2025-26 Section 1A

[ClassAGuy]

2025-26 Section 1A Preseason Preview

The new “King of the South” in Section 1A Hockey continued their dominance last season. Northfield once again had a strong year, and they went unbeaten in section play to become the three-time defending Section 1A champion. Looking at things on paper coming into this year, they appear to be the favorite to pull off a 4-peat this winter. There will be challengers, though, as both Waseca & Rochester Lourdes return nearly everyone from Top 25 teams last year and are looking to take the next step and break through to State this winter. Also, Albert Lea again will have some top-end talent back to continue their success, and you can never count them out, historically. Dodge County also returns some very good talent of its own. While it’s the Raiders' section to lose again this winter, there does appear to be some teams ready to step up and challenge their supremacy within Section 1A this season.

BHS 2025-26 Section 1A Preseason Ranking
1- Northfield Raiders
2- Waseca Bluejays
3- Rochester Lourdes Eagles
4- Albert Lea Tigers
5- Dodge County Wildcats
6- Winona Winhawks
7- La Crescent-Hokah Lancers
8- Red Wing Wingers
9- Faribault Falcons

1- Northfield Raiders
Head Coach- Charlie Cloud 1st year, (0-0-0)
Last Year's Record and Finish: (24-5-2) Section 1A Champion and took 5th place in Class A
Raiders Outlook- Northfield has been building a Southern Minnesota powerhouse program recently within Class A’s Section 1A. The offseason did see the Raiders lose their veteran Head Coach to retirement and top overall player to an early departure, but they will still be the favorite to four-peat in Section 1A to head back to State again this year. When looking at this group of Raiders, they have plenty of experience and talent returning to again be a Top 10 Class A Team all year and be the top program in Southern Minnesota. At forward, they return Seniors Michael Steward, Christian Whiteman, Oliver Benjamin, Charlie Becker & Henry Webber, along with Juniors Wade Gilbertson & Brody Jenson, and Sophomore Miles Kennelly, who all have varsity experience and had double-digit points last season. Also, they have Senior RJ Wasilowski, who transferred in from Faribault, and Sophomores Walker Sorem, Darren Steward & Phillip Benjamin, who are coming up from the Bantam program, to add to what should be a deep offense. On defense the loss of Ben Geiger to the NTDP is a huge blow but they do return veteran Senior Bridger Riley, who had over 50 points from the blueline, and Seniors Ashton Pumper & Carter Simon and Junior Jacob Peters who are all back with varsity experience and look for Sophomore Levi Schmidt from the Bantams to push for playing time to make up a good defensive core. Add to that experienced defensive unit that Senior Gavin Winter is back in net, and he stepped in at State last year to help lead the Raiders to their Consolation Title, and he should be ready to become the full-time starter this year. There is plenty of big game experience on this roster, and new Head Coach Charlie Cloud is very familiar with this group, being the long-time assistant at his alma mater, and he will have Northfield looking very dangerous again this winter as they look for another deep playoff run, and they will be tough for anyone in 1A to knock off.

2- Waseca Bluejays
Head Coach- Chris Storey 12th year, (137-146-7)
Last Year's Record and Finish: (21-4-2) Lost in Section 1A Semifinals
Bluejays Outlook- Waseca had a breakout year last season, winning a school record 21 games a year ago, and for the first time in program history, they were able to advance to the Section Semifinals. However, the season came to a crashing halt as they were beaten by Lourdes for a second time to end the year on a sour note. However, the crazy thing is that this year's Bluejays team is most likely going to be better, as they were a younger team last year and should now be a more experienced group to be a contender for State out of Section 1A. Up front, they are loaded with talent and scoring as they return 7 of their top 9 forwards in Seniors Jude Gehring & Jayden Gehring, along with Juniors Griffin Storey, Henry Huttemier, Cash Lynch, Otto Schoenrock & Avery Selvik, all return having 20 plus points as underclassmen, and they should only do more damage a year older now. They should also get some added scoring punch from Sophomores Aydan Kath, Nathan Hager, Ty Krautkremer & Brady Mckenna, who will look to add some depth to the lineup coming up from the bantams. On defense, they return Senior Jackson Dahl & Junior Beckett Srp, who both played big varsity minutes last year on the blueline, and they have Junior August Hansen coming back home after playing two years of AAA hockey, and they have Senior Jayden Hervey transferring in after playing in the USPHL last year, and both should be great additions on the backend. They will look for depth from Juniors Owen Wieseler & Trey Jenzen, who both got some varsity action last year, and Sophomore Blake Klimmek, coming up from the bantams, should contend for minutes as well. In the net, they return Junior Josiah Schmidtke, who split time as the starter last season, and he is one of the top young elite goaltenders in all of Southern Minnesota. Looking at this year’s Waseca roster, it shows that they are loaded with experience and talent in all three phases, and if they can stay healthy, they should be a team to watch again this season and contend for not only their first Section Final berth but a chance to crash the party in St Paul.

