker (11-11—22)

Key returners: Sr. FPayton Budisalovich (6-20—26);sr. FZachDeCaro (6-8—14); sr. FJacob Eskola (17-12—29)

Loose pucks: In his first year at thehelm after assisting Brendan Flaherty at Duluth Marshall, Jago led Duluth Denfeld to afive-win improvement over 2016-17. Astrong finish allowed the Hunters to secure ahome playoff game, where they fell 3-2 in overtime to International Falls in the section quarterfinals.

They were 3-9 in late December before playing .500 the rest of the way, though that included anasty six-game skid, thelowlight of which wasa 13-0 loss to Duluth East. “They’re learninghow to win,”Jago said last December. “But at the same time, when you’re learninghow to win, there are bumps along the road wheresometimesyou remember how to lose. We have to correct that and learn to respond differently.” Eskola and Budisalovich ranked 1-2 in points ayear ago.Denfeld was 19-8 as recentlyas2014-15,but declining participation has hindered the program. The Hunters encounter atough three-game stretch this January when they face East, Hermantown and Cloquet-Esko-Carlton in succession. Competing in Denfeld’s holiday tournament December 27-29 are Xavier, Apple Valley, Irondale, Mankato West, St.Paul North, Owatonna and Roseville.

Louie St. George III, News Tribune

SCHEDULE

Home games at Heritage Center

At 7p.m., unless noted

Nov. 30 —White Bear Lake Area

Dec. 1—atWayzata, 2:30 p.m.

Dec. 6—Bemidji

Dec. 8—atAndover, 2p.m.

Dec. 13 —Cloquet-Esko-Carlton

Dec. 18 —atCentennial

Dec. 20 —atDuluth Marshall, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 22 —atLakeville North

Dec. 28 —atChamplin Park

Dec. 29 —atBlaine, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 4— Stillwater Area

Jan. 5—Minnetonka, 3p.m.

Jan. 10 —Grand Rapids, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 12 —EdenPrairie, 3p.m.

Jan. 18 —atBrainerd, 6p.m.

Jan. 19 —atMoorhead, 5p.m.

Jan. 22 —ForestLake

Jan. 25 —atPrior Lake, 6p.m.

Jan. 26 —Eagan, 5p.m.

Jan. 31 —Superior, 7:15 p.m.

Feb. 2—atElk River, 3p.m.

Feb. 4— at Cloquet-Esko-Carlton

Feb. 7—Lakeville South, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 12 —Maple Grove

Duluth East’sLogan Anderson (left) and Ricky Lyle celebrate one of Lyle’sgoals during awin over Duluth Marshall at Amsoil Arena. Lyle scored three of the Greyhounds’ ninegoals;Andersonscoredafourth goal.

2017 file photo /Steve Kuchera / skuchera@duluthnews.com

2018–2019 HIGH SCHOOL HOCKEYPREVIEW

DULUTH EAST GREYHOUNDS

Coach: Mike Randolph, 30th season

2017-18 record: 25-3-3

Conference: Independent

Section: 7AA

ROSTER

2E.J.Hietala DSr.

9Jayson Hagen

Finn Hoops

Jack Fellman

Ryan Cummings

David Holliday

Ricky Lyle

Charlie Erickson

21 Carson Cochrane

Mitchell Sutherland

Key departures: DWillFisher (3-16—19); FAustin Jouppi (1119—30); GParker Kleive (1.51 goalsagainst average, .916 save percentage); DLuke LaMaster (4-41—45); FIan Mageau (19-38—57); FGarrett Worth (47-24—71)

Key returners: Jr. FLogan Anderson (10-20—30); sr. FBrendan Baker (9-15—24); sr. DCarson Cochran (2-11—13); sr. FRyder Donovan (14-48—62); sr. FJack FitzGerald (8-9—17); sr. FRicky Lyle (20-15— 35); sr. DFrederick Paine (5-22—27)

Loose pucks: How loaded were last year’s Greyhounds?After reaching the Class AA championship game, a5-2 loss to Minnetonka, East bid farewell to apair of Mr. Hockey finalists and NCAA Division Icommits in LaMaster (Wisconsin)and Worth (Arizona State), plus another first-liner in Mageau, as well as starting goalie Klieve. And yet theGreyhounds and Andover are widely considered to be the section frontrunners.That’s because a deep group of forwards is headlined by Donovan, the puck-distributing North Dakota commit. Nine East players were chosen for the fall Elite

League. While the potent WMD line of Worth, Mageau and Donovan, which accounted for 190 points, is no more, Donovan is expected to center skillful wings Baker and Lyle, at least early. FitzGerald, the son of former East and Minnesota Duluth standout Rusty FitzGerald, broke his left forearm and right collarbone over the offseason, but doesn’t expect to miss too much game action. Kleive assumed the starting goalie job midway through the season and finished with six shutouts.LaMaster won the Reed Larson Award as the state’s top senior blueliner, making him the third straight Northlander to do so —Hermantown’sWyatt Aamodt (2016) and Dylan Samberg (2017) were the others. The Greyhounds started 9-0-3, with a9-3 thumpingofAndover in December doubling as Randolph’s 600th career victory. He sits at 622 through 31 totalseasons, atally that ranks third all-time in Minnesota. East’s rematch with the Huskies wasn’t nearly as lopsided. Baker and Donovan scored third-period goals as the Greyhounds rallied from a2-0 deficit in the 7AA final at Amsoil Arena, and Anderson punctuated the 3-2 comeback in overtime. They went on to defeat St. Michael-Albertville in the state quarterfinals, then doubled up rival Edina in the semis, only to suffer another title-tilt letdown, their fourth since winning it all in 1998.

Louie St. George III, News Tribune

DULUTH MARSHALL HILLTOPPERS

Coach: Bill Owens, first season

2017-18 record: 17-8-2

Conference: Lake Superior

Section: 7AA

Key departures: GCam Brandt(2.28 goals-against average, .898save percentage); FGeorge Grannis (2926—55); DPeter Hansen (11-16— 27); DNolan Krenzen (11-15—26); FLeviStauber (20-26—46); DWilly Stauber (10-21—31)

Key returners: Sr. FAiden Bachand (4-14—18); sr. FKeelan Golat (4-15— 19); sr. FCarter Sullivan (9-12—21)

Loose pucks: Owenssteps in for Brendan Flaherty, who was diagnosed last April with throat cancer. This would have been his 23rd season guidingthe Hilltoppers.Owens had been on Flaherty’s staff for three years. Previously, he was an assistant at St. Thomas Academy and the head coach at St. Paul Academy and Summit,wherehecoachedMinnesota Duluth recruit Devlin McCabe. Owens faces atall task in what will be a drastically remade roster. Gone is Mr. Hockey finalist Grannis and fellow NCAA Division Icommit Levi Stauber. Grannisand Staubereventually

will play collegiately at Clarkson and Michigan Tech, respectively. Willy Stauber (Levi’s cousin), aReedLarson Award finalist as the state’s top senior defenseman, is with the Bismarck Bobcats of the North American Hockey League. Meanwhile, Krenzen, who would have been aMarshall junior, opted instead to play for the Sioux City Musketeers of the United States Hockey League. And Hansen, a senior, has decided to focus on baseball this winter —hehas signed to play that sport at Division IBradley University. Add it all up, and the Hilltoppers lost their top five scorers and No. 1goalie. Marshall has improved in each of its first three seasons in Class AA. The Hilltoppers won nine games in 2015-16, then 13, followed by 17 last year, including aplayoff victory at Cloquet-Esko-Carlton and aspot in the section semifinals at Amsoil Arena, where they were unceremoniously ousted by Duluth East, 9-1. Marshall had taken the Greyhounds to overtime in December, losing 3-2. Grannis had 16 goals through the first four games of last season as the Hilltoppers started 5-0 before dropping a5-3 affair to eventual state champ Minnetonka. Alex Busick, a6-foot-6 senior, takes over for Brandt in goal.

Cloquet-Esko-Carlton’sAaron Moore (right) moves the puck while being chased by Duluth Marshall’sWilly Stauber during aSection 7AA quarterfinal lastFebruaryinCloquet. DaveHarwig/CloquetPineJournal

SCHEDULE

At 7:30 p.m., unless noted

Nov. 24 —Mounds View, 3p.m.

Nov. 30 —atRochester Century, 7:15 p.m.

Dec. 1— at Rochester Mayo, 2p.m.

Dec. 6—atCambridge-Isanti, 7p.m.

Dec. 8—atMinnetonka, 3p.m.

Dec. 11 —atHermantown

Dec. 15 —Holy Angels Academy, 3:30 p.m.

Dec. 20 —Duluth East

Dec. 22 —atBenilde-St. Margaret’s, 2:30 p.m.

Dec. 27-29 —Hilltopper Holiday Classic

Jan. 3—Superior

Jan. 8—Cloquet-Esko-Carlton

Jan. 12 —Andover, 3p.m.

Jan. 15 —Champlin Park

Jan. 17 —Proctor

Jan. 22 —atGrand Rapids

Jan. 25 —Eagan, 4:30 p.m.

Feb. 1—atChanhassen, 7p.m.

Feb. 2—atSt. Thomas Academy, 2p.m.

Feb. 5—Forest Lake, 7p.m.

Feb. 9—Hill-Murray, 2:30 p.m.

Feb. 12 —St. Francis, 7p.m.

Feb. 14 —Duluth Denfeld

Duluth Marshall goaltender

Cam Brandt deflects ashot from Duluth East’sBrendan Baker during agame last season at Heritage Center.

ClintAustin / caustin@duluthnews.com

ROSTER

2Matthew Scribner DSo.

3Charlie Kleinschmidt DJr.

5Dakota Oman FJr.

6Danny Klatt FSr.

8Griff Pichetti DJr.

9Samuel Aamodt FFr.

10 Xavier McNulty FJr.

11 Jeremiah Lebsack FSr.

12 Aiden Bachand FSr.

13 Keelan Golat FSr.

14 Carter Sullivan FSr.

17 Carson Mehling DSo.

19 Christian Hoyum DJr.

21 Luke StauberFSr.

22 Cole Maccoux FSr.

23 Karter McKinzie FJr.

24 Maddux Baggs DSr.

26 Brendan Pfahl DJr.

27 Vance Johnson FSo.

28 Blake Bachand DJr.

29 Hunter Ciskie FJr.

30 Alex Busick GSr.

Louie St. George III, News Tribune

ELY TIMBERWOLVES

Coach: Ben Johnson, fourth season

2017-18 record: 6-14

Conference: Independent

Section: 7A

Key departures: F Gage Merhar (15-10—25); F Thomas Montana (14-17—31)

Key returners: Sr. F Nick Mattila (27-14—41); jr. F Luke Olson (20-13—33); jr. F Dalton Schreffler (3-11— 14)

Loose pucks: Six wins might not sound like a reason to celebrate, but simply being able to field a squad in 2017-18 was welcome news for Johnson and the Timberwolves. Ely nearly had to forfeit its season before enough players materialized to give it a go. There were hiccups — such as being outscored by a combined 43-7 over a three-game stretch in January — but the Timberwolves were able to get a roster of 22 players

valuable experience. Many were new to the sport and only three or four, Johnson said, had ever played varsity hockey. Before the backslide, Ely won seven games in 2015-16 — its most victories since 200809 — and a robust 13 in 2016-17. Johnson is confident the Timberwolves can get back to that level, and hopefully beyond, by building a strong youth program. He’s always maintained that this is a long-term project. And while this winter again could be a grind, there’s hope on the horizon. The current Timberwolves can build around Mattila and Olson, last year’s leading scorers. As a junior, Mattila registered at least a point in 16 of Ely’s 20 games. He had four hat tricks. The Timberwolves went 4-4 over their final eight games of the regular season. Former multi-sport Ely standout Louie Gerzin is an assistant coach.

SCHEDULE

At 7 p.m., unless noted

Nov. 23 — at Kittson County Central

Nov. 24 — at Kittson County Central, 1 p.m.

Dec. 1 — Wadena-Deer Creek, 2 p.m.

Dec. 6 — at North Shore (Two Harbors)

Dec. 7 — MayPort (N.D.)

Dec. 11 — Eveleth-Gilbert

Dec. 14 — at Moose Lake Area, 6 p.m.

Dec. 15 — Southwest Christian, 3 p.m.

Dec. 21 — at Lake of the Woods, 6 p.m.

Dec. 28-29 — North Shore Holiday Tournament

Jan. 4 — International Falls

Jan. 5 — Lake of the Woods, 2 p.m.

Jan. 11 — Bagley-Fosston, 6 p.m.

Jan. 18 — at MayPort (N.D.)

Jan. 19 — at Red Lake Falls, 1 p.m.

