Section 3A 2022-23
Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2022 10:33 am
2022-23 Section 3A Preseason Preview
The claim that southwestern Minnesota isn’t a hockey hotbed doesn’t surprise anyone. The area is known more for basketball powerhouses than its hockey programs; most teams in the area often have to travel huge distances just to schedule games. Kind of an “out of sight, out of mind” mentality if you will and they are the most forgotten and most disregarded part of the State in terms of hockey. Section 3A did get a much needed makeover with section realignment two spring ago as more geographic appropriate teams Mankato East & West and Minnesota River were added. Mankato East took advantage of their new sectional and breezed through the Section 3A Playoffs outscoring opponents 20-1. Does anyone have the talent or depth to pose a more of a threat this winter crosstown rival Mankato West and traditional 3A powers New Ulm and Luverne will look to give the Cougars more competition this winter in their quest to repeat as Section 3A Champions.
Section 3A Preseason Poll (10 Teams)
1- Mankato East
2- New Ulm
3- Luverne
4- Mankato West
5- Marshall
6- Windom
7- Minnesota River
8- Fairmont
9- Worthington
10- Redwood Valley
#1 Mankato East- The Cougars look to be favorites again in Section 3A and look to return to State for the 4th time in the last 7 years. They do return a good chunk of their scoring as leading scoring defenseman Seniors Shea Gavin & Alexander Morgan lead a good group of defenders. Up front they return Seniors Andrew Bastian & Brayden Borgmeier along with Juniors Christian Theuninck & Rafe Bowman to have a nice core to build around. They will also get Senior Zach Lebens & Junior Owen Quist back who are two of their better players that both missed last season due to injuries. The big question mark will be in the net but this looks to be the team to represent 3A again at the Xcel in March.
#2 New Ulm- The Eagles found a formula for great success last year by beating all the Section 3A teams they played twice as they were not afforded the opportunity to play either Mankato school but they went undefeated against the rest. Beating up the rest of 3A was enough to get them the number one seed but once they went toe to toe with Mankato East they were blown out 6-0 in the 3A Final. This winter they return forward Junior Austin Uecker who had over 20 goals and defender Senior Jack Albrecht to build another solid group around. If the Eagles just beat up on the Big South Conference again like previous years they will be top 3 seed and a contender in 3A.
#3 Luverne- Is Roll Cards Roll ready to return to the big stage this winter? Well, Luverne will bring back its entire core high scorers led by Senior Brock Behrend along with Juniors Patrick Kroski & Owen Sudenga and they return talented young defender Sophomore Blaik Bork to lead the blueline group. They also return their starting goalie from a 15 win team a year ago and look for them to make some serious noise again in the Southwest part of the State and build off their Semi-final appearance from a year ago.
#4 Mankato West- The Scarlets were better than their record indicated last year but their poor play early set up a first round match up in the 3A Quarterfinals with Mankato East which put a quick end to their season. They should be much improved this winter as they return Junior Gage Schmidt and Senior Zach Benson up front. On the back end they will be led by youth as stellar Sophomore Jaeger Zimmerman is back after a great freshman year and speaking of 9th grader Mankato West will look to turn to one as Freshman Mason Schrieber looks to be the starter in net.
#5 Marshall- The Tigers had a very up and down season last winter that ended by getting blown out on their home ice in the 3A Quarterfinals. They will look to improve on that this winter as they return 16 letter winners led by forwards Seniors Sean Nwaiga & Zach Kramer to provide offensive upfront and defender Junior Talen Plante returns and has been the Tigers best overall player the last two winters. They do return both starting goalies but they will need to get more consistency but look for the Tigers to be battling for a top 4 seed in 3A again this winter.
#6 Windom- The Eagles had a historic winter last year as they went to the program's first ever Section Semifinal and pushed New Ulm to the brink in a very good game. They did lose pieces to graduation from that group but they do return leading scorer Senior Brady Espenson along with some other depth but finding a goalie will be key if Windom wants to continue to make more history this winter.
#7 Minnesota River- The Bulldogs will look to improve a tough 5 win season last winter but things are looking up as they do return 15 letter winners. Junior Drew Simonette returns as the leading scorer a year ago with a host of others with experience. Finding a goalie will be the key to see if Minnesota River can make a jump in 3A.
#8 Fairmont- The Cardinals will look to continue to build off a decent season a year ago. They do return some depth and they will look for Seniors Brock Lutterman & Nate Rakness to have good seasons again in the scoring department and they do return their starting goalie Junior Carson Johnson in net.
#9 Worthington- The Trojans were hit very hard by graduation losing 9 seniors to graduation including their top five scorers and both starting goalies. They will look to build around defenseman Junior Ian Bumgarden as they go through a rebuilding year.
#10 Redwood Valley- Things are looking up for the Cardinals a year after only winning two games. They return 11 letter winners including leading scorer Sophomore Kilen Cliek as they look to be more competitive this winter.
