2025-26 Section 8A
Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2025 2:15 pm
2025-26 Section 8A Preseason Preview
Section 8A continued the tradition last year of being dominated by the Big Three, as since its beginnings in 1994, only Warroad, East Grand Forks & Thief River Falls have ever won the section in the past 30-plus years. Last year was no different; it was the Greenwave who won the section and then went on to win the program’s 3rd State Title overall. This year, things don't look much different, as while the Prowlers will be going through a competitive reload, the Warriors and Greenwave appear to be locked and loaded to return to St Paul and contend for a State Title. Don't overlook Detroit Lakes, Crookston & Red Lake Falls, though, as they are all bringing back good cores from successful hockey teams last winter that had strong seasons, and in any other section, they would be contenders for State, but in 8A, they will have to prove they can unseat the long-time kings of this Northwest Minnesota section.
BHS 2025-26 Section 8A Preseason Ranking
1- Warroad Warriors
2- East Grand Forks Greenwave
3- Detroit Lakes Lakers
4- Thief River Falls Prowlers
5- Crookston Pirates
6- Red Lake Falls Eagles
7- Bagley/Fosston Flyers
8- Park Rapids Area Panthers
9- Kittson County Central Bearcats
10- Lake of the Woods Bears
1- Warroad Warriors
Head Coach- Jay Hardwick 14th year, (245-106-14)
Last Year's Record and Finish: (20-7-1) Lost in Section 8A Championship Game
Warriors Outlook- It was a very disappointing end to the Warroad season a year ago as they were able to outplay their lower preseason expectations and rose all the way to the #1 team in Class A by the regular season’s end. However, the playoffs saw their season come to an unexpected early end when they were upset by the eventual State Champs, East Grand Forks. Now this season they bring back a great core from last year's surprise team and they will be bringing in some major pieces from the youth program as they welcome in the back to back A Bantam State Champs to the High School ranks. Up front, they return Seniors Ryan Shaugabay, Taylor Humeniuk, Mason Reed & Ryan Chamernick, who, along with Juniors Gavin Anderson, Casey Hendrickson, Grayson Bentow & Parker Moes, and Sophomore Maddex Cole, all have varsity experience to offer Warroad depth and versatility offensively. Also, look for Junior Wyatt Samuelson, a transfer from KCC, and 9th grader Roderick James, who is an elite player coming up from the youth, to provide immediate offensive impact as well. The strength, though, of this Warriors team is on the blueline as they return their entire D-core led by Seniors Broden Hontvet, Sam Hard & Thomas Grapentine, and Juniors Wesley Schreiner & Ryan Lee, who are all big mobile defensemen. Then add to them two incoming talents in Sophomore Conner Lund & 9th grader Ayven Hontvet, who are coming up from the state championship bantam team, and both are elite defenseman, to give Coach Hardwick the deepest defensive unit in Class A. On top of that deep blueline, they return goaltender Junior Finn Hanson, who was phenomenal in his first year of varsity hockey, and he will only get better a year older, but he will be pushed by Senior Patrick Kennedy, who also has good experience. This is the beginning of a serious run of talent in Warroad as they have a loaded youth program with lots of championship experience coming into an already talent-rich traditional power, and this will be a team looking for revenge as they don’t want to fall short again this winter.
2- East Grand Forks Greenwave
Head Coach- Tyler Palmiscno 15th year, (250-133-14)
Last Year's Record and Finish: (16-13-2) Section 8A Champion and won the Class A Championship
Greenwave Outlook- The Defending State Champs went on a playoff run for the ages as they went from regular season disappointment and below .500 all the way to winning their program’s 3rd State Title overall. Now they will look to defend that title and go back-to-back for the 2nd time in EGF hockey history, like they did back in 2014 & 2015. There are plenty of pieces back for East Grand Forks to have another strong year as they will be led by a big class of upperclassmen. On offense, Seniors Tucker Lovejoy, Nolan Meulebroeck, Braden Overgaard, Jake Chupka & Wyatt Cordts all return with varsity experience. They also have elite Junior Jace Panzer, who already has two years of varsity experience under his belt, and look for guys like Sophomores Cy Hjelmen, Shawn Lind & Easton Olson from the Greenwave JV and youth program to help them have a deep offense again. On the blueline, Seniors Cole Schmiedeberg & Bodey Schmaltz and Juniors Max Bies & Ryan Clauson are all back with varsity experience to have a solid core of experience returning and look for Sophomore Brooks Moreland, from the AA Bantams, to compete for immediate minutes, which should allow them to play its physical “Man’s Game” style. In net, Junior Noah Schindele is back with plenty of experience as he was the backbone of their State Title run a year ago, and it gives this program something they have not had in recent years, which is solid goaltending. Add in Coach Palmiscno, who has now guided this program to three state titles in his 15 years behind the bench, and no one should rule out a back-to-back championship run for EGF, as you can count on that they will be battle-tested and playing their best come playoff time, like always.
