Section 8A 2022-23
Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2022 5:01 pm
2022-23 Section 8A Preseason Preview
Since the beginning of Class A hockey in 1994 Section 8A has had a familiar feel as the only three schools have represented the Section at State in St Paul- Warroad, East Grand Forks and Thief River Falls. This winter looks to be no different looking at the early season roll call. Warroad may have its best bet for a State Champion in many years and East Grand Forks has a line up full of the last two A Bantam State Champions and Thief River Falls always seems to be counted out yet come playoff time they are poised and ready to go. Detroit Lakes has been trying to shake up that order but has had little success heck it's been almost 20 years since we have seen someone other than the big three in the Section 8A title game. Look for more of the same in the great Northwest Section this winter.
Section 8A Preseason Preview Poll (10 teams)
1- Warroad
2- East Grand Forks
3- Thief River Falls
4- Detroit Lakes
5- Red Lake Falls
6- Crookston
7- Kittson Central
8- Bagley/Fosston
9- Park Rapids
10- Lake of the Woods
#1 Warroad- The Warriors again look like one of Class A’s elite teams this winter. Warroad returns stud netminder and recent D1 commit Senior Goaltender Hampton Slukynsky who played nearly every minute in net last season. He has two outstanding defenders in Senior Eric Comstock & Junior Ryan Lund on the blue line to play mega minutes this winter. On offense they return star forward Senior Jayson Shaugabay and dynamic Juniors Murray Marvin-Cordes & Carson Pilgrim who developed nicely as the season went along last winter and will look to be even bigger contributors in their second full season of varsity hockey. The question marks will be with their depth and they will need to find it in players with last names like Marvin, Boucha and Hardwick which one would think with those great bloodlines this Warriors team should be ready to challenge everyone in Class A and repeat as Section 8A Champions.
#2 East Grand Forks- The Greenwave were easily last year's biggest Class A disappointment but a veteran lineup returns not to mention a wealth of underclassmen, many of whom won the State A Bantam title in 2021. Up front and after some growing pains last winter they will lean on Senior forward Caleb Schmiedeberg & Juniors Brock Schultz, Landon Jamieson & Jace Fore to provide the offensive punch and there will be a few young guns to step in as well. On the blueline they return Junior Grady Magner & Sophomore Cole Bies to a unit that needs to be much better as last year's leaky team defense proved to be too much to overcome. However, even with the veteran lineup and young talent coming into the lineup the key to this team will be goaltending and how they are in that department will prove again to be the ultimate barometer as to if the Greenwave will be able to win 8A.
#3 Thief River Falls- The Prowlers did graduate 12 seniors from last winter. However, they will return their 2nd leading scorer in high scoring Senior Tysen Loeffler along with a trio of Juniors Max Arlt, Braydin Lund and leading defenseman Junior Jace Erickson who were 4th, 5th & 6th respectively in scoring last winter and they return most of their Powerplay unit which was very successful during the great 2nd half of the season last winter. They also have a very good goaltender in Junior Connor Roff who waited his time last year and who is ready to step in and be an elite goalie. The returning core will give Coach Bergland enough to build another solid team around and be in the thick of it in 8A.
#4 Detroit Lakes- The Lakers are coming off one their best seasons in over twenty years and yes they did lose some big pieces to graduation but they also return a good core. They will be led by their top overall player in Senior Defenseman Jacob Thomas who is a do it all 2-way threat from the blue line. Up front they return Seniors Cole Larson, Cooper Moore, Ben Hines, Carter Bellefeuille along with Juniors Cole Deraney & Riley Engum all return for good offensive seasons. They also have Senior Goaltender Josh Mack back who did see time in a backup role last season and will be ready to take over the starting gig. Keep an eye on the Lakers again this winter in 8A.
#5 Red Lake Falls- The Eagles return 6 of their top 8 scorers from a 17 win team last winter. The return Senior Evan Girdler and Sophomore brother Gavin Girdler along with Junior Blake Brieland and Sophomore Brock Seeger all of whom had over 20 points last winter. Add in they return both of their starting goalies from last year and Red Lake Falls should once again have a good year in 8A.
#6 Crookston- The Pirates only lost 4 players to graduation and they return the majority of their scoring and their starting goalie to be a more veteran team this winter. They will go as far as Seniors Jack Doda & Alex Longoria will take them as they are both coming off outstanding and very productive junior years last winter. Crookston should be much improved this winter.
#7 Kittson County Central- The Bearcats return standout Senior Tyler Hennen who had 38 goals and over 70 points last winter. If the Fall Elite League was any indication he is looking primed to have an even bigger and more proactive year than last winter. He will try to carry the Bearcats to another successful year this winter in his fifth season of varsity action.
#8 Bagley Fosston- The Flyers have a veteran team returning as they have 11 seniors ready to make a big final statement on their final year of varsity hockey. They will be led by Seniors Markus Olson & Brecken Levin who both had over 40 points last season and they will look to have one of the better teams they have fielded in sometime to make the bottom of 8A even more solid.
#9 Park Rapids- The Panthers return third leading Senior Joey Hillukka who will need to do even more heavy lifting offensively as Park Rapids lost their other top 3 leading scorers to graduation. They do return their main goaltender from last year plenty of depth forwards and their main D core to build a solid team around.
#10 Lake of the Woods- Da Bears were hit very hard by graduation and they will have many key holes to fill to start their year. They do return Senior Charlie Eck to build around as he is coming off a double digit goal 20 plus point season but looking at the rest of 8A it will be a mighty hill for the boys from Baudette Bay to climb this winter in 8A.