The claim that southwestern Minnesota isn’t a hockey hotbed doesn’t surprise anyone. The area is known more for basketball powerhouses than its hockey programs; most teams in the area often have to travel huge distances just to schedule games. Kind of an “out of sight, out of mind” mentality if you will and they are the most forgotten and most disregarded part of the State in terms of hockey. Section 3A did get a much needed makeover with section realignment two spring ago as more geographic appropriate teams Mankato East & West and Minnesota River were added. Mankato East took advantage of their new sectional and breezed through the Section 3A Playoffs outscoring opponents 20-1. Does anyone have the talent or depth to pose a more of a threat this winter crosstown rival Mankato West and traditional 3A powers New Ulm and Luverne will look to give the Cougars more competition this winter in their quest to repeat as Section 3A Champions.
Section 3A Preseason Poll (10 Teams)
1- Mankato East
2- New Ulm
3- Luverne
4- Mankato West
5- Marshall
6- Windom
7- Minnesota River
8- Fairmont
9- Worthington
10- Redwood Valley
#1 Mankato East- The Cougars look to be favorites again in Section 3A and look to return to State for the 4th time in the last 7 years. They do return a good chunk of their scoring as leading scoring defenseman Seniors Shea Gavin & Alexander Morgan lead a good group of defenders. Up front they return Seniors Andrew Bastian & Brayden Borgmeier along with Juniors Christian Theuninck & Rafe Bowman to have a nice core to build around. They will also get Senior Zach Lebens & Junior Owen Quist back who are two of their better players that both missed last season due to injuries. The big question mark will be in the net but this looks to be the team to represent 3A again at the Xcel in March.
#2 New Ulm- The Eagles found a formula for great success last year by beating all the Section 3A teams they played twice as they were not afforded the opportunity to play either Mankato school but they went undefeated against the rest. Beating up the rest of 3A was enough to get them the number one seed but once they went toe to toe with Mankato East they were blown out 6-0 in the 3A Final. This winter they return forward Junior Austin Uecker who had over 20 goals and defender Senior Jack Albrecht to build another solid group around. If the Eagles just beat up on the Big South Conference again like previous years they will be top 3 seed and a contender in 3A.
#3 Luverne- Is Roll Cards Roll ready to return to the big stage this winter? Well, Luverne will bring back its entire core high scorers led by Senior Brock Behrend along with Juniors Patrick Kroski & Owen Sudenga and they return talented young defender Sophomore Blaik Bork to lead the blueline group. They also return their starting goalie from a 15 win team a year ago and look for them to make some serious noise again in the Southwest part of the State and build off their Semi-final appearance from a year ago.
#4 Mankato West- The Scarlets were better than their record indicated last year but their poor play early set up a first round match up in the 3A Quarterfinals with Mankato East which put a quick end to their season. They should be much improved this winter as they return Junior Gage Schmidt and Senior Zach Benson up front. On the back end they will be led by youth as stellar Sophomore Jaeger Zimmerman is back after a great freshman year and speaking of 9th grader Mankato West will look to turn to one as Freshman Mason Schrieber looks to be the starter in net.
#5 Marshall- The Tigers had a very up and down season last winter that ended by getting blown out on their home ice in the 3A Quarterfinals. They will look to improve on that this winter as they return 16 letter winners led by forwards Seniors Sean Nwaiga & Zach Kramer to provide offensive upfront and defender Junior Talen Plante returns and has been the Tigers best overall player the last two winters. They do return both starting goalies but they will need to get more consistency but look for the Tigers to be battling for a top 4 seed in 3A again this winter.
#6 Windom- The Eagles had a historic winter last year as they went to the program's first ever Section Semifinal and pushed New Ulm to the brink in a very good game. They did lose pieces to graduation from that group but they do return leading scorer Senior Brady Espenson along with some other depth but finding a goalie will be key if Windom wants to continue to make more history this winter.
#7 Minnesota River- The Bulldogs will look to improve a tough 5 win season last winter but things are looking up as they do return 15 letter winners. Junior Drew Simonette returns as the leading scorer a year ago with a host of others with experience. Finding a goalie will be the key to see if Minnesota River can make a jump in 3A.
#8 Fairmont- The Cardinals will look to continue to build off a decent season a year ago. They do return some depth and they will look for Seniors Brock Lutterman & Nate Rakness to have good seasons again in the scoring department and they do return their starting goalie Junior Carson Johnson in net.
#9 Worthington- The Trojans were hit very hard by graduation losing 9 seniors to graduation including their top five scorers and both starting goalies. They will look to build around defenseman Junior Ian Bumgarden as they go through a rebuilding year.
#10 Redwood Valley- Things are looking up for the Cardinals a year after only winning two games. They return 11 letter winners including leading scorer Sophomore Kilen Cliek as they look to be more competitive this winter.