Duluth Denfeld Hunters

Head coach: Dale Jago, fifth season

Key departures: F Kade Shea (15-17—32); D Joe Udd (4-6—10); F Cole Olson (3-4—7); G Jacob Snyder (2.92 GAA, .908 save percentage)

Key returners: Sr. F Simon Davidson (14-18—32); sr. F Connor McClure (10-17—27); sr. F Cooper McClure (9-4—13); jr. F Andy Larson (11-16—27); jr. F Kaden Postal (6-6—12); sr. D Nate Larson (1-1—2); jr. D John Bloomquist (0-2—2); sr. D Dominic Brennan (0-4—4)

Outlook: The Hunters have been on an upswing for several years since the arrival of coach Dale Jago.

In 2016-17, the year before Jago took over, the Hunters won just four games and didn’t even have a junior varsity squad. The next year Denfeld won 10 games and increased their total in each of the following two years, topping out at 21 wins in 2019-20.

The Hunters were 10-6-1 during the COVID-shortened 2021 season, but still advanced to the Section 7A final against Hermantown.

Denfeld fell to the Hawks 7-1, but the Hunters return their top scorer in Simon Davidson as well as forwards Connor McClure and Andy Larson, who each had 27 points last season.

“We’re going to be balanced up front, this is probably the best balanced team we’re ever had,” Jago said. “We’ll be quick, we’ll have playmakers up front and we have a couple of good kids that were bantam defensemen that are moving up and we have some leadership returning on defense in Nate Larson, John Bloomquist and Dominic Brennan.”

As always for a team playing in the same section as perennial state championship contender Hermantown, the Hunters’ schedule is their biggest challenge.

“We’ve upped our schedule because teams are willing to play us now because we’re competitive again,” Jago said. “The biggest challenge is just going to be getting through the tougher parts of our schedule and being able to stay together as a team, and if you want to talk about the state hockey tournament, we’ve got to go through the team up on the hill.”

Nate Larson (23) of Duluth Denfeld controls the puck near Wyatt Peterson (11) of Duluth East during a game last season at the Essentia Health Duluth Heritage Sports Center. Duluth East and Denfeld ended the game in a 4-4 tie.

Clint

Austin / File / News Tribune

Duluth Denfeld

2021-22 SCHEDULE

Nov. 26 — at Woodbury

Nov. 27 — at W’bury Thanksgiving Tournament, TBD

Dec. 3 — at Gentry Academy, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 4 — at East Ridge, 3 p.m.

Dec. 7 — at Hibbing/Chisholm, 7 p.m.

Dec. 9 — CLOQUET-ESKO-CARLTON, 7 p.m.

Dec. 14 — at Rock Ridge, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 16 — at Superior, 7 p.m.

Dec. 18 — PROCTOR, 2 p.m.

Dec. 21 — at Hermantown, 7 p.m.

Dec. 23 — GRAND RAPIDS, 7 p.m.

Dec. 28 — SPRING LAKE PARK, 7 p.m.

Dec. 29 — HERITAGE CLASSIC, 7 p.m.

Dec. 30 — HERITAGE CLASSIC, 3:30 p.m.

Jan. 7 — NORTH SHORE, 7 p.m.

Jan. 14 — DODGE COUNTY, 7 p.m.

Jan. 18 — DULUTH EAST, 7 p.m.

Jan. 21 — at Warroad, 7:30 p.m

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

Jan. 27 — ROCK RIDGE, 7 p.m.

Jan. 28 — GENTRY ACADEMY, 7 p.m.

Jan. 31 — at Greenway, 7 p.m.

Feb. 4 — SARTELL-ST. STEPHEN, 7 p.m.

Feb. 5 — ALEXANDRIA, 2 p.m.

Feb. 10 — DULUTH MARSHALL, 7 p.m.

2020-21 RESULTS

RECORD: 10-6-1

Jan. 14 — at Duluth East, T, 4-4

Feb. 6 — at North Shore, W, 15-0

Feb. 9 — at Cloquet-Esko-Carlton, W, 7-4

Feb. 11 — at Duluth Marshall, W, 7-1

Feb. 16 — at Hermantown, L, 6-3

Feb. 20 — INTERNATIONAL FALLS, W, 7-1

Feb. 23 — HIBBING/CHISHOLM, W, 4-2

Feb. 25 — HERMANTOWN, L, 9-3

March 2 — VIRGINIA/MIB, W, 5-0

March 4 — at Proctor, W, 7-1

March 6 — LITTLE FALLS, L, 3-2

March 8 — CLOQUET-ESKO-CARLTON, L, 4-3

March 13 — GREENWAY, W, 6-0

March 15 — at Grand Rapids, L, 4-1

March 20 — INTERNATIONAL FALLS, W, 1-0 (forfeit)

March 23 — HIBBING/CHISHOLM, W, 6-1

March 25 — at Hermantown, L, 7-1

Jamey Malcomb, News Tribune

Duluth East goaltender Zander Ziemski (41) deflects a shot on goal against Denfeld during a game at the Essentia Health Duluth Heritage Sports Center last season. Duluth East and Denfeld ended the game in a 4-4 tie.