3- Rochester Lourdes Eagles
Head Coach: Jeff True, 6th year, (65-59-12)
Last Year’s Record and Finish: (16-11-1) Lost in Section 1A Championship
Eagles Outlook- Rochester Lourdes is looking to recapture the glory of the early 2000s when they were the powerhouse program in Southern Minnesota for years. Coach True took over a program that had hit rock bottom, as the year before he took over in 2020, they did not win a hockey game. Now, flash forward 6 years later, he has a major contender in Section 1A that brings back nearly everyone from their 1A Runner Up team a year ago. This is a veteran group that brings back experience and talent in all key areas of their lineup, and they will be a team to watch all winter down south. Up front, they return 7 of their top 9 forwards as Seniors Owen Hoehn, Jack Phillips & Dom Troutman, along with Juniors Nolan DuBois, Alex Monosmith & Jaxson Keefe, all return with good varsity experience to lead what should be a more dangerous offense as they will be a year older and stronger. They did lose Landon Spicer to an offseason injury, but look for Junior Michael Norman to move up from the blueline and play offense this year, and Sophomore Jameson Eidem to add to the scoring depth. On defense, they return everyone as Seniors Vinny Harens & Owen Barclay and Juniors Charlie Kor & Gavin Groettum headline a deep and experienced blueline that should make the Eagles very good in their own end. Also, look for Sophomores Chay Cunningham & Dylan Hughes, who are coming up from the youth to step in and provide depth. Add to all that experience that they also return Senior Anton Ackley in net, who has been starting games the last two years, and he was magnificent in their playoff run last year, and add to him Sophomore Brayson Magle, who is a very strong young goalie that will push for minutes as well. Overall, this will be a fired-up veteran group that wants to prove last year's playoff run was no fluke and that they are not only ready to return to the Section Final this winter but that they want to take it a step further and return to State for the first time since 2013.

4- Albert Lea Tigers
Head Coach- Matt Erickson, 5th year, (69-36-4)
Last Year's Record and Finish: (17-8-2) Lost in Section 1A Semifinals
Tigers Outlook- Albert Lea again found their way back into the Top Four of Section 1A, where they normally find themselves, again, last season. The Tigers had a very strong year, winning 17 games, and were able to win the Quarterfinal round to return to the Rochester Rec Center for the Section 1A Semifinals like normal, but they were again overwhelmed by the 1A Kings in the Semifinals. Look into this winter, they do return a bunch of pieces from that group that should allow them to be contenders again as normal. At forward, both Seniors Jacob Kolker & Brock Scott, along with Junior Drake Sternhagen, all return with double-digit goals to lead the offense. They should have scoring depth as well as Seniors Samuel McGill, Tyler Balfe & Ethan Stieler are back with good varsity experience. They also have Sophomore Casey Ulve & 9th Grader Fletcher Pirsig coming up from Bantams, who will add to the offense immediately. On the blueline, they return Senior Zaden Brua, who is top tier defenseman and had 30 plus points last year, and Evan Anfinson return with experience, and look for Sophomores Nathan Herr & Drew Ulve from the youth program to compete for minutes to add depth. In net is the big question mark as they will have to replace their long-time starter, but the Tigers will look to Senior Owen Hansen & Sophomore Ledger Olsen to battle for time in the net. If Albert Lea can find a good answer at goalie, they will have a bunch of veterans returning who will defend well and play a physical style that is tough to play against, which should allow them to build another contender this winter as they normally do, and be in the top 4 of Section 1A.

5- Dodge County Wildcats
Head Coach- Andrew & Bryce Wilcox 4th Year, (44-18-1)
Last Year's Record and Finish: (9-16-0) Lost in Section 1A Quarterfinals
Wildcats Outlook- Dodge County is coming off a very up-and-down year that saw them struggle with a tougher schedule, and they were eliminated in the Quarterfinal Round on the road. Now they will look to rebound as they return some nice pieces and are bringing in some good talent from the youth program to be a threat again this year in 1A. Up front, they will look for the scoring duo Senior Gabe Coshenet & Sophomore Camryn Koch, who return from their top line to lead the way this winter. They will look for depth from Seniors Dylan Allen, Cohen McNeilus, Isaiah Holtermann & Evan Hain, who return with varsity experience, and Sophomores Peter LaRock, Landen Gunderson & Jaxon Burgess, and 9th grader Nolan Steele should all compete from minutes from the youth. On defense, they return Senior Cooper Bebee and Juniors Braylon Fredrickson & Aidan Connelly, who are back with varsity experience to build around on the blueline. Sophomores Sawyer Young & Maxwell Hain should also step in to help with depth coming in from the youth program. They also expect Senior Jermiah Peterson Gordon to play again this year after missing last season. He was one of their top defenders as a 10th grader. In the net last year the Wildcats did struggle at times to find consistent goaltending as the year went along, however, they now hope that Junior Wes Wagner will grow from the experience he got, and now a year older, he will be more confident to add some stability there. Overall, there is a core of talent back, and if Dodge County can find the needed depth pieces and play better in their own end this year, they again could be a main contender in Section 1A this winter and continue to grow their program.