3- Detroit Lakes Lakers
Head Coach- Ben Noah 7th year, (82-59-9)
Last Year's Record and Finish: (10-14-3) Lost in Section 8A Semifinals
Lakers Outlook- The Lakers have been building their program to be a challenger to the Big Three in 8A, and last year they came oh so close to upsetting the #1 seeded Warriors, and looking at this year, they appear to have a team that should take the next step and be a major challenger for the traditional powers of this tough northwestern section. On paper, they are bringing back a strong senior class and also have some good pieces coming up from a good A Bantam team, which should make this Detroit Lakes team a Top 15 team all season long. Up front, they return a nice core of senior forwards and will be led by Seniors Easton Kennedy, Will Cymbaluk, Carter Whitworth & Lawsen Justesen, who all had very productive underclassman seasons last winter and will be older and stronger this year to hopefully avoid the scoring issues that plagued them at times last season. Add to them Junior Hank Schlauderaff, from the JV team, and look for Sophomores Xander Burgeson, Sullivan Braaten, Brody Bender, Weston White & Ryker Zimmerman, who are moving up from the youth after very productive A Bantam careers, to all push for playing time and add to the overall offensive depth. On the blueline, they will need to do a little bit of rebuilding job, but they do return Senior Hudson Pettit, who has two years of varsity experience, and they also bring back Juniors Henry Olson & Max DuCharme, who saw some varsity minutes. Add to them Sophomore Bauer Walter & 9th grader Rhett Walter, who moved in from East Grand Forks, and both are elite young defenders who should play immediately, and Sophomore Parker Hendrix from the youth should also contend for minutes. In net, they return Junior Griffin Lindberg, who was excellent last year and will only be better a year older, and he makes this team a contender even as they rebuild the defensive core in front of him. The Lakers have tirelessly worked to improve the schedule, which has made them more battle-tested come playoff time. Everything on paper makes Detroit Lakes look like a contender, and Coach Noah has all the pieces here to have a really good year again as they continue their pursuit to break through in Section 8A.
4- Thief River Falls Prowlers
Head Coach- Kyle Anderson 2nd year, (8-13-1)
Last Year's Record and Finish: (8-13-1) Lost in Section 8A Quarterfinals
Prowlers Outlook- The Prowlers are coming off their worst season in a long time, as they failed to earn a home playoff game for the first time since 2001 and lost a big senior class to graduation. Looking at what comes back, they do have a strong Junior class that will be looking to get this traditional Class A power back on track and up to their normal standards, as Thief River Falls has always been a Top 20 Team annually in previous winters, and they want to restore that standing this season. Looking at what they bring back up front, they only return Juniors Spencer Anderson, who is one of the top forwards in all of Class A, & Hudson Brouse with extensive varsity experience, and those two will be key as they try to rebuild an offense. Add to them the depth of Juniors Jed Kelly, Johnny Rogalla & Ian White, who all saw some varsity action last year and should be ready for bigger roles this year. Also look for Sophomores Brody Radniecki & Wyatt Novak to be candidates to step in and help from the youth program to help bring immediate offensive spark. Defensively, they will be going through a full rebuild as they only return Junior Masson Collins. They will need players like Senior Ryan Flaagan and Juniors Carter Svendsgaard, Hunter Bugge & Tucker Knott to push for playing time coming up from the JV team. They also have 9th grader Beckem Johnson, who they are bringing up early from the Bantams, and should contribute immediately as well on the blueline. They will have the luxury of having good goaltending returning, as Senior Cooper Roff is back, and he should help in the growth of the blue line as they learn variety hockey. Overall, while on paper the Prowlers will have questions to answer, they will look to their big Junior Class to build another contender around them. TRF will look to get back to playing the style of hockey we have become accustomed to with this program.