Jan. 22 — at Proctor

Feb. 5 — at North Shore (Two Harbors)

Feb. 8 — Moose Lake Area

ROSTER

1 Chase Sandberg G Fr.

2 Jeremiah Kaercher F Sr.

3 Nick Mattila F Sr.

4 Sawyer Klingsporn F So.

5 Austin Meskill F Sr.

DONOVAN continued from page 2

“He’s a very unselfish player.”

Players getting goals off Donovan passes was a common theme last winter. He centered Garrett Worth and Ian Mageau, and the wings were on the receiving end of the bulk of Donovan’s 48 assists. Worth finished with 47 goals and Mageau 19 as the WMD line accounted for 190 points.

Donovan, who was an eighth-grader on the East team that fell to Lakeville North in the 2015 state championship game, admits he’s always had a pass-first mentality. That worked just fine in 2017-18 when he was surrounded by scorers, but now the challenge is to be “a little bit more selfish,” as Randolph put it, and get to the net.

“With my size, it’s tough to be a completely skilled puck-distributor when you’re 6-4,” Donovan said. “You have to be around the net and score, too, so that’s what I have to work on.”

To do that, a player needs the puck on his stick. Randolph is happy to oblige.

Donovan is expect-

ed to center Lyle and Brendan Baker on East’s top line. The Mr. Hockey hopeful played in the Elite League this fall; Dubuque wouldn’t accommodate the standard “before and after” setup in which a high school player competes in the USHL before and after the prep season.

The happy-go-lucky Donovan wasn’t about to change his mind and forego his last hurrah with the Greyhounds. He said that decision was recently reinforced while listening to the News Tribune’s “Bulldog Insider” podcast in which Minnesota Duluth’s Riley Tufte, a first-round draft pick of the Dallas Stars in 2016, touted his staying at Blaine as a senior. He ended up claiming the Mr. Hockey award.

Tufte said it was important for him not to rush college, a point that resonated with Donovan, who knows this sport becomes a business after high school.

And North Dakota, Donovan said, will be able to live with his decision if he continues to improve.

“They don’t really care as long as I’m the best player I can be when I go in,” he said.

Louie St. George III, News Tribune

8 Dean Boese D Sr.

10 Jason Skube D Jr.

11 Seann Prigge F Jr. 12 Luke Olson F Jr.

13 Jackson Flom F So. 14 Jake Anderson D So. 16 Arrin Frank F Jr. 19 Dalton Schreffler F Jr. 22 Isaac Gawboy F Sr.

Lexi Halberg F Fr.

AndyAnderson (6) of Moose LakeArea controls the puck near Seann Prigge (11) of Ely during a recent game at RiversideArena in Moose Lake. ClintAustin / caustin@duluthnews.com

Ryder Donovan (22) of Duluth East chases the puck duringthe2018ClassAAstatechampionshipgame.

EVELETH-GILBERT GOLDEN BEARS

Coach: Jeff Torrel, eighth season

2017-18 record: 13-11-2

Conference: Iron Range

Section: 7A

Key departures: DAdam Erie (1-1— 2); FPayton Gregorich(5-3—8); F Cody Hendrickson (31-27—58)

Key returners: Jr.DNick Beaudette (8-12—20); jr. DGage Everson (6-17—23); sr. FJosh James (7-10— 17); jr. FBryce Kopp (10-5—15); sr. F Gavin Maki (6-9—15); jr. FNathan Tassoni (7-8—15); jr. DWill Troutwine (8-23—31)

Loose pucks: The Golden Bears are tasked with replacing one of the Northland’s top scorers. Hendrickson had at least one goal in all but four games last season. He is now playing at the University of Providence in Great Falls, Mont. After Hendrickson,

SCHEDULE

At 7:30 p.m., unless noted

Nov. 23 —atRed Wing

Nov. 24 —atMinnehaha Academy

Nov. 29 —Chaska

Dec. 4— at International Falls

Dec. 7—atNorthern Lakes, 7p.m.

Dec. 8—atPrinceton, 2p.m.

Dec. 11 —atEly, 7p.m.

Dec. 14 —Holy Angels Academy

Dec. 15 —Virginia/Mountain Iron-Buhl

Dec. 18 —Greenway

Dec. 20 —atProctor

Dec. 28 —atThief River Falls

Dec. 29 —vs. Crookston (Thief River Falls), 1:30 p.m.

Jan. 8—Hibbing-Chisholm

Jan. 10 —Proctor (Hoyt Lakes)

Jan. 12 —Hopkins, 2p.m.

Jan. 15 —International Falls (Hoyt Lakes)

Jan. 22 —North Shore (Hoyt Lakes)

Jan. 26 —atVirginia/Mountain Iron-Buhl

Jan. 29 —atDuluth Denfeld (Heritage Center)

Jan. 31 —atGreenway

Feb. 7—atHibbing-Chisholm

Feb. 8—Hermantown

Feb. 12 —Duluth Denfeld

Feb. 14 —atNorth Shore (Silver Bay)

the top ninepoint producers return. Indeed, Eveleth-Gilbertwill boast improved depth and experience in 2018-19, according to Torrel, who hopes amore challenging slate will have the Golden Bears battle-tested come playoff time.

Sophomores checkered the roster last winter, many of whom assumed key roles. Chaska and Holy Angels Academy are among the schedule additions. Eveleth-Gilbert has finished above.500two years in arow following an 8-18-1 mark in 2015-16. The goal now is to carry that success into the postseason, earn atop-four seed and appear in the section semifinals, Torrel said. Kodi Intihar saw the bulk of the time in net as ajunior, when he finished with a4.33 goals-against average and .850 save percentage. After droppingthe opener of its holiday tournament last December,the Golden Bears went 5-0-2 over their next seven games.

ROSTER

Eveleth-Gilbert players celebrate agoal against Duluth Denfeld during Hockey Day Minnesota in February 2016. File /News Tribune

Louie St. George III, News Tribune

Good luck, Thunderhawks!

GRAND RAPIDS THUNDERHAWKS

Coach: ChrisMarinucci, second season

2017-18 record: 7-19-1

Conference: Independent

Section: 7AA

Keydepartures: FJackBurnson(9-13 22); FNanoDeGuiseppi (10-12—22);D Michael Heitkamp (3-10—13); GGabe Holum (4.08 goals-against average, .906 savepercentage)

Key returners: Jr. GCarter Clafton (5.27 goals-against average, .865save percentage); sr. FAnthony DelGreco (5-6—11)

Loosepucks: Wild stat fromGrand Rapids’ 2015-16 team thatfinished third at the Class AA state tournament: Seven playersoff that club ended up making NCAA Division Icommitments. The Thunderhawks were similarly awash in starpower the following year as they streakedtothe program’s first state titlesince 1980. Afterward,however, forwards Gavin Hain (North Dakota) and Blake McLaughlin (Minnesota) and

goalieZachStejskal (Minnesota Duluth)all decided to foregotheir senior seasons, which left Grand Rapids with adepleted talent pool last winterunder first-year coach Marinucci, UMD’s 1994 Hobey Baker Memorial Award winner. Things should start to turn around. Incoming sophomoredefenseman Jack Peartalready hascommitted to St.Cloud State. Peart’s older sister,Sadie Peart, aseniorforward for the Grand Rapids-Greenway Lightning, also is aD-I commit; she is headed to Quinnipiac. Claftonisanup-and-coming goalie whose role will expandwith Holum graduated.Holum wasbasically under duress from November through February. Includedinhis game logwas a72-save bonanza vs. Holy Family Catholic, 60 savesagainst Duluth Marshall,58against Benilde-St. Margaret’s and 53 vs. DuluthEast. Compounding thedefensive deficiencies wasthe fact that theThunderhawks scored amere 48 goals in 27 games, or 1.78a night. They were shut outa whopping nine times.

Louie St. George III,News Tribune

ThunderHawks!

Grand Rapids’ John Stampohar celebrates his first-period goal against Eden PrairiewithteammatesMicahMiller(20),GavinHain(8)andBlakeMcLaughlin (7)atthe2017statetournamentsemifinalsatXcelEnergyCenter DavidSamson/TheForum

SCHEDULE

At 7:30 p.m., unless noted

Nov. 24 —Greenway

Nov. 30 —atMinnetonka, 7p.m.

Dec. 1— at Benilde-St. Margaret’s, 2:30 p.m.

Dec. 4— Virginia/Mountain Iron-Buhl

Dec. 7—Roseau

Dec. 8—Warroad

Dec. 13 —atEdina, 8:30 p.m.

Dec. 14 —vs. Eden Prairie (Edina), 6p.m.

Dec. 15 —vs. Elk River (Edina), 6p.m.

Dec. 21 —Brainerd

Dec. 22 —Moorhead, 3p.m.

Dec. 28 —atForest Lake, 7p.m.

Dec. 29 —atWhite Bear Lake, 3p.m.

Jan. 4—atMaple Grove, 7p.m.

Jan. 5—atHoly Family Catholic, 3p.m.

Jan. 8—Hermantown

Jan. 10 —atDuluth East

Jan. 15 —atCloquet-Esko-Carlton

Jan. 17 —Hibbing-Chisholm

Jan. 22 —Duluth Marshall

Jan. 26 —atHill-Murray, 2:30 p.m.

Feb. 2—atWayzata, 2:30 p.m.

Feb. 5—atBemidji

Feb. 12 —Cloquet-Esko-Carlton

Feb. 14 —atHermantown

ROSTER

2Dawson Broberg F11

3Kodi Miller D10

5Wyatt Simonson D10

6Cooper Brodzinski F11

7Kobie Koenig F12

8Anthony DelGreco F12

9Braeden Holcomb F10

10 Derek Ogle D11

11 Kameron Jaeger D12

12 Hunter Bischoff F10

14 Maccrea Murphy F11

15 Wyatt Holcomb F10

16 Wade Brouse F10

17 Grant Wilson D11

18 Conner Flohaug D12

19 Wyatt Miskovich F11

20 Wyatt Zuehlke D11

21 John Bonner F10

22 Brandon Goehring F11

23 Jack Peart D10

24 Tanner Hanttula F12

30 Carter Clafton G11

35 Jacob Ahcan G11

GREENWAY RAIDERS

Coach: Grant Clafton, fourth season

2017-18 record: 20-8

Conference: Iron Range

Section: 7A

Key departures: GVille Hyttinen (2.37 goalsagainst average, .913 save percentage);FAksel Jenson (5-11—16); FWesley Johnson (19-17— 36)

Key returners: Sr. DAaron Elich (0-2—2);sr. D CameronLantz (7-15—22); sr. FDonte Lawson (37-35—72); jr. DChristian Miller(8-21—29); sr. FNikolai Rajala (17-33—50); jr. DBrock Trboyevich (1-6—7); jr. FBen Troumbly (1819—37); jr. FMitchell Vekich (10-13—23)

Loose pucks: It’s hard to findsomeone who doesn’t think Greenway is encroachingonHermantown’s throne atop 7A. The Raiders, having made major strides —first to respectability, then to state tournament contention —are closing in on the Hawks.Clafton isn’t ready to admit as much. “I’d liketothink that we have, but untilweprove otherwise in asection game, they’rethe top dog and that’s who we’re chasing,” he said on the eve of the 2018 postseason. Greenway was close to “proving otherwise” last February in ascintillating section final. The Raiders led 3-1 well into the third period before the Hawks peeled off three goals in 3:44. Greenway, though, stunned the Amsoil Arena crowd when Johnson’sprayer ricocheted off just about every player on the ice and into the Hermantown net. Lantz was credited with the equalizer at 16:59.9 of the third. The Raiders ultimately fell late in double overtime, missing what would have been their first trip to state since 2001. They bring just about everybody back this time around, though superb goalie Hyttinen, aFinnishexchange student,won’treturn as he’s playing for the Alexandria Blizzard of the North American 3Hockey League. Troumbly and Miller are St. Cloud State commits. Miller’s father, Kris Miller, wasMinnesota’s Mr. Hockey winnerin1987, when his Greenway teammate, Ken Gernander, also was afinalist. Gernander has moved back to Coleraine, andhis son, Micah, ajunior forward, will skate for the Raiders this winter. Kris Miller, Ken Gernander and Derek Vekich, Mitchell’sfather, starred on Greenway’s dominant 1986-87 team. Greenway defeated Grand Rapids 5-1 last November to end an 11-game losing streak against the Thunderhawks, whichdated to January 2004. The Raiders face host Bemidji on Hockey Day Minnesota in January. Tristan Birdsall, asenior forward who led Hibbing-Chisholm in scoring last year, joins Greenway.

Greenway’sDonte Lawson (left) and Wesley Johnson pursue the puck during last February’sSection 7A final atAmsoilArena. ClintAustin /caustin@duluthnews.com

ROSTER

0Jace Nyberg DJr.

