2025-26 Section 7A

[ClassAGuy]

2025-26 Section 7A Preseason Preview

Section 7A, for over the last decade, was owned by Hermantown, who, once they moved back into the section, won 10 of the next 11 7A Titles. However, last year during the playoffs, a monumental change took place as not only did the Hawks not win the section, but they failed to make the Section Final for the first time since 2008. It was a talented group of youngsters from Hibbing/Chisholm that was able to unseat the 7A giants, and they return the majority of their lineup intact this coming season. Also, Cloquet/Esko/Carlton had a huge year last season, ranking as a Top 5 team all winter long, and while they were hit by graduation, don't count out the Lumberjacks and what they return. Don’t overlook International Falls; they return a loaded roster from a 17-win team last year, and Proctor has a very talented group of A Bantams coming into the program that will give the Rails a bunch to look forward to over the next few years. It all shapes up for what should be another great year in a tough Section 7A.

BHS 2025-26 Section 7A Preseason Ranking
1- Hibbing/Chisholm Bluejackets
2- Hermantown Hawks
3- Cloquet/Esko/Carlton Lumberjacks
4- International Falls Broncos
5- Proctor Rails
6- Greenway Raiders
7- Moose Lake Area Rebels
8- North Shore Storm
9- Ely Timberwolves

1- Hibbing/Chisholm Bluejackets
Head Coach- Aaron Jamnick 2nd year, (20-11-0)
Last Year's Record and Finish: (20-11-0) Section 7A Champion and took 4th place in Class A
Bluejackets Outlook- The Bluejackets come into this season as the undisputed favorites within Class A. Last year, they burst onto the high school scene when they knocked off Hermantown in the 7A Playoffs and returned to State for the first time since 2011. However, down at St Paul, they were unable to finish the job as they finished in 4th place after being the #1 seed heading into the Tourney. The Class A Semifinal Game still has to fester in this group, as they let a three-goal lead slip away and were upset, which should only further drive this year's team to serve as fuel for bigger success. All the pieces are in place for this year's team to take things a step further and win their first State Title since 1973. Up front, they return a ton of experience and talent as forwards. Seniors Tate Swanson, Kelin Elsner, Isaiah Hildenbrand, Benny Galli, Hunter Gustavsson & Blake Riccio, and Junior Joey Gabardi & Sophomore Cole Swanson will lead a high-octane and potent offense. Look for Seniors Raidyn Scott & Julien Fisher, who missed last year due to a soccer injury, and Junior Mikko Huusko, along with Sophomores Ollin Roppe, Kash Koland & Jace Myers from the Bantams, to all try to contend for minutes and add depth. On the blueline, they return all six defenseman Seniors Ethan Sundvall, Mason McDonald & Landon Krampotich, along with Juniors Jackson Strukel & Dylan Vesel, and Sophomore Whitaker Rewertz are all back with experience, and they will be a very skilled and dangerous backend that can add to the scoring side as well. The question mark will be in net, but Senior Gavin Lamphere does have experience over the last two years, and there will be plenty of depth and elite skill in front of him. This group won a State Title in A Bantams, and they have made the progressive steps over the last two years in High School for all signs to point to a State Title this year, but now is the time for this group to cash in on all the expectations and promise that have followed them since entering the high school ranks three years ago.