5- Crookston Pirates
Head Coach: Josh Hardy 10th year, (85-124-4)
Last Year’s Record and Finish: (18-8-1) Lost in Section 8A Semifinals
Pirates Outlook- Crookston is coming into this season having had its best season in a long time last year, winning 18 games, and they were able to advance to the Section 8A Semifinals with a lineup that will return the majority of its top-end scoring. Looking at this season, the Pirates have to be excited with the prospects of this year, as they have a lineup that brings back a big senior class, all with good experience, but finding depth will be the key for Crookston to take the next step. Up front, they bring back their three leading scorers from last year in Seniors Garrett Fischer, Jay Reese & Greyson Ecker, who all had double-digit points last year and will only be bigger, stronger, and more effective this year. They also return scoring depth as Seniors Liam Larson, Gavin Aakhus & Evan Shockman are all back with varsity experience, having contributed last year, and should only be better a year older for depth, and Sophomore Rowan Benoit from the youth could help step in for scoring as well. On defense, they return Senior Tate Hamre, who is a UND football commit, had double-digit goals from the blueline a year ago, and look for Junior Grant Funk to grow off his good 10th-grade year. They also have Seniors Cody Demarris & Isaiah Donarski back, who have some experience for depth options on the blueline. They will have to replace a big hole in the net, but look for Senior Brady Chandler to step into the starter's role after getting some limited action last year. The Pirates look to be solid in all phases and return a team that will have good senior leadership on the top end, but they will need to develop some depth if they want to surpass last year’s 18-win campaign and advance further within such a tough Section 8A come playoff time.
6- Red Lake Falls Eagles
Head Coach: Dominic Ste. Marie 1st year, (0-0-0)
Last Year’s Record and Finish: (21-5-0) Lost in Section 8A Quarterfinals
Eagles Outlook- Red Lake Falls is coming into this season off of one of their best regular seasons in program history, as their 21 wins were the most they had ever accumulated during a regular season in the team's history. However, all that regular-season success came to a crashing end in the playoffs as they were upset in the Section 8A Quarterfinals after having earned the highest seed in program history, leaving them with a sour taste in their mouths. They will have a new coach this winter as Dominic Ste. Marie brings 20-plus years of experience at different levels, and he returns to alma mater and inherits an Eagles squad that returns good talent and should be very strong this year. Offensively, they return Senior Kegan Schmitz, Riley Broden & Coby Knott, along with Junior Boe Nelson, who all had double-digit goals last year to lead the way up front. Red Lake Falls will also have Seniors Dennis Lanctot, Dawson Erickson, Max Konickson & Alex Mattson, as well as Junior Theo Tydlacka, all returning with varsity experience, and look for Sophomores Tre Seeger & Avery Knott to come up and contribute from the youth program to help build depth up front. On the blueline, Seniors Xavier Payment, Oliver Melin & Marley Benoit, along with Junior Thoren Thronson, are back with varsity experience as they will have to rebuild the blueline a bit after losing some key players to graduation. Also, look for Sophomores Gunnar Broden & Jax Breiland to come up and get good minutes from the youth program to help provide some depth on the backend. They bring back experience in net as Senior Draven Wirth returns as the starter from last year, and Senior Nathan Altepeter also has experience to bring stability there. This should be a physical and fast team that will look to build off of last year's success and look for a deeper run in the playoffs this winter.
7- Bagley/Fosston Flyers
Head Coach: Andrew Floyd 2nd year, (15-11-0)
Last Year’s Record and Finish: (15-11-0) Lost in Section 8A Quarterfinals
Flyers Outlook- Bagley/Fosston played a very young lineup last year and had a great season that saw them grow throughout the year and pick up 15 wins. Looking ahead to this season, the Flyers should have a big year as they return many of their key players, who will be a year older and stronger, and this could be a sleeper team this season within Section 8A. Up front, they return Juniors Logan Dillich & Wyatt Gerbracht and Sophomore James Palmer, who return as the team's leading scorers, each having double-digit goals last season. They also have Seniors Dakota Erickson, Camron Benson, Cole Johnson & Brett Berg, along with 9th grader Isaac Decoteau back with varsity experience, and look for Sophomores Blake Colegrove & Bryce Haugen from the youth to contribute for depth scoring. Defensively, Junior Reid Gerbracht returns after a big year last winter to lead the blueline group again, and Senior Grant Merschman & Sophomore Hayden Hanse are back with experience, and Senior Hayden Hood will be returning, after missing last year due to injury, to have a solid defensive core. In net, Sophomore Brookston Hildebrandt & 9th grader Forrest Bates will compete for minutes as the starter from last year graduated. Overall, with all the experience and young talent that Bagley/Fosston returns this year, it should translate into a big year for the Flyers as they look to take the next step as a program.