0Marc O’Gorman FJr.

2Ezra Carlson F

4Mitchell Vekich FJr.

6Brock Trboyevich DJr.

7Tristen Birdsall FSr.

8Ben Troumbly FJr.

10 Cameron Lantz DSr.

11 Aaron Elich DSr.

12 Christian Miller DJr.

13 Donte Lawson FSr.

14 Steven Ugrich FSr.

15 Ty Donahue DSo.

16 Logan Seeley FSr.

17 Micah Gernander F

19 Nikolai Rajala FSr.

20 Will Jurgansen FSr.

22 Aiden Rajala DFr.

23 Spencer Bonham FSr.

24 Cashus Lafond GSo.

30 Tyler Penney G

SCHEDULE

At 7:30 p.m., unless noted

Nov. 24 —atGrand Rapids

Nov. 29 —atVirginia/Mountain Iron-Buhl

Dec. 4— Duluth Denfeld

Dec. 7—St. Cloud Cathedral

Dec. 8—atEast Grand Forks, 3p.m.

Dec. 14 —atHoly Family Catholic, 7p.m.

Dec. 15 —atBlake, 3p.m.

Dec. 18 —atEveleth-Gilbert

Dec. 21 —Moorhead

Dec. 27 —Alexandria

Dec. 28 —Delano, 5:30 p.m.

Dec. 29 —Mahtomedi, 3p.m.

Jan. 3—Hibbing-Chisholm

Jan. 4—atChaska, 7p.m.

Jan. 5—atOrono, 2p.m.

Jan. 8—atNorth Shore (Silver Bay), 7p.m.

Jan. 11 —atRoseau, 7p.m.

Jan. 15 —atHermantown

Jan. 19 —atBemidji, 4:30 p.m.

Jan. 22 —International Falls

Jan. 24 —Virginia/Mountain Iron-Buhl

Jan. 31 —Eveleth-Gilbert

Feb. 5—atHibbing-Chisholm

Feb. 7—atInternational Falls

Feb. 8—St. Paul Johnson, 7p.m.

Louie St. George III, News Tribune

HERMANTOWN HAWKS

Coach: Patrick Andrews, second season

2017-18 record: 22-7-2

Conference: Lake Superior

Section: 7A

Key departures: FJacob Herter(21-33—54); D Trent Madill (2-3—5); FTyler Watkins (2643—69)

Key returners: Sr. F Brady Baker (11-7—18); jr. FBlake Biondi (3028—58); sr. DDarian Gotz (10-21—31); sr. D Sam High (3-7—10); sr. GCole Manahan (2.23 goals-against average, .904 save percentage); sr. FElliottPeterson (13-16—29); sr. FJustin Thomas (10-15—25)

Loose pucks: The 201718 season ended without Hermantown vying for aClass Astate title, something that hadn’t occurredsince 2009.

The Hawks, of course, followed six consecutive runner-up finishes with back-to-back crownsin2016-17.

They were shocked by Alexandria in the semifinals last March, losing 6-1 at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, before rebounding with a4-0 win over Mahtomedi in the third-place game.

That grouphad to replace atrio of NCAA Division Icommits in JesseJacques, Dylan Samberg and Ryan Sandelin.Jacques and Samberg are now at Minnesota Duluth, where both Biondi and Gotz, Hermantown’s captain, have committed. Gotz’s older brother, Eric Gotz, is afreshman defenseman at MichiganTech. Biondihad abrilliant offseason, first with Team USA and then leading the Elite League in goals scored. Peterson trades his cleats for skatesafter servingasa captain for the Hawks football team that reached the Class AAAA state tournament. He also excels on the baseball field. Adding to adominant blue line is sophomore Joey Pierce. While Pierce captained aHermantown bantam club that went to state last winter, this won’tbehis rookie season of varsity hockey —thatcamewhile at Ely in 2016-17,when the talented youngster notched 34 points.The defensive corps, which includes juniors Indio Dowd and Zach Carson,

fronts Manahan, who has grown to 6-foot4. The Hawks’ ninth straight section championship came in thrill-

ing fashion last February as they overcame a 3-1 third-period deficit and withstood Greenway’s tying goal at the buzzer of regulation to win in double overtime. Watkins andHerter both are with the Minnesota Wilderness of the North AmericanHockey League. Andrews’ predecessor, Bruce Plante, was inducted into thecoaches association Hall of Fame in September. With 13 returners, Andrewssaidthis editionofthe Hawks will feature more experience.

Hermantown players celebrateTyler Watkins’game-winning goal in double overtime of last February’sSection 7Achampionship game atAmsoilArena. ClintAustin /caustin@duluthnews.com

SCHEDULE

At 7:30 p.m., unless noted

Nov. 30 —atWayzata, 7p.m.

Dec. 1— Lakeville South, 3:15 p.m.

Dec. 7—vs. Eden Prairie (Brainerd), 8p.m.

Dec. 8—vs. Benilde-St. Margaret’s (Brainerd), 2:30 p.m.

Dec. 11 —Duluth Marshall

Dec. 15 —atNew Prague, 3p.m.

Dec. 22 —Totino-Grace, 3:15 p.m.

Dec. 27-29 —atHilltopper Holiday Classic

Jan. 4—atSt. Cloud Cathedral, 7:15 p.m.

Jan. 8—atGrand Rapids

Jan. 10 —atDuluth Denfeld (Heritage Center)

Jan. 12 —Minnetonka, 3:15 p.m.

Jan. 15 —Greenway

Jan. 19 —St. Cloud Tech, 3:15 p.m.

Jan. 22 —atHibbing-Chisholm

Jan. 24 —atProctor, 7p.m.

Jan. 29 —Virginia/MIB

Jan. 31 —atCloquet-Esko-Carlton

Feb. 2—atMahtomedi, 3p.m.

Feb. 5—atSuperior, 7p.m.

Feb. 8—atEveleth-Gilbert

Feb. 9—atBemidji, 3:15 p.m.

Feb. 14 —Grand Rapids

ROSTER

4Jackson Lucia DSo.

7Ben Siljendahl FSr.

9Brady Baker FSr.

10 Brady Rothe DJr.

11 Aaron Pionk FSo.

12 Ryan Dobbs FJr.

13 Justin Thomas FSr.

14 Darian Gotz DSr.

16 Drew Sams FJr.

17 Matt Erickson FJr. 18 Joey Pierce F/D So. 19 Jack Mathison FJr. 20 Cayden Sunde DJr.

Louie St. George III, News Tribune

HIBBING-CHISHOLM BLUEJACKETS

Coach: Justin Tomberlin, third season

2017-18 record: 7-19-1

Conference: Iron Range

Section: 7A

Key departures: FNick Belich (2-12—14); FTristan Birdsall (17-18—35); FMichael Kubena (9-4—13); FJake Riihinen (14-16—30)

Key returners: Sr. FNic Cicchi (5-11—16); soph. FConner Willard (5-5—10); jr. DMitchell Ziemba (3-9—12)

Loose pucks: With the exception of perhaps Grand Rapids, no Northland program has been hit harder by early defections recently. The list at Hibbing-Chisholm includes —among others —Jarrett Lee, Scott Perunovich, Ryan Ullan and now Birdsall, the Bluejackets’ top scorer in 2017-18. A senior, Birdsall will play for Greenway after transferring. His offense will be sorely missed. Hibbing-Chisholm managed just 61 goals in 25 regular-season games last season, an average of 2.4 per night. The Bluejackets scoredtwo or fewer goals in 17 games overall, their run ending in the section quarterfinals via a5-0 loss at Greenway. While Perunovich is starring at Minnesota Duluth, where he’s one of the best NCAA Division Idefensemen

SCHEDULE

At 7:30 p.m., unless noted

Nov. 30 —atBloomington Jefferson, 7p.m.

Dec. 1— at Chanhassen, 3p.m.

Dec. 7— International Falls

Dec. 8— Roseau, 1p.m.

Dec. 11 —Superior

Dec. 18 —atCloquet-Esko-Carlton

Dec. 20 —atInternational Falls

Dec. 27 —Delano

Dec. 28 —Mahtomedi

Dec. 29 —Alexandria, 2p.m.

Jan. 3— at Greenway

Jan. 4— at Rochester Mayo

Jan. 5— at Rochester John Marshall, 1p.m.

Jan. 8—atEveleth-Gilbert

Jan. 10 —atVirginia/Mountain Iron-Buhl

Jan. 17 —atGrand Rapids

Jan. 22 —Hermantown

Jan. 25 —atWarroad

Jan. 26 —atThief River Falls

Jan. 31 —atDuluth Denfeld (Heritage Center)

Feb. 5— Greenway

Feb. 7—Eveleth-Gilbert

Feb. 9—St. Paul Johnson, 2p.m.

Feb. 12 —Virginia/Mountain Iron-Buhl

ROSTER

Complete roster will be posted online when available.

in the country, Lee is at Division INorthern Michigan, whereUllan, currently with the Green Bay Gamblers of the United States Hockey League, is scheduled to arrive next fall. Despite arough go of it last year, whichincluded a1-11-1 close to the regular season, Hibbing-Chisholm produced a couple head-scratching results. In late December, the Bluejackets defeated Alexandria 3-1, the same Alexandria club that would go on to rout Hermantown 6-1 in the state semifinals and finish second in Class A. One month later, the Bluejackets tied Class AA state-ranked Duluth Marshall.

Louie St. George III, News Tribune

Hibbing-Chisholm Bluejackets vs. the Superior Spartans.

2017 file photo /Superior Telegram

INTERNATIONAL FALLS BRONCOS

Coach: George McDonald, fourth season

2017-18 record: 13-12-1

Conference: Iron Range

Section: 7A

Key departures: DTrevor Becvar (7-17—24); FTrimble Butler (9-16—25); FBarrett Kalar (8-8—16); GJake Klow (3.36 goals-against average, .895 save percentage); FKaneKostiuk (5-12—17); FGust Lorenson (14-9—23)

Key returners: Jr. FJaxon Germain (11-8—19); jr. FKian Gonzales(9-10— 19); sr. FSimon Palm (13-6—19)

Loose pucks: The Broncos’ first winning season since 2012-13 featured an appearance at Amsoil Arenafor the section semifinals, wherethey were eliminated by Hermantown.Klowoften was good enough to single-handedly keep International Falls in games. The goalie’s numbers didn’tjumpoff the page, but he put together some memorable performances. There was a 45-save effort in a2-2 tie with Virginia/Mountain Iron-Buhl, and 51 stops in a2-1 victory at Fort Frances. International Falls has won 10, 10 and 13 games in McDonald’s first three seasons after going 4-22 in 2014-15. The Broncos reached the 7A semifinals last February by slipping past host Duluth Denfeld 3-2 in overtime. The program received ablowearlier this month when Keith “Huffer” Christiansen died at the age of 74 due to complications from lung cancer. Christiansen, who went on to win an Olympic silver medal and star at Minnesota Duluth, wherehis No. 9became the first jersey retired by the Bulldogs —whomheled in scoring all four of his seasons —carried International Falls to astate championship in 1962. Another ex-Broncos star, Ben Gordon, is in his firstyearasanassistant coach on Bob Motzko’s staff at Minnesota.

Louie St. George III, News Tribune

SCHEDULE

At 7:30 p.m., unless noted

Nov. 23 —Little Falls

Nov. 27 —atLake of the Woods, 7p.m.

Dec. 1— at Virginia/Mountain Iron-Buhl

Dec. 4— Eveleth-Gilbert

Dec. 7— at Hibbing-Chisholm

Dec. 8— at Proctor, 2p.m.

Dec. 15 —atKittson County Central, 1p.m.

Dec. 20 —Hibbing-Chisholm

Dec. 21 —Fort Frances (Ontario)

Dec. 27 —vs. Osseo (Warroad)

Dec. 28 —vs. Grafton/Park River, N.D. (Warroad), 5p.m.

Dec. 29 —atWarroad, 1:15 p.m.

Jan. 4— at Ely, 7p.m.

Jan. 5— North Shore, 6:30 p.m.

Jan. 8—atVirginia/Mountain Iron-Buhl

Jan. 15 —atEveleth-Gilbert

Jan. 19 —atDuluth Denfeld (Heritage Center), 3p.m.

Jan. 22 —atGreenway

Jan. 24 —atNorth Shore (Silver Bay), 6:30 p.m.

Jan. 31 —atFort Frances (Ontario)

Feb. 2—Kittson County Central, 3p.m.

Feb. 7—Greenway

Feb. 9—Crookston, 3p.m.

14

MembersoftheMooseLakeAreaboyshockeyteamlineupbeforeaJanuary2018game.TheRebelsthis season have increased the size of their program, which bordered on disbanding aseason ago.

