DULUTH MARSHALL HILLTOPPERS

Coach: Mark Vichorek, first season

2018-19 record: 6-19-1

Conference: Lake Superior

Section: 7AA

Key departures: F Carter Sullivan (21-15—36); F Aiden Bachand (1012—22); F Keelan Golat (10-10—20); G Alex Busick (3.98 GAA, .885 save percentage)

Key returners: Sr. F Dakota Oman (5-10— 15); sr. D Griff Pichetti (1-10—11); sr. F Xavier McNulty (6-3—9); jr. F Vance Johnson; sr. D Charlie Kleinschmdt

Outlook: Vichorek steps into a tough situation with the Hilltoppers. He replaces interim coach Bill Owens, who had stepped in to take the reins when 22-year head coach Brendan Flaherty was stricken with throat cancer and a serious brain infection. Flaherty officially resigned last spring and Vichorek, a Minnesota Wilderness assis-

Coaches

From Page S2 tant last season and a former high school and college coach, was hired. Besides struggling to compete at the Class AA level, Marshall allowed far too many shots on goal. Busick’s 760 saves were sixth-most in the state a year ago.

Marshall returns nine seniors, including defensemen and co-captains Kleinschmidt and Pichetti. Linemates Oman, McNulty and Johnson will be relied upon to provide scoring this season.

“I believe we are going to be a surprise to some of the teams in our section,” Vichorek said. “We are going to have to use everybody and be in shape and the players are buying in quickly to

Duluth Marshall will need to replace graduated forward Keelan Golat, right, shown in a 2018 photo, who scored 10 goals and had 10 assists last season.

News Tribune file photo the systems and what we want to accomplish. We are going to protect our young goaltenders and block a lot of shots and keep our goals against

Schedule

Home games at Mars Lakeview Arena

Nov. 22 — Benilde-St. Margaret’s

Nov. 26 — at Proctor, 7 p.m.

Nov. 30 — at Mounds View, 3 p.m.

Dec. 3 — at Superior (Wessman Arena), 7 p.m.

Dec. 7 — Rochester Century, 2 p.m.

Dec. 10 — at Hermantown, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 14 — Totino-Grace, 3 p.m.

Dec. 19 — at Duluth East (Heritage Center)

Dec. 21 — at Eagan, 3 p.m.

Dec. 26-28 — Hilltopper Holiday Classic down. I think the biggest asset we have going for us is our discipline in all three zones and good defensive play.”

Jan. 4 — Minneapolis, 1:30 p.m.

Jan. 7 — at Cloquet-Esko-Carlton, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 11 — Chanhassen, 1:30 p.m.

Jan. 17 — at Osseo, 7 p.m.

Jan. 18 — at Elk River, 3 p.m.

Jan. 21 — Grand Rapids, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 23 — at St. Francis, 7 p.m.

Jan. 25 — Greenway/Nashwauk-Keewatin, 7 p.m.

Jan. 30 — Eveleth-Gilbert, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 1 — St. Thomas Academy, 2 p.m.

Feb. 4 — at Forest Lake, 7 p.m.

Feb. 8 — at Holy Angels Academy, 2 p.m.

Feb. 13 — at Duluth Denfeld (Heritage Center), 7 p.m.

Rick Weegman, News Tribune

Chiodo steps in at Grand Rapids

Until late October, Wade Chiodo was enjoying his other hockey-related jobs.

But after Grand Rapids boys hockey coach Chris Marinucci resigned late last month after being charged with second-degree DWI, Chiodo again waded into the world of high school hockey by applying for the Thunderhawks job.

He was hired Nov. 6, just five days before practice began.

“I had to get the blessing from my wife (Layne) and my work before I could put my name in the hat,” Chiodo said. “Once my wife said, ‘Go for it,’ and once I talked to my work and they said, ‘Go for it,’ it was a no-brainer.”

Chiodo spent nine seasons as head coach of the Bemidji High School boys team, leaving after the 2016-17 season before moving to Grand Rapids. He has served as head scout for the Bismarck Bobcats of the North American Hockey League and as a coach and evaluator with WSA Hockey, the Minnesota Hockey High Performance program and the Upper Midwest Elite League.

While it’s been a whirlwind, Chiodo says he’s gotten off to a good start.

“I am getting to know the players every day. I do have some history with some of the kids returning and some of the kids who are brand new to high school,” he said. “I feel I have a good base and knowledge on the sort of team that we’re going to have. Now that (the season is starting), I’m getting to know them every single day. Every day I am picking up a little bit more.

“But it’s a two-way street. They have to learn what kind of a coach I am and what kind of style I have.

Everybody right now is on a learning curve.”

Fellows follows Guzzo at North Shore

Mike Guzzo’s colorful coaching career along the North Shore came to a close after last season, allowing Andy Fellows an opportunity to make his mark on the bench. Guzzo, who spent 30 years coaching either the North Shore boys or girls teams, retired after the Silver Bay and Two Harbors co-op went 7-14-3.

Fellows, his assistant last season, stepped forward to apply and was hired to take over the Storm.

“I’m just trying to live up to what is established and keep things moving in the right direction,” Fellows said.

Fellows played high school hockey at Holy Angels Academy and then graduated from Burnsville in 2002. He attended Minnesota Duluth and St. Scholastica, with a six-year stint in the Marine Corps in between.

After getting his coaching start in Duluth East’s youth programs in 2003, he joined Guzzo’s staff last season.

“That’s helped a ton,” Fellows said.