8- Park Rapids Area Panthers
Head Coach: Bill Moore 5th year, (39th overall), (49-54-5)
Last Year’s Record and Finish: (9-18-0) Lost in Section 8A Quarterfinals
Panthers Outlook- Park Rapids Area is coming into the season off a tough year that saw them only win 9 games. Things will be interesting early on for the Panthers as they did graduate some high-end scorers from last year, and replacing those key pieces will be a challenge for this team, but they bring back a big group of 11th graders whom they will look to build a competitive team around. Offensively, they do have some scoring punch back as up front, Juniors Finn Henry & Easton Brovold return after both had double-digit goals as 10th graders last season. They also have Seniors Lou Wesa & Chance Landstrom, and Juniors Chad Pinoniem, Konnor Ball & Ethan Torola are back with varying experience and look for Sophomores Colter Hegg & Noah Mcwaters from the youth to add scoring depth. On defense, they bring back Senior Bryce Zubke, who, along with Juniors Colton Hauser, Levi Meschke, Owen Hoverson & Brayden Crissinger, all have some experience, and they should be strong in their own end with all those minutes returning. In net, Junior Logan Felton, returns with experience and should only be better a year older. Overall, there is enough talent and depth to build a solid team around that will look to improve as the year goes on and be a competitor in Section 8A come playoff time.
9- Kittson County Central Bearcats
Head Coach: Josh Rynning 3rd year, (8-39-1)
Last Year’s Record and Finish: (5-15-1) Lost in Section 8A Play in Round
Bearcats Outlook- It was another tough season last year for one of the state’s smallest schools that has a hockey program. Kittson County Central was only able to win 5 games and, on most nights, had a very short bench of skaters, but just being able to continue one of the state's longest and most historical programs was ultimately a win. They do return some good pieces from that team to hope that this winter they can make steps to being more competitive. They did lose Wyatt Samuelson within the section to a transfer, but they do return Junior Elijah Muir, who can play both forward and defense and is back as the team's leading scorer. Add to him Senior Ozander Andrade and Juniors Guilford Finney, Clarence Przekwas & Jaxon Bring, who have varsity experience, and look for Sophomore Briggs Younggren from the youth to help build their scoring depth. On defense, Senior Gavin Johnson, Junior Jaxton Hemmes & Ty Folland, along with Sophomore Kamden Gullickson-Palmer, are back with experience on the blueline. There is a big question mark in the net as to who will step up, but Senior David Kaul, who was the backup last year, and Sophomore Andrew Anderson, coming up from the youth, will compete for the starting role. If they can find some players to step up in key spots and add some depth, this should be a more competitive year for Kittson County Central this coming winter.
10- Lake of the Woods Bears
Head Coach: Brett Nylander 2nd year, (4-19-0)
Last Year’s Record and Finish: (4-19-0) Lost in Section 8A Play in Round
Bears Outlook- Lake of the Woods had a very tough season last year that saw them only manage to win 4 games. The Bears were just never able to get much momentum last winter, but they did play their best hockey of the year at the end of the season as they lost a heartbreaker in overtime in the playoffs. Now we will see what one of the smallest schools in the state that has hockey can do after being hit hard by graduation in the offseason. Up front, they do return Senior Dawson Canfield & Eli Johnson with good experience, but they will need to find depth from players like Juniors Mecat Smith & Lincoln Kasprowicz, and Sophomore Vincent Quo, who got limited varsity experience last year, and look for 9th Grader Brody Block from the youth to contribute as well. On defense, they return Senior Zack Brouse and Sophomores Thad Olson & Jack Cook to help build the Bears' Blueline around. In net, Junior Jonah McDougall returns as the starter, and they will need his experience there as they break in a young group in front of him. There are questions looking at the Bears' roster on paper as they try to rebound from last year's tough season and have a bigger year this winter.