SCHEDULE

At 7p.m., unless noted

Nov. 27 —Becker-Big Lake

Dec. 1— at Cambridge-Isanti, 3p.m.

Dec. 4— at Southwest Christian, 5:45 p.m.

Dec. 6—atPine City Area

Dec. 8—Mayport, 2p.m.

Dec. 11 —St. Paul Highland Park

Dec. 14 —Ely, 6p.m.

Dec. 18 —Proctor

Dec. 21 —Legacy Christian Academy

Dec. 27-29 —North Shore Holiday Tournament

Jan. 3—atMora-Milaca, 7:15 p.m.

Jan. 5—atProctor, noon

Jan. 10 —vs. Becker-Big Lake (Princeton), 7:15 p.m.

Jan. 12 —Southwest Christian, 1p.m.

Jan. 15 —Pine City Area

Jan. 18 —atBagley-Fosston, 6p.m.

Jan. 22 —atSt. Paul Highland Park

Jan. 29 —atSauk Rapids-Rice, 6p.m.

Jan. 31 —vs. Legacy Christian Academy (Blaine), 6:45 p.m.

Feb. 5—Mora-Milaca

Feb. 8—atEly

Feb. 12 —North Shore

Feb. 15 —Bagley-Fosston, 6p.m.

MOOSE LAKE AREA REBELS

Coach: Lee Costley, third season

2017-18 record: 2-23-1

Conference: Two Rivers

Section: 5A

Key departures: FMarkFossum (13-5—18)

Key returners: Sr. FAndrew Burn(3-5—8); jr. F Jordan Fjosne(11-15—26); sr. FTommy Kliniski (2-8—10); sr. DAnakin Oswald (4-4—8)

ClintAustin /caustin@duluthnews.com

ROSTER

1Henry Dammer G9

2Avery Anderson F0

3Jordan Fjosne F11

5Anakin Oswald D12

6Jeff Cisar F0

7Louie Kliniski F0

8Jack Ergen D11

9Sean Jungers F12

12 Andrew Burn F12

13 Paxton Vogel F0

14 Adam Olson F0

15 Vern Anderson D12

17 Tommy Kliniski F12

18 Easton Hartl D0

19 Henry Ribich F0

22 Grant Pettit G0 30 Danny Whited G12

Loose pucks: MooseLake Area will have 12 skaters and three goalies in 2018-19. “Not many coaches would be excited about this, but Iam,” Costley wrote in an email. That’s because the Rebels had eight skaters and one goalie last season. In alopsided loss to Lake of the Woods in early January, there were seven total players in uniform. “It’s going to be strange to look down at the bench during agame and have more than one player looking back at me,” the coach wrote. The Rebels’ youth program, Costley said, is startingtopay dividends. While the coach is optimisticabout the future, especially after the additionofa bantam squad twoyears ago, he knows Moose Lake is still in rebuilding mode. Its first win of 2017-18 didn’t come until game No. 21, and the Rebels were shut out seven times total. Despitethe adversity, Costley is thankful his players stuck with it. If one or two hadn’t, Moose Lake wouldn’thave been able to field aclub. “We might not have the most wins, but that’s not what it’s about. It’s about what we’re doing for the future of our program,” said Oswald, who has helped the Moose Lake-Willow River football team reach each of the past two state tournaments.The focus now is on getting more players into the system and buildingsomething sustainable. Equally crucial will be keeping homegrown talent. The Rebels have lost about a half-dozen players to other Northland teams or junior hockey recently.

Louie St. George III, News Tribune

NORTH SHORE STORM

Coach: Mike Guzzo, fifth season

2017-18 record: 10-14-3

Conference: Independent

Section: 7A

Key departures: FCody Brandt (10-9—19); FNick Hendrickson (8-6—14); DLogan Loiselle (3-11—14);FChadNordean (25-17—42)

Key returners: Sr.F Wyatt Haugan (4-12—16); jr. FCole Komarek (6-16—22);sr. F Mason Meyer (11-10—21); sr. GCameron Roy(3.58 goalsagainst average, .871 save percentage); sr. DConnor Somnis (6-6—12)

Loose pucks: After more than

30 years of coachinghigh school hockey, this will be Guzzo’s final season on the bench. He’s been afixtureatLakeCounty rinks and fields over the years, also coachingthe Silver Bay boys and girls teams, plus the school’s softball squad. He brings back asolid supporting cast,plus talentednewcomers like sophomore wing Ryder McMillenand freshman center Will Olson. With Nordean, the program’s career scoring leader,graduating, Meyer is the only returner that netted adouble-digit goal total. Nordean had apoint in all but eight games and registered four hat tricks. Junior Connor Sullivan could share time between the pipes with Roy. The Storm, a Two Harbors-Silver Bay co-op, are comingoff their first losing

1— North Branch (Two Harbors)

Dec. 6—Ely (Two Harbors)

Dec. 8—atNorth Branch

Dec. 13 —Superior (Silver Bay)

Dec. 20 —Hayward (Two Harbors)

Dec. 22 —atPrinceton, 2p.m.

Dec. 27-29 —North Shore Holiday Tournament

Jan. 5—atInternational Falls, 6:30 p.m.

Jan. 8—Greenway (Silver Bay)

Jan. 12 —Mora-Milaca (Two Harbors), 3p.m.

Jan. 15 —Virginia/Mountain Iron-Buhl (Two Harbors), 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 17 —atPine City Area

Jan. 22 —atEveleth-Gilbert (Hoyt Lakes), 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 24 —International Falls (Silver Bay)

Jan. 29 —atProctor

Jan 31— at Ashland

Feb. 5—Ely (Two Harbors)

Feb. 8—Duluth Denfeld (Two Harbors), 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 12 —atMoose Lake Area

Feb. 14 —Eveleth-Gilbert (Silver Bay)

record in six seasons. They were 5-5-2 before an 0-5-1 skid following the holiday break. For many North Shore players, there wasn’t much of alayoffbetween fall and winter sports. Anumber of them, including Meyer, Komarek and Haugan, helped TwoHarbors reach the state tournament in football for the first time since 1977. The Agates bowed out in the Class AAA quarterfinals Nov. 10, two days before hockey practice started. Three of North Shore’svictories ayearago came against Proctor, including 3-0 in the opening round of the section playoffs. Guzzo says he’s hoping to go out with a“fun and competitive” season.

ROSTER

3Isaac Swanson DSo.

4ColeKomarek FJr.

6Ero Wallin DSo.

8Ryder McMillen FSo.

9Wyatt Haugen FSr.

10 Connor Somnis FSr.

11 Karsen Holm DJr.

12 Greysen Furo DSr.

13 Spencer Jackson DJr.

14 Thomas Rowlee FSr.

15 Bret Olson DSr.

17 Lucas Stadler DSo.

19 Will Olson FFr.

20 Sully Tikkanen FSo.

22 Kyle JohnsonFSr.

23 Peyton Westerlund FSr.

24 Mason Meyer DSr.

26 Kody Costley FSo.

27 Sam Johnson FJr.

29 Caden Costley FSo.

30 Cameron Roy GSr.

31 Connor Sullivan GJr.

Louie St. George III, News Tribune

Cameron Roy gloves ashot during apractice at Lake CountyArena inTwoHarbors.

(News-Chronicle photo byAdelle Whitefoot)

SCHEDULE

At 7p.m., unless noted

Nov. 29 —atNorth Shore (Silver Bay)

Nov. 30 —Wadena-Deer Creek

Dec. 8—International Falls. 2p.m.

Dec. 11 —Cambridge-Isanti, 6p.m.

Dec. 15 —Princeton, 2p.m.

Dec. 18 —atMoose Lake Area

Dec. 20 —Eveleth-Gilbert, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 22 —Chisago Lakes, 2p.m.

Dec. 28 —atSauk Rapids-Rice, 5p.m.

Jan. 3—Duluth Denfeld

Jan. 5—Moose Lake Area

Jan. 10 —atEveleth-Gilbert (Hoyt Lakes)

Jan. 14 —NorthernLakes

Jan. 17 —atDuluth Marshall, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 22 —Ely, 6p.m.

Jan. 24 —Hermantown

Jan. 29 —North Shore

Feb. 5—atVirginia/Mountain Iron-Buhl

Feb. 8—Cloquet-Esko-Carlton

Feb. 9—atNorthernLakes

Feb. 12 —atPine City Area

Feb. 13 —atGentry Academy, 7:30 p.m.

ROSTER

3Zach Gunderson DSr.

5BoDardis DJr.

6Jack Bartlam FJr.

PROCTOR RAILS

Coach: Dan Stauber, third season

2017-18 record: 7-17-2

Conference: Lake Superior

Section: 7A

Key departures: FJosh Hemming (6-3—9); FBlake Koski (8-6—14); FJordan Linder (1112—23); GLucas Nordquist (3.32 goals-against average, .895 save percentage); DEvan O’Connor (10-12—22)

Key returners: Sr. DZachGunderson (3-10—13); jr. FBen Harnell (6-2—8); jr. DIsaac Mosher (2-7—9)

Loose pucks: Five years of planningand ayear of constructiongive way to theRails’ new home venue, which replaces the relic that was Proctor’s former rink.The St. Luke’s Sports & Event Center officially opened in mid-October. The arena will hold as many as 1,200 fans. The Rails would love for it to accomplish one other thing —keepProctor players in Proctor, from youth hockey through high school, rather than migrating to other programs in the Northland. The Rails will be looking for more offense this time around after beingshut out in seven games last season, including a3-0 loss to North Shore in their playoff opener. They started the year 0-7-1. Gunderson and Mosher are strong on the blue line. Abrightspot for Proctor in 2017-18: Defeating Virginia/Mountain Iron-Buhl 3-2 in overtime in early January, which commenced a 5-2 stretch. Stauber is aformer longtime Wisconsin-Superior men’s coach.

Louie St. George III, News Tribune

Proctor hockey has anew homethis season in the St. Luke’sSports &Event Center (ClintAustin /caustin@duluthnews.com)

NorthShore’sCodyBrandt(left)battlesforpuckpossessionwithProctor’s Riley Solem during aNovember2017 game in Proctor Lake County News-Chronicle file photo

SUPERIOR SPARTANS

Coach: Jason Kalin, 18th season

2017-18 record: 14-11-2

Conference: Lake Superior

Key departures: DLuke Drougas (1312—25); FMax Plunkett (12-3—15); FTuckerStamper (6-9—15); GCaden Welch (2.67 goals-against average, .899 save percentage)

Key returners: Sr. FTaylorBurger (10-17—27); sr. FTrevorDalbec (8-10—18); jr. FGunnar Hansen (105—15); sr. FCayden Laurvick (9-11— 20); sr. FGrantSorensen (9-7—16)

Loose pucks: Superior looked ready for aquick exit in 2018 after going 0-6-1 to end the regular season. But the Spartans, led by Dalbec’s two goals, jumped all over River Falls in their playoff opener, skating away witha 6-1 win en route to the sectional semifinals. There, then-junior

Ian Johnson scored his only goal of the year in double overtime to secure a4-3 victory over New Richmond. How unlikely of ahero was Johnson? He didn’tevensee the ice in the first three periods of that game. Superior was unable to ride the magic any further,falling to eventual repeat state champion Hudson 4-1 in the sectional final for the second year in arow. Anine-game winning streak near the end of 2017, during which no opponent tallied more than two goals, left the Spartans at 11-2. Four of the top five point producers returnasSuperior takes aim at Hudson’s perch. The Spartans have claimed 13 state championships, with the most recent comingin2015—and,perhaps, the most improbable, considering they werebelow .500. Welch leaves big pads to fill between the pipes. Wild stat, courtesy of the Superior Telegram: The Spartans are 67-3 all-time in home playoff games.

—atDuluth East (Heritage Center), 7:15 p.m.

Feb. 5—Hermantown

Feb. 7—Northland Pines

Feb. 9—atEau Claire Memorial, 2p.m.

