PROCTOR RAILS

Coach: Dan Stauber, fourth season

2018-2019 record: 7-19-1

Conference: Lake

Superior

Section: 7A

Key departures:

D Zach Gunderson (4-24—28); G Lucas Fulton (4.43 GAA, .871 save percentage)

Key returners: Jr. F Reece Ward (13-21— 34); sr. F Ben Harnell (20-11—31); sr. D Isaac Mosher (9-16—25); jr.

F Connor Bushbaum (10-8—18); jr. F Conner Pavlowich (5-4—9); sr. D Bo Dardis (2-7—9)

Outlook: The Rails return their top four forwards and two defensemen, but face issues with a lack of depth at forward and an untested goaltender. Harnell, Ward, Pavlowich, Bushbaum, Mosher and Dardis all logged plenty of ice time last year. Finding a second and third line to play their roles is one of Stauber’s main tasks. Getting senior goalie Cody Urie, who played sparingly on varsity as a junior, comfortable in net is another key.

Proctor has struggled to compete in the Lake Superior Conference, failing to win a league game since early in the 2015-16 season, and also has gone three consecutive years without a playoff victory. The Rails lost 5-4 in overtime to Hibbing-Chisholm to close last season.

“It’s been several years since Proctor has won a first-round playoff game,” Stauber said.

“The team goal will be: Win a first-round playoff game.”

Schedule

At 7:30 p.m., unless noted

Nov. 21 — at Cloquet-Esko-Carlton

Nov. 22 — Wadena-Deer Creek

Nov. 26 — Duluth Marshall

Nov. 29 — North Shore

Nov. 30 — at Northern Lakes (Crosby), 2 p.m.

Dec. 3 — Hibbing-Chisholm

Dec. 5 — at Superior

Dec. 10 — at Cambridge-Isanti, 6 p.m.

Dec. 12 — at International Falls

Dec. 14 — at Princeton

Dec. 17 — Moose Lake Area

Dec. 19 — at Eveleth-Gilbert

Dec. 26-28 — at North Shore Holiday Tournament

Jan. 7 — Mora/Milaca

Jan. 9 — Gentry Academy

Jan. 14 — at Duluth Denfeld (Heritage Center), 5:15 p.m.

Jan. 21 — at Ely, 6 p.m.

Jan. 23 — at Hermantown, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 28 — at North Shore

Jan. 30 — at Chisago Lakes

Feb. 7 — Virginia/Mountain Iron-Buhl

Feb. 11 — Northern Lakes

Feb. 13 — Pine City

Superior Spartans

Coach: Jason Kalin, 19th season

2018-2019 record: 18-7

Conference: Lake

Superior

Section: 1

Key departures: F Cayden Laurvick (44 points); F Taylor Burger (36 points); F Grant Sorensen (29 points); F Trevor Dalbec (23 points); D Max Curtis (plus-10 plus-minus ratio); D Derrick Mattson (plus-23); G Dayton Podvin (3.19 GAA, .880 save percentage)

Key returners: Sr.

F Gunnar Hansen (44 points); sr. F T.J. Sitek (10 points); sr. D Alex

Hanson (plus-23); sr. D Sean McCoshen (plus-8)

Outlook: Changes abound this year, both in the Spartans program and in Wisconsin hockey in general. The state has gone to a two-class system and Superior is slotted into Division 2 for a one-year commitment during a two-year statewide trial run. The school will re-evaluate its divisional placement after the season. Meanwhile, the Spartans are rebuilding their own squad as 13 seniors graduated from a team that lost to Hudson in the Sectional 1 final. Those players com- prised the majority of the scoring. Hansen and Sitek had significant time playing on the top three lines and will be relied upon to provide scoring punch. A good group of junior forwards follows and a large, very promising sophomore contingent is waiting its turn to impress. Jamin Durfee played sparingly in goal last season but is considered the frontrunner for the starting position. Hanson and McCoshen are veteran defensemen and will be surrounded by several young players on the blue line.