Section 8A continued the tradition last year of being dominated by the Big Three, as since its beginnings in 1994, only Warroad, East Grand Forks & Thief River Falls have ever won the section in the past 30-plus years. Last year was no different; it was the Greenwave who won the section and then went on to win the program’s 3rd State Title overall. This year, things don't look much different, as while the Prowlers will be going through a competitive reload, the Warriors and Greenwave appear to be locked and loaded to return to St Paul and contend for a State Title. Don't overlook Detroit Lakes, Crookston & Red Lake Falls, though, as they are all bringing back good cores from successful hockey teams last winter that had strong seasons, and in any other section, they would be contenders for State, but in 8A, they will have to prove they can unseat the long-time kings of this Northwest Minnesota section.
BHS 2025-26 Section 8A Preseason Ranking
1- Warroad Warriors
2- East Grand Forks Greenwave
3- Detroit Lakes Lakers
4- Thief River Falls Prowlers
5- Crookston Pirates
6- Red Lake Falls Eagles
7- Bagley/Fosston Flyers
8- Park Rapids Area Panthers
9- Kittson County Central Bearcats
10- Lake of the Woods Bears
1- Warroad Warriors
Head Coach- Jay Hardwick 14th year, (245-106-14)
Last Year's Record and Finish: (20-7-1) Lost in Section 8A Championship Game
Warriors Outlook- It was a very disappointing end to the Warroad season a year ago as they were able to outplay their lower preseason expectations and rose all the way to the #1 team in Class A by the regular season’s end. However, the playoffs saw their season come to an unexpected early end when they were upset by the eventual State Champs, East Grand Forks. Now this season they bring back a great core from last year's surprise team and they will be bringing in some major pieces from the youth program as they welcome in the back to back A Bantam State Champs to the High School ranks. Up front, they return Seniors Ryan Shaugabay, Taylor Humeniuk, Mason Reed & Ryan Chamernick, who, along with Juniors Gavin Anderson, Casey Hendrickson, Grayson Bentow & Parker Moes, and Sophomore Maddex Cole, all have varsity experience to offer Warroad depth and versatility offensively. Also, look for Junior Wyatt Samuelson, a transfer from KCC, and 9th grader Roderick James, who is an elite player coming up from the youth, to provide immediate offensive impact as well. The strength, though, of this Warriors team is on the blueline as they return their entire D-core led by Seniors Broden Hontvet, Sam Hard & Thomas Grapentine, and Juniors Wesley Schreiner & Ryan Lee, who are all big mobile defensemen. Then add to them two incoming talents in Sophomore Conner Lund & 9th grader Ayven Hontvet, who are coming up from the state championship bantam team, and both are elite defenseman, to give Coach Hardwick the deepest defensive unit in Class A. On top of that deep blueline, they return goaltender Junior Finn Hanson, who was phenomenal in his first year of varsity hockey, and he will only get better a year older, but he will be pushed by Senior Patrick Kennedy, who also has good experience. This is the beginning of a serious run of talent in Warroad as they have a loaded youth program with lots of championship experience coming into an already talent-rich traditional power, and this will be a team looking for revenge as they don’t want to fall short again this winter.
2- East Grand Forks Greenwave
Head Coach- Tyler Palmiscno 15th year, (250-133-14)
Last Year's Record and Finish: (16-13-2) Section 8A Champion and won the Class A Championship
Greenwave Outlook- The Defending State Champs went on a playoff run for the ages as they went from regular season disappointment and below .500 all the way to winning their program’s 3rd State Title overall. Now they will look to defend that title and go back-to-back for the 2nd time in EGF hockey history, like they did back in 2014 & 2015. There are plenty of pieces back for East Grand Forks to have another strong year as they will be led by a big class of upperclassmen. On offense, Seniors Tucker Lovejoy, Nolan Meulebroeck, Braden Overgaard, Jake Chupka & Wyatt Cordts all return with varsity experience. They also have elite Junior Jace Panzer, who already has two years of varsity experience under his belt, and look for guys like Sophomores Cy Hjelmen, Shawn Lind & Easton Olson from the Greenwave JV and youth program to help them have a deep offense again. On the blueline, Seniors Cole Schmiedeberg & Bodey Schmaltz and Juniors Max Bies & Ryan Clauson are all back with varsity experience to have a solid core of experience returning and look for Sophomore Brooks Moreland, from the AA Bantams, to compete for immediate minutes, which should allow them to play its physical “Man’s Game” style. In net, Junior Noah Schindele is back with plenty of experience as he was the backbone of their State Title run a year ago, and it gives this program something they have not had in recent years, which is solid goaltending. Add in Coach Palmiscno, who has now guided this program to three state titles in his 15 years behind the bench, and no one should rule out a back-to-back championship run for EGF, as you can count on that they will be battle-tested and playing their best come playoff time, like always.