Louie St. George III, News Tribune

Superior’s Braden LaPorte (left) moves up ice with the puck during agame at WessmanArena. Jed Carlson /jcarlson@superiortelegram.com

VIRGINIA/MOUNTAIN IRON-BUHL BLUE DEVILS

Coach: Cale Finseth, first season

2017-18 record: 16-10-1

Conference: Iron Range

Section: 7A

Key departures: DWyatt Phaneuf (1-8—9); FJake Seitz (30-36—66)

Key returners: Sr. FCaleb Bialke (19-24—43); sr. DNathan Coldagelli (0-20—20); jr. FZachKilen (9-13—22); sr. GCam Kreibich (2.50 goalsagainst average, .922 save percentage); sr. FCade Moreland (20-19—39); sr. FJack Zupetz (14-19—33)

Loose pucks: Finseth replaces Reed Larson, who stepped down as VMIB coach last spring after seven years. And while big-time scorer Seitz graduated, the cupboard is hardly bare for Finseth, whose coaching past includes leading Eveleth-Gilbert for the 2006-07 season. He played his college hockey at both St. Scholastica and Wisconsin-Stout. Seitz, now with the North American Hockey League’s Minnesota Magicians, was awhiz withthe puck on his stick,and he wasabig reason the Blue Devils were legitimate contenders in 7A last winter.They upended Greenway 3-1 and narrowly fell to Hermantown, 2-1, in January. VMIB opened 7-1 before alternating wins and losses the rest of the way. Bialke and Moreland form adangerous 1-2 scoring punch for the veteran Blue Devils, who face atough final month of this season, with contests against the likes of Cloquet-Esko-Carlton, Greenway, Hermantown and St. Cloud Cathedral. Kreibich has been terrific in goal, never more so than during a3-0 blanking last December of eventual Class Arunner-up Alexandria, in which he stopped all 46 shots he faced. After splittingwithGreenway in the regular season, VMIB dropped a5-1 affair to the Raiders in the section semifinals.

Louie St. George III, News Tribune

SCHEDULE

At 7:30 p.m., unless noted

Nov. 24 —Little Falls

Nov. 29 —Greenway

Dec. 1— at International Falls

Dec. 4— at Grand Rapids

Dec. 7—Warroad

Dec. 11 —atDuluth Denfeld (Heritage Center)

Dec. 15 —atEveleth-Gilbert

Dec. 21 —atBloomington Jefferson

Dec. 22 —atBreck, 3p.m.

Dec. 27 —Mahtomedi

Dec. 28 —Alexandria Area

Dec. 29 —Delano, 3p.m.

Jan. 4—atOrono

Jan. 5—atBloomington Kennedy, 3p.m.

Jan. 8—International Falls

Jan. 10 —Hibbing-Chisholm

Jan. 15 —atNorth Shore (Two Harbors)

Jan. 18 —St. Cloud Cathedral, 7p.m.

Jan. 19 —Sartell-St. Stephen, 3p.m.

Jan. 22 —atCloquet-Esko-Carlton

Jan. 24 —atGreenway

Jan. 26 —Eveleth-Gilbert

Jan. 29 —atHermantown

Feb. 5—Proctor, 7p.m.

Feb. 12 —atHibbing-Chisholm

Seppala DJr.

Branden Gulbranson FSo.

Brett Okland FSo.

Cade Moreland FSr.

Caleb Bialke FSr.

Cam Kreibich GSr.

Chase Powell DSo.

Cole Raymond FSr.

Davin Wagner FSr.

Dawson Flatley DSr.

Dillon Drake FJr.

Elijah Carlson FSo.

Gavin Flaim FSr.

Grant Bonicatto FSo.

Harrison Huesmoller FSo.

Jace Westerbur DSo.

Jack Zupetz FSr.

Jay Isaacson DSr.

Jordan Mast FJr.

Josh Berlin GSr.

Josh Daugherty DSr.

Landin McCarty GSo.

Logan Bialke DSo.

Matt Callister DSo.

Nathan Coldagelli DSr.

Nathan Zadnikar FSr.

Ryan Sherf FSo.

Sam Berlin GSo.

Seth Hauber GSo.

Spencer Dixon FSo.

Tommy Nemanich DSo.

Tony Chesser FSr.

Tristan Pikula GJr.

Zach Kilen FJr.

Zander Carr DJr.

Steve Kuchera / skuchera@duluthnews.com

The ‘new’ guy looks familiar

Former assistant Shea Walters becomes CEC’s third coach in three years

By Louie St. George III lstgeorge@duluthnews.com

Fans are prone to fretting over their favorite team consistently playing for a different coach. That instability impedes progress by repeatedly forcing players to learn new systems and new philosophies.

Or so the theory goes.

Cloquet-Esko-Carlton’s Shea Walters — the Lumberjacks’ third head coach in three seasons — believes it’s much ado about nothing.

“Kids, especially at that age — 17, 18 years old — they’re pretty resilient. They grow up playing for a lot of different coaches, whether it be summer hockey or they’re going to different camps,” Walters said earlier this month. “They’re used to listening to a lot of different coaches. That continuity of having the same coach for three years of high school is obviously ideal, but we’re going to make the best of the situation. And, luckily I coached them last year, so that’ll help.”

Indeed, the 31-year-old Walters was on Kevin Smalley’s staff in 2017-18. Smalley resigned in July, saying he needed to focus on his job at Sinnott Blacktop, though he had been booked into the St. Louis County Jail days earlier on suspicion of driving while intoxicated and was charged with the offense in August. Smalley, popular among his players, retracted his resignation, but the Cloquet School Board in early August voted unanimously not to renew his contract.

Smalley succeeded longtime CEC coach Dave Esse, who stepped down in the spring of 2017.

Enter Walters, who went on to play junior hockey, then at Bemidji State, after graduating from Hibbing. He takes over a program that keeps getting talented sophomore classes fresh off bantam state tournament appearances. This year has been highly anticipated by CEC fans for some time.

These Lumberjacks can play. They’ve experienced success at every level of youth hockey.

“In my opinion, they’re a special group,” Walters said. “They’ve worked really hard, there’s a lot of talent and they’ve had a lot of success growing up. For me to step in as an assistant last year, that made the transition to head coach a lot easier.”

It made the transition easier for both Walters and his players. During one of his first practices at the helm, at the old Pine Valley Ice Arena — replete with its arctic air — Walters looked like a veteran bench boss. Flipping pucks from near the side boards to initiate a small-area drill, he kept the pace up-tempo.

As the session wound down, Walters briefly addressed the Lumberjacks before they hastily retreated to the cozy confines of their locker room.

Walters is picking up where Smalley left off. Much of the structure is the same.

“If we would have had a whole new coaching staff, it would have been harder” to adjust, senior

forward Gavin Rasmussen said.

While it’s premature to peg a head coach’s style a mere two or three weeks into his tenure, Walters appears to trend more toward being a player’s coach. He’s an approachable guy.

“Last year we had him as an assistant, and we really loved him around here,” senior defenseman Andy Acers said. “It’s really fun playing for him. He’s a great guy and a great coach.”

Walters also was an assistant at his old program, Hibbing-Chisholm, under Todd Versich.

He’s excited to guide a club that has the requisite skill and depth to make a run in the always-deep Section 7AA. The bulk of the offensive production is back, with Landon Langenbrunner, who totaled 25 goals and 23 assists as a junior, leading the way. The Lumberjacks do have questions on defense, where Ryan Nelson graduated and is now playing for the Minnesota Wilderness, and Dane Stoyanoff tore his anterior cruciate ligament during a football scrimmage. The 6-foot-4 Stoyanoff, a senior, would have been one of the area’s best blueliners.

Like Walters, CEC players don’t consider the coaching turnover a hindrance.

“But with playing for three different coaches in three years, we have a strong group of seniors,” Langenbrunner said. “We’re all friends and we’ve all been through it together, so it makes it that much easier when we all have each other’s backs and we’ve all been there for each other.”

Walters

Shea Walters, the new head coach for CEC boys hockey, skates with his players during a recent practice.

Girls hockey is ‘here to stay’

Girls have cemented their place in the State of Hockey over the past 25 years

By Jon Nowacki jnowacki@duluthnews.com

Duluth Northern Stars senior forward Cassie McClure grew up tagging along with her older brother, Cameron, toting their hockey equipment in a duffel bag to the rink a block away in Duluth’s Piedmont neighborhood.

They would play a pickup game with anyone who would show up, and sometimes moms would come work the concessions to make sure they would have hot cocoa when they were done.

“It was a great place to fall in love with hockey,” Cassie McClure said.

But for those girls who did fall in love with hockey, there weren’t a lot of options once they grew up.

That changed 25 years ago.

Last month, the Minnesota State High School League launched celebratory seasons of its 25th girls hockey state tournament and 75th boys hockey state tournament.

“It’s awesome,” International Falls coach Michele McDonald said. “We’ve been talking a lot lately about the girls program, and we’ve got an adult women’s team that plays, and we finally got our U-12 team back and running this year. It’s just exciting to see it keep growing, and

everyone loving the sport. We’re showing everyone that we’re here, and we’re not going anywhere. We’re here to stay.”

Humble beginnings

Hibbing-Chisholm and Duluth got a jump on girls hockey in the Northland, and it coincided with the rise of women’s hockey at Minnesota Duluth, which quickly became a power under coach Shannon Miller.

Hibbing-Chisholm won the single-class state title in 1997 and finished as runners-up in 1998, while Duluth made a state tournament appearance in 1999.

Now in his 21st season, Proctor-Hermantown coach Glen Gilderman is like a living history of the sport in the Northland. Duluth Marshall was part of the co-op at that time. The Mirage played as a club team in 1997-98 before fielding a varsity team the following winter.

Gilderman said the threat of a Title IX gender-equity lawsuit at Hermantown helped spur the formation of the Mirage.

“There was a parent who wanted girls hockey to start, but they didn’t think they were equipped to do that, or whatever,” Gilderman recalled.

Proctor and Hermantown already had a youth team, so there was a base of girls to work with. Gilderman, who had experience coaching girls runners, read in the school board minutes the schools were looking for a girls hockey coach, so he approached Proctor athletic director Jeff Caywood.

“I said, ‘I’d really like to help out with that. I’d like to be an assistant coach,’ ” Gilderman said.

Knowing the boys game, and how pressurized it can be, especially in Minnesota, Gilderman had no interest in being the head coach.

“I don’t know if

he put his feelers out and nothing turned up, but a few days later, Jeff came back to me and said, ‘You’re going to be the head coach,’ ” Gilderman said.

And that was that.

According to USA Hockey, Minnesota produces more girls and women’s hockey players than any other state, and it’s not even close. Minnesota had 240 teams and 3,723 girls hockey players in a participation survey conducted by the National Federation of State High School Associations for 2017-18. Massachusetts was second with 168 and 2,320. No other state had more than 50 teams.

With boys hockey having a long, established tradition in Minnesota, the interest and infrastructure was already for the girls to quickly follow suit.

Northern Stars coach Jamie Kenyon-Plesha, a former Minnesota Duluth hockey captain, hails from Sparta, Wis. In high school, she played the Madison Capitols AAA team.

“Minnesota was always a leader in that,” Kenyon-Plesha said. “My high school didn’t have hockey, so I drove to Madison which was two hours away. That was the nearest best hockey to play.”

continued on page 22

AnnikaLindgren(15)andRianBraun(3)oftheDuluthNorthernStarscelebrate after scoring a goal against Roseville during a recent game at Heritage Center ClintAustin / caustin@duluthnews.com

GIRLS HOCKEY

continued from page 21

Future is bright

With the exception of Grand Rapids-Greenway’s Brad Hyduke, Gilderman has more headcoachingexperience than the rest of theNorthland coaches combined.Five are in their first year, including McDonald.

With younger coaches such as Kenyon-Plesha and McDonald energizing their support base, numbers appear solid. While programs like the Falls are on an island, making it not as easy to co-op, the 24-yearold McDonald says they make do.

For likely the first time, there are as many women (six) as men (six) head coaches among Northland teams.

McDonald’s father, George McDonald, coaches the Broncos’ boysteam.

“Growing up Ialways watched him and wanted to be acoach, just like he was,” Michele McDonald said. “I don’t think there is anything wrongwith having male coaches. We’ve got two male coaches, and

they’regreat with the girls, but it’s nicetosee more females get into coaching, to show them that they can do this. It’s not just about the hockey that we’re trying to teach them, but life experiences, too.”

Duluth didn’t even have ajunior varsity in Kenyon-Plesha’s first season in 2015-16. This year they have aJV, a U-15 and three U-12 teams.

“Coach has taken this programalongway since she’s gotten here, and Ican’t wait to see where she takes it from here,” McClure said.

Thesamecould be said of the sport.

In the early days, a player or two often dominated games. Stars were born such as the Curtin sisters, Krissy Wendell and Natalie Darwitz, and closer to home, Hibbing-Chisholm products Amber Fryklund and Andrea Nichols. That’s not as muchthe case anymore.

“Girls hockey has come so far,just the skill level and the competitivenessthatcomes with that,” McClure said. “It’s been amazing to watch it grow.”

Seven Minnesotans were on the U.S. Olympic women’s hockey team that won gold at the Winter Games earlier this year in Pyeongchang, South Korea, including Minnesota Duluth goalie Maddie Rooney of Andover.

Thatvictoryshould inspire future generations, while past generations ask, “What if?”