2- Hermantown Hawks
Head Coach- Pat Andrews 9th year, (166-40-15)
Last Year's Record and Finish: (14-9-4) Lost in Section 7A Semifinals
Hawks Outlook- The Hawks, for the first time since 2019, failed to reach the State Tournament, and to further add salt to the wound, for the first time since 2008, they failed to make the Section Final Game. Hermantown will look to be a team with a chip on their shoulder this winter, and they should not be overlooked as they have a very deep and talented roster coming back this winter, full of experience and skill. They should have good depth returning in all areas of their lineup, and they are also bringing up some good young talent to make up what should be another top-end Class A team, which we have come to expect out of Hermantown. Up front, they'll return Seniors Ford Skytta, Bode Madill & Henry Martinsen, who will look to be their leaders. In addition to them, a really good core of Juniors Mick Martalock, Kole Lendzyk, Alex Nicklin, Beau Christy & Noah Thurston, who will be a year older and stronger to build their offensive depth around. Add to that players like Sophomores Paxson Madill & Luke McDonald from the AA Bantams, and there should be plenty of options to make this Hawks group dangerous up front. On the blueline, Seniors Cayden Manion & Kyler Berg and Juniors Gabe Swenson & Ethan Aysta are all back with good experience, and they have talented Sophomores TJ Wojtysiak & Brayden Lasky, who will be looking to step in and contribute from the youth program to continue their pipeline of strong Hawks blueliners. In net, Senior Bryce Francisco is back, and he is one of the top goalies in Class A. He was excellent last winter and had a very good offseason, and should only be better this year. The Hawks bring back a good core, and they will play an excellent schedule and should be as tough as ever under Coach Andrews, as they will look to return to state for the 15th time in the last 17 years and win their school’s 5th overall state title this winter.

3- Cloquet/Esko/Carlton Lumberjacks
Head Coach- Shea Walters 8th year, (93-80-4)
Last Year's Record and Finish: (20-8-0) Lost in Section 7A Championship Game
Lumberjacks Outlook- Cloquet/Esko/Carlton had a fantastic season last year that saw them win 20 games and earn the #1 seed in Section 7A. However, their hearts were broken in a classic 7A Championship Game that saw them fall in overtime. Now they look forward to this year and try to build on last season's momentum. While the Luberjacks did graduate a fantastic senior class, they will still bring back a nice core to build with, and this year’s Juniors & Sophomores placed at State in A Bantams, so don't expect them to fall back too far, if at all, this season. Up front, they return Seniors Connor Sullivan, Lucas Gentilini & Neil Elsmore, and Sophomore Jordan Sewell, who all have good varsity experience and will be the building blocks to build the offense around. Add in Seniors William Karjala & Jacob Hurst and Junior Jacob Parks, who all saw some varsity action, and Juniors Trevor Mrozik, Colten Rennquist & Mason Robbins, coming in from the JV team, to add the scoring depth up front. On defense, Senior Cole Painovich, Juniors Kaden Willis & Jayce Laine, and Sophomore Brahm Snesrud are all back with varying varsity experience, and look for Sophomore Drew Piontek coming up from the Bantams to contend for more minutes on the blueline to add to their depth on the backend. They have their main starter in Senior Jacob Iallonardo back for his third season, and he will be an X factor for them and give them good experience in net. Looking up and down the roster for CEC, you see lots of depth, skill, and toughness in all three phases, and this looks like a team that should have another good regular season and be battle-tested to be in the deep top end of an always tough Section 7A, and should be a Top 15 Team in Class A all winter long.

4- International Falls Broncos
Head Coach: Chad Baldwin, 6th year, (50-71-3)
Last Year’s Record and Finish: (17-9-0) Lost in Section 7A Quarterfinals
Broncos Outlook- International Falls will look to build off last season’s success that saw them win 17 games and also win their conference and nearly advance to the 7A Semifinals before falling in a heartbreaking overtime loss in the 7A Quarterfinals. There are lots of reasons to believe this could be the surprise team of Section 7A as they bring back a bunch of top-end talent from last year and welcome in some more solid youth program prospects who have had success in the lower levels to give this Broncos team the feel of a very successful squad this winter. Offensively, they return their two leading scorers in Seniors Anthony Yerxa & Will Yerxa, who both put up huge numbers last year, and should only be better this year. Add to them that Seniors Andrew Eide, Zach Youso & Paxton Sivonen, along with Juniors Carter Thompson & Bauer Lindvall, all return with varsity experience for depth. Also, look for Sophomore Brodie Baldwin to come up and contribute from the youth program to add additional scoring. Defensively, they return Juniors Carson Crandall, Grae Shikowsky, Chase Phillips & Adien Lehman with experience to build the blueline around. Additionally, Sophomore Matthew Black coming up from the Bantams should compete for minutes to make the blueline deeper this winter. Add to all that depth up front and on the backend that they return big Senior Kane Thompson at goalie, who should have a good year as he now has two years of varsity experience and should be strong for them in net. Add it all up, and everything appears to be setting up well for this historic and tradition-rich program to have a big year and contend for a top 4 seed and possibly be one of the surprise teams not only within Section 7A this winter but within Class A overall.