3- Detroit Lakes Lakers
Head Coach- Ben Noah 7th year, (82-59-9)
Last Year's Record and Finish: (10-14-3) Lost in Section 8A Semifinals
Lakers Outlook- The Lakers have been building their program to be a challenger to the Big Three in 8A, and last year they came oh so close to upsetting the #1 seeded Warriors, and looking at this year, they appear to have a team that should take the next step and be a major challenger for the traditional powers of this tough northwestern section. On paper, they are bringing back a strong senior class and also have some good pieces coming up from a good A Bantam team, which should make this Detroit Lakes team a Top 15 team all season long. Up front, they return a nice core of senior forwards and will be led by Seniors Easton Kennedy, Will Cymbaluk, Carter Whitworth & Lawsen Justesen, who all had very productive underclassman seasons last winter and will be older and stronger this year to hopefully avoid the scoring issues that plagued them at times last season. Add to them Junior Hank Schlauderaff, from the JV team, and look for Sophomores Xander Burgeson, Sullivan Braaten, Brody Bender, Weston White & Ryker Zimmerman, who are moving up from the youth after very productive A Bantam careers, to all push for playing time and add to the overall offensive depth. On the blueline, they will need to do a little bit of rebuilding job, but they do return Senior Hudson Pettit, who has two years of varsity experience, and they also bring back Juniors Henry Olson & Max DuCharme, who saw some varsity minutes. Add to them Sophomore Bauer Walter & 9th grader Rhett Walter, who moved in from East Grand Forks, and both are elite young defenders who should play immediately, and Sophomore Parker Hendrix from the youth should also contend for minutes. In net, they return Junior Griffin Lindberg, who was excellent last year and will only be better a year older, and he makes this team a contender even as they rebuild the defensive core in front of him. The Lakers have tirelessly worked to improve the schedule, which has made them more battle-tested come playoff time. Everything on paper makes Detroit Lakes look like a contender, and Coach Noah has all the pieces here to have a really good year again as they continue their pursuit to break through in Section 8A.
4- Thief River Falls Prowlers
Head Coach- Kyle Anderson 2nd year, (8-13-1)
Last Year's Record and Finish: (8-13-1) Lost in Section 8A Quarterfinals
Prowlers Outlook- The Prowlers are coming off their worst season in a long time, as they failed to earn a home playoff game for the first time since 2001 and lost a big senior class to graduation. Looking at what comes back, they do have a strong Junior class that will be looking to get this traditional Class A power back on track and up to their normal standards, as Thief River Falls has always been a Top 20 Team annually in previous winters, and they want to restore that standing this season. Looking at what they bring back up front, they only return Juniors Spencer Anderson, who is one of the top forwards in all of Class A, & Hudson Brouse with extensive varsity experience, and those two will be key as they try to rebuild an offense. Add to them the depth of Juniors Jed Kelly, Johnny Rogalla & Ian White, who all saw some varsity action last year and should be ready for bigger roles this year. Also look for Sophomores Brody Radniecki & Wyatt Novak to be candidates to step in and help from the youth program to help bring immediate offensive spark. Defensively, they will be going through a full rebuild as they only return Junior Masson Collins. They will need players like Senior Ryan Flaagan and Juniors Carter Svendsgaard, Hunter Bugge & Tucker Knott to push for playing time coming up from the JV team. They also have 9th grader Beckem Johnson, who they are bringing up early from the Bantams, and should contribute immediately as well on the blueline. They will have the luxury of having good goaltending returning, as Senior Cooper Roff is back, and he should help in the growth of the blue line as they learn variety hockey. Overall, while on paper the Prowlers will have questions to answer, they will look to their big Junior Class to build another contender around them. TRF will look to get back to playing the style of hockey we have become accustomed to with this program.