“It’s reallyinteresting, but Ihave so many moms now, of girls who are playing, say, ‘If I could have played hockey, Iwould have loved to have played hockey,’” Gilderman said. “I have asister who ended up cheerleading who could skate as well as any guy could.”

McClure, who began skating when she was 5, plays the sport yearround. Her parents, Jason and Jodi, met in ninth grade at Duluth Central and have been together ever since. Jason was ahockey player but Jodi didn’t have that option.

“Theydidn’t even have ateam when my mom was growing up,” McClure said. “She wasacheerleader. She remembers other girls in her grade wanting to play. They wereathletic but didn’t have the opportunity. I’m surprised it didn’t start earlier, especially in Minnesota.”

But fortunately for McClure, it started early enough.

“I’ve been going to therinkaslong as I remember,” McClure said. “I don’t knowwhat I’d do if there was no girls hockey. If Ihad to choose another sport, I’d probably choose soccer, but hockey’s my love, for sure.”

5 PLAYERS TO WATCH

ABBY EDSTROM

Hibbing-Chisholm

Senior goaltender

Posted a1.88 goals-against average witha.924savepercentageand four shutouts, including aheroic 37-save, four-overtime win over CEC

DEHLI HEIKES

Proctor-Hermantown

Senior forward

Unselfish team player tallied 14 goals and 14 assistsfor Section 7A champions, who went on to finish fourth in Class Astate tournament

TAYLOR NELSON

Cloquet-Esko-Carlton

Junior forward

Bemidji State recruit recorded 20 goals and 17 assists for37points in earning All-Lake Superior Con-

ference first-team honors

SADIE PEART

Grand Rapids-Greenway

Senior forward

Quinnipiac recruit and two-time News Tribune All-Area selection scored 24 goalsand added 27 assists for 51 points as ajunior

CLAIRE VEKICH

Grand Rapids-Greenway

Sophomore forward

Potential NCAA Division Isignee led all Class AA freshmen with 22 goals and added 21 assistsfor team that went undefeated vs. Northeastern Minnesota

5 GAMES TO WATCH

Proctor-Hermantown at Duluth Marshall

7:30 p.m. today

The Hilltoppers won 1-0 in these teams’ matchup ayearago;can Marshall winagain with anew goalie in the net?

Cloquet-Esko-Carlton at Duluth

5:15 p.m. Dec. 11

These teams had disappointing seasons ayearago so this meeting at Heritage Center and the ensuing rematch on Jan. 3inCloquet will be crucial to asuccessful season

Duluth Marshall at Grand Rapids-Greenway

7p.m. Dec. 20

These teams didn’t play last season but thismidseason matchup will give both agood idea of where they stand heading into holiday tournaments

Grand Rapids-Greenway at Proctor-Hermantown

7p.m.Jan. 15

Since these teams can’t meet in the playoffs, this matchup might decide who the best team is in the Northland

Proctor-Hermantown at Hibbing-Chisholm

7p.m.Jan. 17

The Mirage won 5-2 when the teams met with the 2018Section 7 title on the line at Miners Memorial Building and now they meet a second time two weeks before the playoffs

Cloquet-Esko-Carlton’sLauren

CLOQUET-ESKO-CARLTON LUMBERJACKS

Coach: Courtney Olin, fourth season

2017-18 record: 9-16-1

Conference: Lake Superior

Section: 7A

Key departures: FAli Martin (3 goals, 0assists, 3points)

Key returners: Sr.G Elise Lund (25 games played, .885 save percentage); jr. FTaylor Nelson (20-17—37); jr. FKiana Bender (17-15—32); sr. DKeagen Anderson (1-7—8); jr. DEmmie Ellena (0-4—4)

Outlook: Expectations are high as the Lumberjacks graduated only one senior from last season. Nelson, aNewsTribune All-Area second-team selection last season, has committed to Bemidji State. Nelson and Bender form adynamic duo on and off the ice. Dave Esse, after 17 years of being the Lumberjacks’ boys head coach, has agreed to assisthis daughter withthe girls team, and Olin said they’rethrilled to have him.

Jon Nowacki, News Tribune

SCHEDULE

At 7:30 p.m., unless noted

Nov. 13 —Brainerd

Nov. 17 —Orono

Nov. 20 —Moose Lake Area

Nov. 23 —Princeton/Big Lake/Becker

Nov. 24 —atSpring Lake Park

Nov. 27 —atGrand Rapids-Greenway (Coleraine), 7p.m.

Dec. 4— at North Shore (Two Harbors), 7p.m.

Dec. 6—Hibbing-Chisholm

Dec. 7—Sartell-Sauk Rapids

Dec. 11 —atDuluth (Heritage Center), 5:15 p.m.

Dec. 18 —atSt. Francis, 7p.m.

Dec. 20 —atEveleth-Gilbert Area

Jan. 3—Duluth

Jan. 5—atAshland, 3p.m.

Jan. 8—Superior

Jan. 10 —atDuluth Marshall

Jan. 12 —atCambridge-Isanti Area, 3p.m.

Jan. 15 —atHibbing-Chisholm, 7p.m.

Jan. 17 —atInternational Falls

Jan. 22 —atProctor-Hermantown (Hermantown), 7p.m.

Jan. 24 —Grand Rapids-Greenway

Jan. 29 —North Shore

Feb. 1—atBemidji, 7p.m.

Feb. 2—atThief River Falls, 2p.m.

DULUTH NORTHERN STARS

Coach: Jamie Kenyon-Plesha, fourth season

2016-17 record: 7-16-2

Conference: Lake Superior

Section: 7AA

Key departures: FSydneySchuman (14-10—24); FIzzySutherland (15-4—19); FAna Kunst (9-8—17 goals); DEllaIerino (6-7—13)

Key returners: Sr. FCassie McClure (7-19—26), fr. FAnnikaLindgren (3-5—8), sr. DPaytonConlin (1-2— 3), sr. DTaylor Pederson (1-2—3), jr. GSarah Spencer (4.07 GAA, .850 save percentage)

Outlook: Kenyon-Plesha has big plans for this team. The Stars graduated seven seniors, making room for agroup of talented young play-

SCHEDULE

At 7:30 p.m., unless noted

Nov. 13 —atCambridge-Isanti Area

Nov. 16 —Benilde-St. Margaret’s

Nov. 17 —Roseville

Nov. 23 —Edina

Nov. 24 —Blake

Nov. 30 —atHopkins/Park (Minnetonka), 7p.m.

Dec. 1— at Forest Lake, 2p.m.

Dec. 4— Proctor-Hermantown

Dec. 7—Champlin Park/Coon Rapids

Dec. 8—Princeton, 3p.m.

Dec. 11 —Cloquet-Esko-Carlton, 5:15 p.m.

Dec. 14 —atInternational Falls, 5:15 p.m.

Dec. 18 —atGrand Rapids-Greenway, 7p.m.

Dec. 20 —Hibbing-Chisholm, 7p.m.

Dec. 21 —Warroad, 6p.m.

Dec. 26-28 —Schwan Cup

Jan. 3—atCloquet-Esko-Carlton

Jan. 17 —Ashland, 5:15 p.m.

Jan. 22 —Superior, 5:15 p.m.

Jan. 24 —atDuluth Marshall

Jan. 29 —Grand Rapids-Greenway, 5:15 p.m.

Jan. 31 —atMoose Lake Area

Feb. 2—St. Francis-North Branch, 3p.m.

ROSTER

1Elise Lund GSr.

2Marina Dostal FFr.

4Dana Jones FFr.

ers eager to fill roles. “This group works reallyhard all the time. They are great teammates and bring a new energy to the rink every day,” Kenyon-Plesha said. “You pair them withour veteranplayers like captain Cassie McClure, it’s something special.” The Stars have not seen a lot of wins in recentyears, totaling only 11 the past two seasons, but Kenyon-Plesha said the Stars don’t focus solely on wins and losses but on seeing improvement. “It’s those ‘tiny wins’which makes this team so special,” she said. “This program on and off the ice is motivated to put Duluth back on the map forgirls high school hockey.” With adifficult 25-game schedule including ranked teams like Edina, Blake and Warroad paired with the competitiveness that comes with Section 7AA, the Stars know it will be achallenge.

Jon Nowacki, News Tribune

ROSTER

2Emma Fellman FFr.

3Rian Braun FSr.

5Elaina Benson DFr.

6Kaelin Cochran FJr.

7Maddie Smith FSr.

9CassieMcClure FSr.

10 Jorja Schooler DJr.

11 Hannah Martin DFr.

13 Payton Conlin DSr.

15 Annika Lindgren FFr.

16 Quinn Clark FJr.

17 Taylor Pederson DSr.

18 Katie Kroska DJr.

21 Molly Henderson FSo.

23 Noelle Stellmaker FSr.

25 Mya Kunst FJr.

29 Jenna Horvat F8th

32 Alana Moline F8th

40 Sarah Spencer GJr.

Cawcutt (center) celebrates her first goal of the season with teammates during the Lumberjacks’ 3-2 win over Brainerd on Tuesday,Nov.13. Dave Harwig /Pine Journal

Duluth Marshall needs to replace goaltender Carissa Mudrak, who led the Northland in goals-against average, save percentage and shutouts.

DULUTH MARSHALL HILLTOPPERS

Coach: Stephanie Erickson, first season

2017-18 record: 18-9

Conference: Lake Superior

Section: 7A

Key departure: GCarissa Mudrak, DClaire Boettcher

Key returners: Sr.FEmily Lemker (8-11—19); so. FGracie Thomas (134—17); sr. DMaren Friday (7-9—16); sr. FOliviaBoettcher (10-6—16); jr. F Tori Thorson (7-8—15); sr. DLily Aamodt (5-9—14)

Outlook: Erickson takes over afor aprogram that had acomplete turnover of its coaching staff following abanner season. Mudrak was aNewsTribune All-Area first-team selection last season after leading the Northland witha 1.80 goals-against average, .925 save percentage and five shutouts. Mudrak and Claire Casey are playing Tier 1U-19AAA hockey for Gentry Academy in Vadnais Heights,Minn., but there is still plenty of talent here. Sophomore Charlesa Priorisaverycapable goaltender, the Hilltoppers are solid up front and veteran along the blue line. Forward Meredith Boettcher is just an eighth-grader but is an up-and-comer to watch.

SCHEDULE

At 7:30 p.m., unless noted

Nov. 10 —South St. Paul

Nov. 17 —St. Francis-North Branch

Nov. 24 —atSartell-Sauk Rapids

Nov. 27 —Proctor-Hermantown

Dec. 1— at St. Paul United, 4p.m.

Dec. 3—Hibbing-Chisholm

Dec. 8—Moose Lake Area, 4p.m.

Dec. 11 —atSuperior, 7p.m.

Dec. 15 —atBenilde-St. Margaret’s, 2:15 p.m.

Dec. 20 —atGrand Rapids-Greenway, 7p.m.

Dec. 21 —atThief River Falls

Dec. 26-28 —atSchwan Cup (Blaine)

Jan. 5—International Falls

Jan. 8—atHibbing-Chisholm

Jan. 10 —Cloquet-Esko-Carlton

Jan. 17 —atMoose Lake Area

Jan. 19 —Dodge County, 3p.m.

Jan. 24 —Duluth

Jan. 26 —atHayward-Ashland, 6:30 p.m.

Jan. 29 —atEveleth-Gilbert

Jan. 31 —North Shore

Feb. 2—atHopkins/Park (Min

ROSTER

3Olivia

5Alison

55 Chelsea Prior GSo.

Jon Nowacki, News Tribune

News Tribunefile photo nnetonka), 3p.m.

EVELETH-GILBERT AREA GOLDEN BEARS

Coach: Earl Fitzgerald, first season

2017-18 record: 9-14-1

Conference: Independent

Section: 7A

Key departure: Leading scorer Brenna Ceglar (12-18—30)

Key returners: Seniors include team captain Katie Scherf (6-4—10), assistant captain Bekah Davidson (0-7—7), Lauren Day, Alayna Krause andJulia Licari;juniorforwards

Anna Seitz (9-1—19), Kada Ceglar and Sophia Flatley (11-12—23), who was second in scoring, along with Autumn Gregorichonthe blue line; sophomore forwards Anneka Lundgren (10-12—22) and Alex Wercinski, defenseman Sydni Richards and goalie Rachel Woods (.874 save percentage); freshmen forwards Kylie Baranzelli (5-7—12) and Rhys Ceglar and defenseman Jennie Krause.

