Superior Spartans

Gavin Tetzlaff (0-2—2)

Key returners: jr. F Carson Gotelaere (2-6—8); soph. F Lucas Williams (4-2—6); sr. D George Hansen (2-3—5); sr. F Kell Piggot (3-1—4)

Outlook: The Spartans have high hopes this season after advancing to the Wisconsin Division II state championship game and having 17 seniors returning from last year’s varsity squad.

Coach Jason Kalin said it’s going to be difficult to replace departed goaltender Jamin Durfee, who was the “backbone” of the team during its state tournament run.

The Spartans fell 4-1 to St. Mary Springs in the championship game, the Ledgers’ second-consecutive title.

Early practices will focus on defense, but he thinks the strength of the team will be its offense.

“We’re going to be an offensive group this year, but we’re also going to be a physical group,” Kalin said. “We have a lot of size — I think I’ve got 10 guys that are 6 feet and bigger. Obviously, we need to stay out of the penalty box and make sure that we take care of ourselves defensively.”

The Spartans are moving back up to Division I this season and they will face some of the area’s toughest opponents in the regular season, with games against Duluth Marshall and Duluth Denfeld scheduled in the first few weeks of the season.

The Spartans will also host Grand Rapids Jan. 11 and Duluth East Feb. 2 as they move closer to the postseason.