5- Crookston Pirates
Head Coach: Josh Hardy 10th year, (85-124-4)
Last Year’s Record and Finish: (18-8-1) Lost in Section 8A Semifinals
Pirates Outlook- Crookston is coming into this season having had its best season in a long time last year, winning 18 games, and they were able to advance to the Section 8A Semifinals with a lineup that will return the majority of its top-end scoring. Looking at this season, the Pirates have to be excited with the prospects of this year, as they have a lineup that brings back a big senior class, all with good experience, but finding depth will be the key for Crookston to take the next step. Up front, they bring back their three leading scorers from last year in Seniors Garrett Fischer, Jay Reese & Greyson Ecker, who all had double-digit points last year and will only be bigger, stronger, and more effective this year. They also return scoring depth as Seniors Liam Larson, Gavin Aakhus & Evan Shockman are all back with varsity experience, having contributed last year, and should only be better a year older for depth, and Sophomore Rowan Benoit from the youth could help step in for scoring as well. On defense, they return Senior Tate Hamre, who is a UND football commit, had double-digit goals from the blueline a year ago, and look for Junior Grant Funk to grow off his good 10th-grade year. They also have Seniors Cody Demarris & Isaiah Donarski back, who have some experience for depth options on the blueline. They will have to replace a big hole in the net, but look for Senior Brady Chandler to step into the starter's role after getting some limited action last year. The Pirates look to be solid in all phases and return a team that will have good senior leadership on the top end, but they will need to develop some depth if they want to surpass last year’s 18-win campaign and advance further within such a tough Section 8A come playoff time.
6- Red Lake Falls Eagles
Head Coach: Dominic Ste. Marie 1st year, (0-0-0)
Last Year’s Record and Finish: (21-5-0) Lost in Section 8A Quarterfinals
Eagles Outlook- Red Lake Falls is coming into this season off of one of their best regular seasons in program history, as their 21 wins were the most they had ever accumulated during a regular season in the team's history. However, all that regular-season success came to a crashing end in the playoffs as they were upset in the Section 8A Quarterfinals after having earned the highest seed in program history, leaving them with a sour taste in their mouths. They will have a new coach this winter as Dominic Ste. Marie brings 20-plus years of experience at different levels, and he returns to alma mater and inherits an Eagles squad that returns good talent and should be very strong this year. Offensively, they return Senior Kegan Schmitz, Riley Broden & Coby Knott, along with Junior Boe Nelson, who all had double-digit goals last year to lead the way up front. Red Lake Falls will also have Seniors Dennis Lanctot, Dawson Erickson, Max Konickson & Alex Mattson, as well as Junior Theo Tydlacka, all returning with varsity experience, and look for Sophomores Tre Seeger & Avery Knott to come up and contribute from the youth program to help build depth up front. On the blueline, Seniors Xavier Payment, Oliver Melin & Marley Benoit, along with Junior Thoren Thronson, are back with varsity experience as they will have to rebuild the blueline a bit after losing some key players to graduation. Also, look for Sophomores Gunnar Broden & Jax Breiland to come up and get good minutes from the youth program to help provide some depth on the backend. They bring back experience in net as Senior Draven Wirth returns as the starter from last year, and Senior Nathan Altepeter also has experience to bring stability there. This should be a physical and fast team that will look to build off of last year's success and look for a deeper run in the playoffs this winter.
7- Bagley/Fosston Flyers
Head Coach: Andrew Floyd 2nd year, (15-11-0)
Last Year’s Record and Finish: (15-11-0) Lost in Section 8A Quarterfinals
Flyers Outlook- Bagley/Fosston played a very young lineup last year and had a great season that saw them grow throughout the year and pick up 15 wins. Looking ahead to this season, the Flyers should have a big year as they return many of their key players, who will be a year older and stronger, and this could be a sleeper team this season within Section 8A. Up front, they return Juniors Logan Dillich & Wyatt Gerbracht and Sophomore James Palmer, who return as the team's leading scorers, each having double-digit goals last season. They also have Seniors Dakota Erickson, Camron Benson, Cole Johnson & Brett Berg, along with 9th grader Isaac Decoteau back with varsity experience, and look for Sophomores Blake Colegrove & Bryce Haugen from the youth to contribute for depth scoring. Defensively, Junior Reid Gerbracht returns after a big year last winter to lead the blueline group again, and Senior Grant Merschman & Sophomore Hayden Hanse are back with experience, and Senior Hayden Hood will be returning, after missing last year due to injury, to have a solid defensive core. In net, Sophomore Brookston Hildebrandt & 9th grader Forrest Bates will compete for minutes as the starter from last year graduated. Overall, with all the experience and young talent that Bagley/Fosston returns this year, it should translate into a big year for the Flyers as they look to take the next step as a program.