Outlook: The Golden Bears look to get backtotheir winning ways under Fitzgerald, who took over the helm from Dean Edstrom.Fitzgerald is assisted by Jerry Rosati and Steve

Gregorich. Eveleth-Gilbert made state appearances in 2009 and 2011 but has struggled to return to thetop in Section 7A. Fitzgerald, an Eveleth native, believes in strong defense and up-tempo offense. “We allow our players to get creative and take some chances, as long as they communicate with each other,” Fitzgerald said. “We don’t want them to think they can’t make amistake. With hard work, good things just happen.” The Golden Bears skated with perennial section power Hibbing-Chisholm on Nov. 13, ultimately falling 2-0, and has other key matchups with Grand Rapids-Greenway, Proctor-Hermantown and Cloquet-Esko-Carlton, all before Christmas break. “We’ll have to be at the top of our game,” Fitzgerald said. “This is the type of schedule we should play to continue to get stronger on both sides of the puck.”

Dec. 13 —Northern Lakes, 7p.m.

Dec. 18 —atInternational Falls

Dec. 20 —Cloquet-Esko-Carlton

Dec. 26-28 —Schwan’s Cup

Jan. 10 —atSuperior, 7p.m.

Jan. 11 —Minnehaha United

Jan. 15 —atNorth Shore (Silver B

Jan. 22 —atMoose Lake Area

Jan. 24 —atNorthern Lakes, 7 p

Jan. 26 —atPark Rapids, noon

Jan. 29 —Duluth Marshall

Jan. 31 —vs. International Falls (V

Jon Nowacki, News Tribune

GRAND RAPIDS–GREENWAY LIGHTNING

Coach: Brad Hyduke, 11th season

2017-18 record: 17-9-1

Conference: Independent

Section: 7AA

Key departures: DTyBischoff (7-25—32); FMady Shaffer (9-10—19)

Key returners: Sr.F Sadie Peart (24-27—51); sr. FMaddieDrotts (13-21—34); sr. FQuinn Kasell (8-11—19);jr. FEllie Tillma (5-20—25); sr. DJazzi Rohloff (injured); sr. DSasha Stefan (1-6—7); jr. DKaydenBroking(3-6—9); so. FClaire Vekich (22-21—43)

SCHEDULE

Nov. 13 —Bemidji

Nov. 16 —North/Tartan

Nov. 17 —Irondale/St. Anthony Village

Nov. 23 —White Bear Lake

Nov. 24 —Blaine

Nov. 27 —Cloquet-Esko-Carlton (Coleraine)

Nov. 30 —Cambridge-Isanti Area

Dec. 1— Rogers, 1p.m.

Dec. 4— at Eveleth-Gilbert Area, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 8—atEdina, 2p.m.

Dec. 11 —Hibbing-Chisholm

Dec. 18 —Duluth

Dec. 20 —Duluth Marshall

Dec. 26-28 —atEdina Invitational

Jan. 4—Brainerd

Jan. 11 —atElk River

Jan. 12 —atForest Lake, 2p.m.

Jan. 15 —atProctor-Hermantown (Proctor)

Jan. 18 —Andover

Jan. 24 —atCloquet-Esko-Carlton, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 26 —atAlexandria Area, 2p.m.

Jan. 29 —atDuluth (Heritage Center), 5:15 p.m.

Jan. 31 —atHibbing-Chisholm

Kiya Danielson of Grand Rapids-Greenway makes asave against Cloquet-Esko-Carlton during arecent game at NorthwoodsArena in Cloquet.

ClintAustin /caustin@ duluthnews.com

Outlook: Northeastern Minnesota hasn’t had a Class AA girls hockey state qualifier since 2012. The Lightning have the talent to do it, but it’s atough section, with Andover beingthe state’s top-ranked team as of Nov.15. Rohloff, the daughter of former Minnesota Duluth star and NHL defenseman Jon Rohloff, was once an up-and-coming defenseman on college radars but has had her career derailed by aseries of knee injuries. She is finally starting her first high school season healthy after being limited to only 10 career games. She is asenior leader on an experienced team that includes News Tribune All-Area first-team selections Peart and Vekich. Peart is on the Ms. Hockey watchlist, while Vekich is athrowback. In an era of sports specialization, Vekich is also astandout in volleyball and softball. Hyduke calls her arareathlete.

Jon Nowacki, News Tribune

Chris &Lisa Marinucci -Owners

HIBBING-CHISHOLM BLUEJACKETS

Coach: Emily Erickson, thirdseason

2017-18 record: 11-15-2

Conference: Independent

Section: 7A

Key departure: DLillian Rue (6-8—14)

Key returners: Jr. FAllie Bussey (20-16—36); jr. FEmma Lundell (10-19—29);soph. DMaddie Rewertz (1-6—7); sr. GAbby Edstrom (.924 save percentage)

Outlook: TheBluejackets have alot of returning, experienced players, and don’t let their record fool you. They playa toughschedulethat

is geared for the playoffs. With 12 state tournament appearances, no Northland program has more tradition, and they came up just short last year, falling 5-2 to Proctor-Hermantown in the Section 7A final after winning it in 2017. “Their playoff run last season made these girls hungry for more,” Erickson, aformer Grand Rapids-Greenway standout, said. “Our senior goaltender also brings years of experience and leadership to the team. We’re excited and hopeful for the season.” Edstrom was aNewsTribune All-Area second-team selection last season after fueling the Bluejackets’ postseason run by going 2-1 with a1.57 GAA and .939 save percentage.

Jon Nowacki, News Tribune

SCHEDU

At 7p.m., unless noted

Nov. 13 —atEveleth-Gilbert

Nov. 16 —Irondale/St. Anthony Village

Nov. 17 —Holy Family Catholic

Nov. 20 —atProctor-Hermantown (Proctor)

Nov. 23 —vs. Blaine (Grand Rapids)

Nov. 24 —vs. White Bear Lake (Grand Rapids)

Nov. 27 —atNorth Shore (Silver Bay)

Nov. 29 —Eveleth-Gilbert Area

Dec. 3—atDuluth Marshall, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 6—atCloquet-Esko-Carlton, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 11 —atGrand Rapids-Greenway

Dec. 13 —Moose Lake Area

Dec. 20 —atDuluth (Heritage Center)

Dec. 28-31 —Kaposia Tournament (South St. Paul)

Jan. 8—Duluth Marshall, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 11 —atWarroad, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 12 —atRoseau, 4p.m.

Jan. 15 —Cloquet-Esko-Carlton

Jan. 17 —Proctor-Hermantown

Jan. 24 —atInternational Falls

Jan. 25 —Alexandria Area

Jan. 29 —atMoose Lake Area

Jan. 31 —Grand Rapids-Greenway

ROSTER

3ElyssaDurie FSo.

6Maddie Rewertz DSo.

7Maria Gherardi FSr.

8Chloe Lamphere FSo.

10 Sydney Haben FSr.

14 Annika Lundell DFr.

16 Megan Bussey FFr.

17 Anikka Mattonen FSr.

18 Emma Lundell FJr.

19 Darian Carlson FJr.

20 Allie Bussey FJr.

22 Dorothy Kearney FSo.

24 Julia Gherardi FFr.

25 McKenna Folstad DSo.

27 Coutney Anderson DSo.

30 Lily Hess GJr.

33 Abby Edstrom GSr.

HibbingGoalieAbby Edstrom by TomLindstrom. Photo courtesy of Hibbing Public Schools.

HAYWARD-ASHLAND HURRICANES

Coach: Tom Duffy, first season

2017-18 record: 13-13

Conference: Lake Superior

Section: Wisconsin Sectional 1

Key departures: F Sarah Pearson (14-7—21), D Sam Stegmann (1-4—5)

Key returners: Jr. D Lauren Donnellan (14-16—30); sr. D Rikki Saletri (3-5—8); sr. F Reone Martin (7-6—13); jr. F Jerzy Petit (6-6—12); jr G Emma Quinby (2.48 GAA, .917 save percentage)

Outlook: Duffy, who started as the Hurricanes’ goalie coach in 2013, takes over the helm. The team is beset by injuries to start the season, with Martin and Quinby recovering from offseason hip surgeries. Saletri, a captain, is recovering from a broken bone in her leg and Petit from an early season concussion. The injuries will allow players from the junior varsity to get some early ice time, and when healthy, Duffy expects the Hurricanes to be very competitive.

Jon Nowacki, News Tribune

SCHEDULE

At 7 p.m., unless noted

Nov. 17 — Bay Area

Nov. 23 — at Eau Claire Area

Nov. 29 — North Shore

Dec. 4 — St. Croix Valley

Dec. 7 — Lakeland

Dec. 8 — Eau Claire Area, 1 p.m.

Dec. 11 — Chippewa Falls/Menomonie, 6 p.m.

Dec. 15 — at Onalaska, 3 p.m.

Dec. 18 — at Western Wisconsin

Dec. 20 — Superior

Dec. 22 — at Black River Falls, 1 p.m.

Jan. 5 — Cloquet-Esko-Carlton, 3 p.m.

Jan. 8 — at Lakeland, 6 p.m.

Jan. 12 — at Northland Pines, 4:15 p.m.

Jan. 15 — at Central Wisconsin

Jan. 22 — at Hudson

Jan. 24 — at North Shore (Two Harbors)

Jan. 26 — Duluth Marshall, 1 p.m.

Jan. 29 — at Superior, 6 p.m.

Feb. 2 — Western Wisconsin, 3:30 p.m.

Feb. 7 — at Chippewa Falls/Menomonie

Feb. 9 — Black River Falls, 1 p.m.

HOCKEY PREVIEW

INTERNATIONAL FALLS BRONCOS

Coach: Michele McDonald, first season

2017-18 record: 13-10-2

Conference: Independent

Section: 7A

Key departures: F Amber Tilander (39-20—59); D Marissa Kerry (3-13—16); D Kiana Kittelson (2-8—10); F Gina Auran (2-4—6); F Natalie Hurges (3-3—6)

Key returners: Sr. F Taylor Sears (4-5—9); sr. F Morgan Rasmussen (15-16—31); sr. F Maggie Roeder (0-1—1); sr. F Olivia Wright (2-2— 4); sr. D Grace Bragg (9-10—19); sr. D Faith Black (1-4—5); sr. G Grace Wegner (2.85 GAA, .887 save percentage)

Outlook: McDonald served as an assistant under Gerald Bolstad last

SCHEDULE

At 7:30 p.m., unless noted

Nov. 15 — at North Shore

Nov. 20 — Park Rapids

Nov. 27 — at Fort Frances (Ontario)

Dec. 1 — at Superior, 2 p.m.

Dec. 7 — Princeton/Big Lake/Becker, 7 p.m.

Dec. 14 — Duluth

Dec. 18 — Eveleth-Gilbert

Dec. 20 — at Proctor-Hermantown (Proctor)

Dec. 26-28 — at Schwan Cup (Blaine)

Jan. 5 — at Duluth Marshall

Jan. 8 — Bemidji, 7 p.m.

Jan. 11 — at Park Rapids, 6 p.m.

Jan. 12 — at Prairie Centre (Wadena), 2 p.m.

Jan. 17 — Cloquet-Esko-Carlton

Jan. 18 — North Shore

Jan. 21 — Fort Frances (Ontario)

Jan. 24 — Hibbing-Chisholm, 7 p.m.

Jan. 26 — at Moose Lake Area, 2 p.m.

Jan. 31 — vs. Eveleth-Gilbert (Virginia)

Feb. 2 — at Crookston, 3 p.m.

ROSTER

2 Alex Pieterek F So.

3 Rikki Saletri D Sr.

4 Reone Martin F Sr.

5 Lily Pergolski F Jr.

6 Jerzy Petit F Jr.

7 Mackenzie Johnson F Sr.

9 Taylor Eytscheson D Jr. 10 Lauren Donnellan D/F Jr. 11 Erin Somerville F 12 Hadley Owen

season. She will be assisted by Kevin Erickson and Glen Marcotte. “The girls are coming into the season excited and ready to work hard,” McDonald said. “I’m excited to continue working with the girls and taking on new responsibilities.” McDonald is an alum of the program. “We definitely miss Coach Bolstad on the ice with us this season. He has done a great job working with the girls over his many seasons as head coach. He taught me many things as a former player, as a coach, and as a person in general.” McDonald said the Broncos are committed to helping the program grow. “It has been amazing to see so many people coming together to support the game we love,” she said. Tilander, last year’s News Tribune All-Area Player of the Year, scored her first collegiate goal with St. Scholastica recently.

Jon Nowacki, News Tribune

ROSTER

Photo courtesy of Hayward Co-op Girls Hockey

Moose Lake Area defenseman Chloe Gamst steals the puck from Proctor/ Hermantown’sduring arecent game at RiversideArena.