5- Proctor Rails
Head Coach: Jeff Laspi, 6th year, (65-57-3)
Last Year’s Record and Finish: (14-12-1) Lost in Section 7A Semifinals
Rails Outlook- The Rails are coming off of another very strong year that saw them reach the 7A Semifinals again, and they are hoping to build on that momentum coming into this season. Proctor graduated a good senior class in the offseason that included most of their high-end scoring forwards, but there are still some really good pieces returning, and they have an A Bantam group coming up that went to State last winter to have them excited about the upcoming season and future of the program. At forward, they graduated a good chunk of scoring, but Seniors Wynn Giswold, Alvaro Ramazzini & Dylan Denzler, along with Juniors Logan Peterson & Owen Baker, are back with varsity experience to build around. They also bring in Sophomores Rafe Giswold, Eli Maeder & Colton Trush from the Bantams, and if they choose, they could bring up 9th graders Jaxon Hardy & Drew Yost, who are elite scorers from the youth program, to add to the offense. On defense, they will be led by Senior Breckin Ross, who is a high-end blueliner, and they also return Senior Gavin Davidson & Junior Wesley Paulson, who are back with varsity experience to build around. Also, look for depth help to come from upcoming Sophomore Xaiden Oliver from the Bantam team. In net, the Rails have Senior Will Pocrnich back, who got some experience last year, and he will be pushed by Sophomore Ashton Lee, who has been the main goalie at the youth level for some very standout teams. Overall, this will be a team needing to rebuild the offense, but with all the talent coming up by season's end, it should be another solid Proctor team that will look to compete and contend in a very good Section 7A this year, and the future is very bright for the Rails looking ahead.

6- Greenway Raiders
Head Coach- Andy Sertich 5th year, (41-64-7)
Last Year's Record and Finish: (8-17-1) Lost in Section 7A Quarterfinals
Raider Outlook- Greenway only 7 seasons ago had progressed to the pinnacle of the Class A hockey world when they advanced to the State Title Game during their magical 2019 run. However, that seems like ages ago now as the Raiders have struggled of late, and last year they had a hard time generating offense as the Raiders were only able to score 37 goals in 26 games. Greenway coming into this year looks like, on paper, they should be improved as they return a nice core of veterans who got plenty of experience, and the hope is that being a year older and stronger will allow them to be more competitive this winter. Offensively, they will look to Seniors Bryce & Brayden Nielsen to grow off of good seasons, and they will look to players like Seniors Blake Alto & Bryce Johnson, along with Sophomores Axl Mikulich, Logan Hammer & Aiden Fillman, to have bigger years this winter after getting experience last winter which should give the Raiders more of a balanced offensive attack a year later. Defensively, Seniors Vinnie Denucci & Jackson Mallum and Juniors Damien Mandich & Kohen Mitchell, along with Sophomore Evan Woodman, are all back with experience to have some good depth on the blueline. In net, Sophomore Blayne Kelly is back as the starter with experience, but he will be pushed by Senior Zane Schad & Junior Grady Gibeau, who both got time last year as well. Greenway will hope that a more experienced lineup this winter will allow them to be more competitive within Section 7A.