Schedule

Home games at Wessman Arena

Nov. 29-30 — Eau Claire Memorial Tournament

Dec. 3 — Duluth Marshall, 7 p.m.

Dec. 5 — Proctor, 7 p.m.

Dec. 7 — at Hudson, 8 p.m.

Dec. 10 — Hibbing-Chisholm, 7 p.m.

Dec. 12 — North Shore, 7 p.m.

Dec. 17 — at Chippewa Falls, 7 p.m.

Dec. 19 — at Duluth Denfeld (Heritage Center),

5:15 p.m.

Dec. 20 — at New Richmond, 7 p.m.

Dec. 26-28 — at Showdown in Titletown

Jan. 2 — at North Branch, 7 p.m.

Jan. 4 — Menomonie, 2 p.m.

Jan. 7 — at Baldwin-Woodville, 7 p.m.

Jan. 11 — Eau Claire North, 2 p.m.

Jan. 23 — at Cloquet-Esko-Carlton, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 25 — Hudson, 8 p.m.

Feb. 1 — at Northland Pines, 4 p.m.

Feb. 4 — at Hayward, 7 p.m.

Feb. 7 — at Hermantown, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 11 — Duluth East, 7 p.m.

Feb. 15 — Eau Claire Memorial, 2 p.m.

Coach: Cale Finseth, second season

2018-19 record: 10-16-1

Conference: Iron Range

Section: 7A

Key departures: F Cade Moreland (18-11—29); F Caleb Bialke (13-11— 24); D Nate Coldagelli (2-12—14); F Jack Zupetz; D Bailey Bonicatto; and G Cam Kreibich (2.94 GAA, .909) were among 16 seniors who graduated

Key returners: Jr. F Brett Okland

VIRGINIA/MOUNTAIN IRON-BUHL BLUE DEVILS

(7-15—22); jr. F Blake Zadnikar (7-4—11); jr. F Ryan Scherf; sr. F Dillon Drake Outlook: The Blue Devils struggled down the stretch in Finseth’s first season at the helm, losing seven of their final 10 games. The beginning of this season may be challenging, considering the youth of a squad that features five seniors, 15 juniors and 12 sophomores. VMIB lost much of its scoring from a year ago in More- land and Bialke, who formed a dangerous 1-2 touch, so it might have to rely on defense to win games.

“The strength of the Blue Devils this season will need to be their work ethic and their ability to take care of the defensive zone. The team will need to buy into the systems and come together as a team,” Finseth said.

Inexperience presides in goal, however, as Kreibich started all but

Schedule

At 7 p.m., unless noted

Nov. 23 — Little Falls

Nov. 26 — at Greenway

Nov. 29 — at Hibbing-Chisholm

Dec. 3 — Grand Rapids

Dec. 6 — at Warroad, 8 p.m.

Dec. 7 — at Lake of the Woods, 1 p.m.

Dec. 10 — Duluth Denfeld

Dec. 12 — Eveleth-Gilbert

Dec. 20 — South St. Paul

Dec. 21 — Breck, 3 p.m.

Dec. 26 — Orono

Dec. 28 — Delano, 3 p.m.

Jan. 4 — Bloomington Kennedy, 3 p.m.

Jan. 7 — International Falls

Jan. 10 — Sauk Rapids-Rice

Jan. 11 — Hopkins, 3 p.m.

Jan. 14 — North Shore

Jan. 18 — at Sartell-St. Stephen, 3 p.m.

Jan. 21 — Cloquet-Esko-Carlton

Jan. 23 — at Eveleth-Gilbert

Jan. 31 — at International Falls, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 4 — Hermantown

Feb. 7 — at Proctor, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 11 — Hibbing-Chisholm

Feb. 13 — Greenway one game in 2018-19. That means the early part of the season is vital to establish chemistry among the lines and trust in the defense. A midseason stretch of 11 consecutive home games should help.

“Our goal is to build throughout the season and put us in a position to be successful in the playoffs,” Finseth said.

Rick Weegman, News Tribune

Arik Lamppa

30 Tristan Pikula

Tyler

Schank / tschank@duluthnews.com