Dave Harwig/Pine Journal

MOOSE LAKE AREA REBELS

Coach: Chris Gamst, first season

2017-18 record: 9-16-1

Conference: Independent

Section: 7A

Key departures: GMaddy Gamst, now playing at Wisconsin-Superior (2.90 GAA, .910 save percentage); F Ruby Mohelsky (8-13—21); FLauren Pederson (14-9—21); DJosie Benzie (2-2—4)

Key returners: Jr. FJamie Benzie (14-11—25); sr. F/D Abby Painovich (6-10—16); fr.F Gabby Gamst (3-4— 7); jr. FSavannah Gamst (3-2—5); jr. FLexiBonneville (2-1—3); jr. GJo Wekseth (3 games, 1.55 GAA, .922 save percentage); Djr. Michaela Belanger (0-3—3); jr. D(ChloeGamst 1-1—2)

Outlook: Gamst takes over head-coachingduties after12-year coach Joe Mohelsky retired. Gamst had been an assistant coach for the Rebels the last five years. He is assisted by Nate Painovich, Amber Ketchmark and Josh Gamst, who has coached the boys high school team previously. The Rebels should be an exciting team to watch and could surprise opponents, with great success at the youth levels. They should be very strong defensively. The Rebels are still looking for theirfirst section final and state tournament appearance, but it won’t getany easier, with Gamst expecting Proctor-Hermantown, Hibbing-Chisholm, Duluth Marshall and International Falls to be the top teams in the section.

Jon Nowacki, News Tribune

SCHEDULE

At 7p.m., unless noted

Nov. 13 —North Shore

Nov. 16 —Holy Family Catholic

Nov. 17 —Dodge County

Nov. 20 —atCloquet-Esko-Carlton

Nov. 24 —Princeton/Big Lake/Becker

Nov. 27 —atEveleth-Gilbert Area, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 1— Mahtomedi, 4p.m.

Dec. 4— Superior

Dec. 8—atDuluth Marshall, 4p.m.

Dec. 13 —atHibbing-Chisholm

Dec. 18 —atNorth Shore (Two Harbors)

Dec. 26-28 —Schwan Cup (Blaine)

Jan. 4—Cambridge-Isanti Area, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 5—atChisago Lakes

Jan. 8—atProctor-Hermantown (Hermantown), 7:15 p.m.

Jan. 15 —atSuperior

Jan. 17 —Duluth Marshall, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 19 —atSt. Cloud

Jan. 22 —Eveleth-Gilbert Area, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 26 —International Falls, 2p.m.

Jan. 29 —Hibbing-Chisholm

Jan. 31 —Duluth, 7:30 p.m.

NORTH SHORE STORM

Coach: NevaMaxwell,second season

2017-18 record: 7-19

Conference: Independent

Section: 7A

Key departures: DEverly Bauck (5-4—9);FCora Carter (9-8—17)

Key returners: Sr.F Jessie Ketola (19-7—26);sr. FCallie Klemmer (9-11—20); sr. FGracie Komarek (6-6—12);jr. GMaureen Dwyer (3.79 GAA, .877 save percentage); jr. FMegan Maxey (3-4—7); fr. DLivia Hoff (1-4—5)

Outlook: TheStorm,a co-op of players from Two Harbors, Silver Bay and Cook County, started fresh last season with anew coaching staff

SCHEDULE

At 7p.m., unless noted

Nov. 13 —atMoose Lake Area

Nov. 15 —International Falls (Silver Bay)

Nov. 17 —atPrinceton/Big Lake/Becker

Nov. 20 —atEveleth-Gilbert

Nov. 27 —Hibbing-Chisholm (Silver Bay)

Nov. 29 —atHayward-Ashland, 6p.m.

Dec. 4— Cloquet-Esko-Carlton (Two Harbors)

Dec. 6—Superior (Silver Bay)

Dec. 14 —atMinneapolis

Dec. 18 —Moose Lake Area (Two Harbors)

Dec. 26-28 —atSchwan Cup (Blaine)

Jan. 5—atPequot Lakes, 3p.m.

Jan. 10 —Proctor-Hermantown (Two Harbors)

Jan. 12 —Minnehaha Academy (Silver Bay), 3p.m.

Jan. 15 —Eveleth-Gilbert (Silver Bay)

Jan. 18 —atInternational Falls, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 24 —Hayward-Ashland (Two Harbors)

Jan. 26 —atCambridge-Isanti Area, 2:15 p.m.

Jan. 29 —atCloquet-Esko-Carlton, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 31 —atDuluth Marshall, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 5—atSuperior

and now the team is starting to build some chemistry. Astrong core of motivated seniors and juniors are setting the tone to have amore competitive season. Ketola scored four goals in the team’s opener. Maxey moves to forwardafter spending more of her sophomore season as adefenseman. Maxwell says depth is keytoher team’s chances of competingin7A. “Line for line, our top two lines can take on any team in our section,” Maxwell told the Lake County News Chronicle. “Injuries can throw things off for us. Last year, we went through the season without significant injuries. I’m hoping we’ll continue staying healthy, but Ithink we’vegot some very offensivelyminded girls.”

Jon Nowacki, News Tribune

ROSTER

1Lilka Mojkowski GSr.

3Megan Maxey FJr.

4Rheo Johnson FJr.

5Brooke Velcheff FSeventh

6Livia Hoff DFr.

7CallieKlemmer FSr.

8Emily Seipke FSoph.

9Jessie Ketola FSr.

10 Maia Conlan DSoph.

11 Gracie Komarek FSr.

12 Jessica Adamski FFr.

13 Sydney Haugan FJr.

18 Chloe Hietala FJr.

19 Nevaeh Nordlund DFr.

30 Maureen Dwyer GJr.

ROSTER

4AbbyPainovich DSr.

6Chloe Gamst DJr.

7Kennedy Bryant FJr.

8Margherita Basaglia FSr.

9Jojo Fossum FFr.

10 Lexi Bonneville FJr.

11 Catlin Koecher FSoph.

12 Ellie Anderson FSr.

13 Lauren Hartman FJr.

14 Michaela Belanger DJr.

15 Raechel Painovich FFr.

16 Alexis Childs FFr.

17 Elyse Lilya DFr.

18 Meadow Pruette FSoph.

19 Gabby Gamst FFr.

21 Jamie Benzie FJr.

22 Kyla Osburn FSoph.

23 Jada Jerry FSoph.

24 Savannah Gamst FJr. 30 Julia Jusczak GFr. 33 Jo Wekseth GJr.

NorthShoreStorm'sHattieKoehler(center)takesashotattheWSFLGBlizzard net during agame Dec. 10 inTwoHarbors. Gary Molitor/Lake County-News Chronicle

y

PROCTOR-HERMANTOWN MIRAGE

Coach: Glen Gilderman, 21st season

2017-18 record: 17-14

Conference: Lake Superior

Section: 7A

Key departures: The Mirage graduated six seniors who shared scoringopportunities, including Kennedy Halverson and Mariah Haedrich (St. Scholastica), Olyvia Opsahl (Lake Forest)and Torii Thomas (St. Catherines).

Key returners: Sr. F Dehli Heikes (14-14— 28); sr. FKaitlyn Fawcett (5-12—17); so. D Ella Anick (10-6—16) and sr. GRyanGray (2.05GAA, .905save percentage)

Outlook: The Mirage are looking forward to their

first year in the new St. Luke’s Sports &Event Center in Proctor. Gilderman said Section 7A will be atoss-up again this year, but most observers have defending section champion Proctor-Hermantown pegged as the favorite. Four section teams were rankedinthe top 20 of theLet’s Play Hockey preseason rankings. “I expect the section to be pretty balanced and strong,” Gilderman said. The Mirage have anice mix of veterans such as Heikes, aNews Tribune All-Area second-team selection, and up-and-coming talent,with many of their new players coming from theirU-15A team,which lost only three games —all to Edina —enroute to finishing second in the state last season.

SCHEDULE

Home games at Proctor, unless noted

At 7p.m., unless noted

Nov. 9—South St. Paul

Nov. 16 —Roseville Area

Nov. 17 —Breck

Nov. 20 —Hibbing-Chisholm

Nov. 23 —Blake

Nov. 24 —Edina

Nov. 27 —atDuluth Marshall, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 4— at Duluth, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 7—atMinnetonka

Dec. 8—Sartell/Sauk Rapids, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 11 —atEveleth-Gilbert Area, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 15 —atHopkins/Park (Minnetonka), 3p.m.

Dec. 18 —Superior (Hermantown)

Dec. 20 —International Falls, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 26-28 —Schwan Cup (Minneapolis)

Jan. 4—Owatonna

Jan. 8—Moose Lake Area (Hermantown), 7:15 p.m.

Jan. 11 —atBlaine

Jan. 15 —Grand Rapids-Greenway

Jan. 17 —atHibbing-Chisholm

Jan. 22 —Cloquet-Esko-Carlton (Hermantown)

Jan. 26 —atMound-Westonka, 3p.m.

Jan. 31 —North Shore

ROSTER

1Ryan Gray FFr.

3Bailey Stokke DJr.

6Kaitlyn Fawcett FSr.

7Michaela Phinney FSoph.

8Ashley Hanson FSr.

11 Brianna Bryant

12 Dehli Heikes

13 Kaydee High

14 McKenzie Gunderson

16 Hannah Tanski

18 Aurora Opsahl

19 Catrina Martin

21 Megan Madill

Jon Nowacki, News Tribune

Dehli Heikes (12) is the leading returning scorer this season for Proctor-Hermantown, which is favored to repeat as Section 7Achampion.

“TEAMING UP TO SERVE YOU BETTER”

SCHEDULE

Home games at Superior Ice Arena

At 7p.m., unless noted

Nov. 17 —Eau Claire Area

Nov. 27 —atChippewa Falls/Menomonie, 6p.m.

Dec. 1— International Falls, 2p.m.

Dec. 4— at Moose Lake Area

Dec. 6—atNorth Shore (Silver Bay)

Dec. 8—Hudson, 2p.m.

Dec. 10 —Duluth Marshall

Dec. 14 —atWestern Wisconsin (Somerset)

Dec. 18 —atProctor-Hermantown (Hermantown)

Dec. 20 —atHayward-Ashland

Dec. 27 —vs. Brookfield (Madison), 3p.m.

Jan. 5—St. Croix Valey, 2p.m.

Jan. 8—atCloquet-Esko-Carlton, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 10 —Eveleth-Gilbert

Jan. 15 —Moose Lake Area

Jan. 19 —atEau Claire Area, 6p.m.

Jan. 22 —atDuluth (Heritage Center), 5:15 p.m.

Jan. 29 —Hayward-Ashland, 6p.m.

Jan. 31 —Western Wisconsin, 6p.m.

Feb. 2—Chippewa Falls/Menomonie, 2p.m.

Feb. 5—North Shore

SUPERIOR SPARTANS

Coach: Marc Franta, second season

2017-18 record: 6-17

Conference: Lake Superior

Section: Wisconsin Sectional 1

ROSTER

1Katrina Casper GSoph.

2Gabrielle Sears FFr.

3AlycinParkinson FSoph.

4Rose Ion DSr.

8Keely Morehouse FFr.

9Paige Lach DSr.

10 Lily Walrath FFr.

11 Arika Trentor FSoph.

12 Brooklyn Burger FSoph.

13 Grace Olson FSoph.

14 Emily Berka FFr.

17 Lucy Drougas DSoph.

18 Callie Holmlund DFr.

20 Jillian Reuille FSoph.

21 Destiny Holmes DJr.

22 Isabel Franta

27 Presley Beron

28 Emma Fornengo

Key departures: Addie Young (24-15—39), Alee Milinkovich-Gray (14-14—28)

Key Returners: Sr.D captain Rose Ion; sr. F/D Paige Lach; jr. D/F assistant captain Destiny Holmes; so. DLucy Drougas; so. FIsabelFranta; so. FArika Trentor; and so. FBrooklyn Burger.

Outlook: The Spartans are young but skilled and hardworking. They will have to overcome the loss of senior goalie Autumn Siers, an assistant captain who was lost for the season withaninjury. They have only three active upperclassmen, but have an influxofyoung talent that gets along on and off the ice. The devotion, commitment, energy and leadership the captains bringtothe rink is contagious and spreads to the younger girls. Franta is assisted by Doug Trentor,Justine Fredette and Kevin Mudrak, and they’re excited to see what this year brings. The team is well-balanced and will use three lines. The Spartans have aloaded24-game schedule that includes aholiday tournament Dec. 27-29 in Madison. With arosterincluding13sophomores andfreshmen, scoringwill be at apremium. Superior could struggle early but has agood foundation to build on.

Jon Nowacki, News Tribune

Superior High School’sKatrina Casper (1) stops a shot in the second period of the Spartans’ vs. Eau ClaireArea Nov.17, at the Superior IceArena. Jed Carlson /jcarlson@superiortelegram.com