7- Moose Lake Area Rebels
Head Coach- Tony Bender 2nd year, (13-12-0)
Last Year's Record and Finish: (13-12-0) Lost in Section 7A Quarterfinals
Rebels Outlook- Moose Lake Area had one of their best seasons in recent memory under their new Head Coach, Tony Bender, last year, as their 13 wins were the most they had since 2011, and they were able to pick up a Playoff win along the way before falling in the 7A Quarterfinals. Now moving into this winter, there should be some hope for this small community program that always struggles with numbers over the year, that they could have an even better season this year. Looking at what Moose Lake Area brings back on paper, this would appear to be setting up for another successful year as the Rebels will look to build off last year’s momentum. On offense, they bring back Senior Peyton Nordstrom, Junior Chase Klavu & Sophomore Brayden Strand, who all had double-digit points last season and were the team's 2nd, 3rd & 4th learning scorers from last season to have a nice core of offensive punch returning. They also have Juniors Tristan Mortensen, Jacob Olson & Eli DeRungs back with some varsity experience, and look for Sophomore Leighton Zuk from the youth to add to the forward group depth. On the blueline, they have Seniors Easton Granfors & Ty Oswald and Sophomore Hayden Danelski back with experience, and Sophomore Gavin Hoffmann coming up from the Bantams to try and build their defensive core around. In net, they do have a question mark as they lost their starter to graduation, but Junior Dylan Slama did get some limited experience last year and will now be counted on more this winter. Overall, this should be a strong Rebels team again that should be able to contend to win double-digit games and compete for a Top 6 seed within Section 7A come playoff time.

8- North Shore Storm
Head Coach: Shawn Lundgren 5th year, (35-54-4)
Last Year’s Record and Finish: (10-16-0) Lost in Section 7A Quarterfinals
Storm Outlook- North Shore got off to a slow start in the first part of the year last winter, but they were able to recover with a good second half of the year. But they ultimately had dug too deep a hole and drew a low seed in the Section 7A Playoffs, which led to a 1st round exit. Looking into this season, it could be another slow start for the Storm as they graduated or lost to transfers over 90% of their scoring and will need to replace nearly the entire blueline as well, which will give them plenty to work on early in the year. Up front, they do bring back Junior Nox Peterson, who had double-digit points last year, and they will look for an even bigger year this winter. They also return Seniors Josh Johnson & Brenner Quinn and Junior Carson Kindstrand, who have some varsity experience, and they will look for Sophomore Bryce Meeks from the youth program to step in and help rebuild their depth. On defense, they have big question marks, as well as nearly their entire blueline group was lost to graduation. Senior Dalton Seagren returns with limited experience to serve as a building block for an entirely new defensive core. They do have their starter back in net as Sophomore Dax Krech is back after taking a bunch of rubber as a youngster; he would only be better for it this year as he will be needed to stabilize a young team in front of him. North Shore will look to find answers to their blueline and depth questions as the year goes on, and they will look to work to be competitive within Section 7A this winter.

9- Ely Timberwolves
Head Coach- Ben Johnson 9th overall, 87-110-5
Last Year's Record and Finish: (5-18-0) Lost in Section 7A Play In Game
Timberwolves Outlook- Ely is coming off a tough year last season, as the Timberwolves were only able to win 5 games, but they did show some improvement as the year went along and were playing their best hockey by the end of the year. While the end result in the playoffs was not one that they would have hoped for, they are still optimistic based on what they are bringing back from last season that they can have an improved year this winter. Offensively, they do return Senior Rhett Johnson & Hunter Halbakken and Junior Owen Marolt, who were 3 of the team's 4 leading scorers last winter and will be expected to carry more of the offense this season. Also, look for Sophomore Cooper Mayranen to have a bigger role, and they could bring up 9th graders Parker Niskala & Kooper Dostert to add to the offense. On defense, Senior Jayden Zemke and Juniors Stig Majerus, Sean Merriman & Evan Leeson are all back, having experience, and they will look to build the blueline around them. They will need to find a replacement in net as their main starter was lost to graduation, but they do return Senior Lewey Powell, who got some limited experience last season. Ely, with some of the pieces they return, will look to build off last season's late improvement and have a solid campaign. Their big question mark, as it always will be for this small school program, is depth, but they should be looking to improve on last season’s 5-win total and hope to push for a better playoff position by season's end.

[rainier2]

Love the previews!

Bold take for 7A:
I-Falls wins 20 games and gets #3 seed. Looking at their schedule, I'd guess they only have one game where they won't be favored.