8- Park Rapids Area Panthers
Head Coach: Bill Moore 5th year, (39th overall), (49-54-5)
Last Year’s Record and Finish: (9-18-0) Lost in Section 8A Quarterfinals
Panthers Outlook- Park Rapids Area is coming into the season off a tough year that saw them only win 9 games. Things will be interesting early on for the Panthers as they did graduate some high-end scorers from last year, and replacing those key pieces will be a challenge for this team, but they bring back a big group of 11th graders whom they will look to build a competitive team around. Offensively, they do have some scoring punch back as up front, Juniors Finn Henry & Easton Brovold return after both had double-digit goals as 10th graders last season. They also have Seniors Lou Wesa & Chance Landstrom, and Juniors Chad Pinoniem, Konnor Ball & Ethan Torola are back with varying experience and look for Sophomores Colter Hegg & Noah Mcwaters from the youth to add scoring depth. On defense, they bring back Senior Bryce Zubke, who, along with Juniors Colton Hauser, Levi Meschke, Owen Hoverson & Brayden Crissinger, all have some experience, and they should be strong in their own end with all those minutes returning. In net, Junior Logan Felton, returns with experience and should only be better a year older. Overall, there is enough talent and depth to build a solid team around that will look to improve as the year goes on and be a competitor in Section 8A come playoff time.
9- Kittson County Central Bearcats
Head Coach: Josh Rynning 3rd year, (8-39-1)
Last Year’s Record and Finish: (5-15-1) Lost in Section 8A Play in Round
Bearcats Outlook- It was another tough season last year for one of the state’s smallest schools that has a hockey program. Kittson County Central was only able to win 5 games and, on most nights, had a very short bench of skaters, but just being able to continue one of the state's longest and most historical programs was ultimately a win. They do return some good pieces from that team to hope that this winter they can make steps to being more competitive. They did lose Wyatt Samuelson within the section to a transfer, but they do return Junior Elijah Muir, who can play both forward and defense and is back as the team's leading scorer. Add to him Senior Ozander Andrade and Juniors Guilford Finney, Clarence Przekwas & Jaxon Bring, who have varsity experience, and look for Sophomore Briggs Younggren from the youth to help build their scoring depth. On defense, Senior Gavin Johnson, Junior Jaxton Hemmes & Ty Folland, along with Sophomore Kamden Gullickson-Palmer, are back with experience on the blueline. There is a big question mark in the net as to who will step up, but Senior David Kaul, who was the backup last year, and Sophomore Andrew Anderson, coming up from the youth, will compete for the starting role. If they can find some players to step up in key spots and add some depth, this should be a more competitive year for Kittson County Central this coming winter.
10- Lake of the Woods Bears
Head Coach: Brett Nylander 2nd year, (4-19-0)
Last Year’s Record and Finish: (4-19-0) Lost in Section 8A Play in Round
Bears Outlook- Lake of the Woods had a very tough season last year that saw them only manage to win 4 games. The Bears were just never able to get much momentum last winter, but they did play their best hockey of the year at the end of the season as they lost a heartbreaker in overtime in the playoffs. Now we will see what one of the smallest schools in the state that has hockey can do after being hit hard by graduation in the offseason. Up front, they do return Senior Dawson Canfield & Eli Johnson with good experience, but they will need to find depth from players like Juniors Mecat Smith & Lincoln Kasprowicz, and Sophomore Vincent Quo, who got limited varsity experience last year, and look for 9th Grader Brody Block from the youth to contribute as well. On defense, they return Senior Zack Brouse and Sophomores Thad Olson & Jack Cook to help build the Bears' Blueline around. In net, Junior Jonah McDougall returns as the starter, and they will need his experience there as they break in a young group in front of him. There are questions looking at the Bears' roster on paper as they try to rebound from last year's tough season and have a bigger year this winter.