Since the beginning of Class A hockey in 1994 Section 8A has had a familiar feel as the only three schools have represented the Section at State in St Paul- Warroad, East Grand Forks and Thief River Falls. This winter looks to be no different looking at the early season roll call. Warroad may have its best bet for a State Champion in many years and East Grand Forks has a line up full of the last two A Bantam State Champions and Thief River Falls always seems to be counted out yet come playoff time they are poised and ready to go. Detroit Lakes has been trying to shake up that order but has had little success heck it's been almost 20 years since we have seen someone other than the big three in the Section 8A title game. Look for more of the same in the great Northwest Section this winter.
Section 8A Preseason Preview Poll (10 teams)
1- Warroad
2- East Grand Forks
3- Thief River Falls
4- Detroit Lakes
5- Red Lake Falls
6- Crookston
7- Kittson Central
8- Bagley/Fosston
9- Park Rapids
10- Lake of the Woods
#1 Warroad- The Warriors again look like one of Class A’s elite teams this winter. Warroad returns stud netminder and recent D1 commit Senior Goaltender Hampton Slukynsky who played nearly every minute in net last season. He has two outstanding defenders in Senior Eric Comstock & Junior Ryan Lund on the blue line to play mega minutes this winter. On offense they return star forward Senior Jayson Shaugabay and dynamic Juniors Murray Marvin-Cordes & Carson Pilgrim who developed nicely as the season went along last winter and will look to be even bigger contributors in their second full season of varsity hockey. The question marks will be with their depth and they will need to find it in players with last names like Marvin, Boucha and Hardwick which one would think with those great bloodlines this Warriors team should be ready to challenge everyone in Class A and repeat as Section 8A Champions.
#2 East Grand Forks- The Greenwave were easily last year's biggest Class A disappointment but a veteran lineup returns not to mention a wealth of underclassmen, many of whom won the State A Bantam title in 2021. Up front and after some growing pains last winter they will lean on Senior forward Caleb Schmiedeberg & Juniors Brock Schultz, Landon Jamieson & Jace Fore to provide the offensive punch and there will be a few young guns to step in as well. On the blueline they return Junior Grady Magner & Sophomore Cole Bies to a unit that needs to be much better as last year's leaky team defense proved to be too much to overcome. However, even with the veteran lineup and young talent coming into the lineup the key to this team will be goaltending and how they are in that department will prove again to be the ultimate barometer as to if the Greenwave will be able to win 8A.
#3 Thief River Falls- The Prowlers did graduate 12 seniors from last winter. However, they will return their 2nd leading scorer in high scoring Senior Tysen Loeffler along with a trio of Juniors Max Arlt, Braydin Lund and leading defenseman Junior Jace Erickson who were 4th, 5th & 6th respectively in scoring last winter and they return most of their Powerplay unit which was very successful during the great 2nd half of the season last winter. They also have a very good goaltender in Junior Connor Roff who waited his time last year and who is ready to step in and be an elite goalie. The returning core will give Coach Bergland enough to build another solid team around and be in the thick of it in 8A.
#4 Detroit Lakes- The Lakers are coming off one their best seasons in over twenty years and yes they did lose some big pieces to graduation but they also return a good core. They will be led by their top overall player in Senior Defenseman Jacob Thomas who is a do it all 2-way threat from the blue line. Up front they return Seniors Cole Larson, Cooper Moore, Ben Hines, Carter Bellefeuille along with Juniors Cole Deraney & Riley Engum all return for good offensive seasons. They also have Senior Goaltender Josh Mack back who did see time in a backup role last season and will be ready to take over the starting gig. Keep an eye on the Lakers again this winter in 8A.
#5 Red Lake Falls- The Eagles return 6 of their top 8 scorers from a 17 win team last winter. The return Senior Evan Girdler and Sophomore brother Gavin Girdler along with Junior Blake Brieland and Sophomore Brock Seeger all of whom had over 20 points last winter. Add in they return both of their starting goalies from last year and Red Lake Falls should once again have a good year in 8A.
#6 Crookston- The Pirates only lost 4 players to graduation and they return the majority of their scoring and their starting goalie to be a more veteran team this winter. They will go as far as Seniors Jack Doda & Alex Longoria will take them as they are both coming off outstanding and very productive junior years last winter. Crookston should be much improved this winter.
#7 Kittson County Central- The Bearcats return standout Senior Tyler Hennen who had 38 goals and over 70 points last winter. If the Fall Elite League was any indication he is looking primed to have an even bigger and more proactive year than last winter. He will try to carry the Bearcats to another successful year this winter in his fifth season of varsity action.
#8 Bagley Fosston- The Flyers have a veteran team returning as they have 11 seniors ready to make a big final statement on their final year of varsity hockey. They will be led by Seniors Markus Olson & Brecken Levin who both had over 40 points last season and they will look to have one of the better teams they have fielded in sometime to make the bottom of 8A even more solid.
#9 Park Rapids- The Panthers return third leading Senior Joey Hillukka who will need to do even more heavy lifting offensively as Park Rapids lost their other top 3 leading scorers to graduation. They do return their main goaltender from last year plenty of depth forwards and their main D core to build a solid team around.
#10 Lake of the Woods- Da Bears were hit very hard by graduation and they will have many key holes to fill to start their year. They do return Senior Charlie Eck to build around as he is coming off a double digit goal 20 plus point season but looking at the rest of 8A it will be a mighty hill for the boys from Baudette Bay to climb this winter in 8A.