6- Winona Winhawks
Head Coach- Marty Raymond 4th year, (40-44-5)
Last Year's Record and Finish: (13-11-2) Lost in Section 1A Quarterfinals
Winhawks Outlook- Winona had a strong season last year as they were able to win 13 games and came up just short of reaching the Semifinals for the first time in many years when they nearly upset Lourdes in the 1A Quarterfinal. They were hit by graduation in the offseason, and they will have some big holes left as some significant scoring is gone, but they do return a nice core overall. At forward, the Winhawks return Senior Jacob Lange & Junior Kanden Grass, who both had good years offensively. They will look for Seniors Zach Wilken & Jack Jerowski and Juniors Blake Herber & Gavin Kammerer, and to build off their varsity experience from last year and they have incoming transfer Junior Brennen Hines coming in to help build some depth. They will also look for Sophomore Andrew Killian, who is coming up from the bantams, to step in and contribute immediately, along with a good incoming class from the youth program. On defense, Seniors Paxton Raymond & Myles Bruemmer return on the blueline with good experience to lead the backend unit, and Junior Gavin Charles & Sophomore Alex Suffrins are also back with varsity experience to build a strong D-core around. They will need a new goalie, but Senior Seth Watkins did get some experience last year, and they will look for him to grow off that. However, he will be pushed by Junior Kai Marsolek, from the JV, and Sophomore Caiden Lingen, who is coming up from the youth program. Overall, they will need their top end to be very good, but enough pieces are returning for the Winhawks to be the best of the rest in Section 1A as they look to build off their good season from last winter, and continue to grow their program down in the Southeastern corner of Minnesota.

7- La Crescent-Hokah Lancers
Head Coach- JP Piche 20th year, (187-260-13)
Last Year's Record and Finish: (9-14-0) Lost in Section 1A Quarterfinals
Lancers Outlook- La Crescent-Hokah is coming off a season that really saw them grow after an expected slow start to the year, and they ended up winning a playoff game and continued their improvement as a program as of late by season's end. Moving into this season, there appears to be some optimism as they have some nice talent returning and a veteran presence in net. They will have a new coach as long-time veteran bench boss JP Piche returns for his third stint to guide the program. On offense, they return some really nice pieces as they have their leading scorer back in Senior Cooper Hill, who, along with fellow Seniors Asher Voves, Cooper Johnston & Kole Trapp, all have varsity experience for depth. They will also look for Sophomores Archer Semling & Ben Schoepel to grow more a year older now as they build their forward depth. On defense, Seniors Ceegan Hollon, who they hope to have back midseason from an offseason injury, & Drew Peters, along with Sophomore Owen Webinger & 9th grader Turner Boettcher, are back with some good experience and can also play on the offensive end if needed. Also, look for transfer Junior Gavin Mueller coming in to contend for minutes. In the net, they return their goaltender, Senior Charlie Wieser, who was their two-year starter to give them plenty of experience there. The Lancers will look to build off last season's strong finish, and looking at the pieces they have coming back, it should be a strong year as they look to move back up the ladder in Section 1A.

8- Red Wing Wingers
Head Coach- Tony Casci 8th year, (36-130-72)
Last Year's Record and Finish: (2-22-2) Lost in Section 1A Play-In Game
Wingers Outlook- Red Wing was once considered a Class A blueblood program back in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, when they were a Tourney regular and made multiple Class A Title Games, and they also have the only Class A Title from the Southern Minnesota in Class A history, which they won in 1997. However, those glory days are long gone now, and this team has struggled to win games in recent years. Looking at this year, Red Wing should be improved as they do have a large chunk of their roster returning to try to work their way back up the standings within Section 1A. Up front, Seniors Mason Ganrud, Ethan Anderson & Grayson Redfield, and Junior Braden Lovett are back with offensive experience. They are also bringing in Sophomores Carter Sloan & Brody Peterson, who were high-scoring players in the youth program, to help a team that struggled to find offense most of the year last season, to hopefully have more improvement there. Defensively, they return Senior Marcus Finholdt and Junior Marshall Turner, who was their leading scorer, for experience on the blueline. In the net, they return Seniors Mason Chaska & Ben Flaaen, who both split the goaltending duties last season to give the Wingers some good experience there, and will hopefully give this team a chance to make improvements.

9- Faribault Falcons
Head Coach- Jake Dickison 2nd year, (5-19-1)
Last Year's Record and Finish: (5-19-1) Lost in Section 1A Play-In Game
Falcons Outlook- Faribault had another tough season last year and add to that they were then hit hard by graduation and a transfer this past offseason, as a sizable Senior class, especially on the blueline, left the program, and their second leading scorer transferred to a Section 1A rival, which leaves them in the inevitable position of what looks like on paper yet another rebuilding year for the Falcons. Up front, they do return their star in Senior Tommy Kunze, who will look to become their school's all-time leading scorer, which seems likely with how productive he has been in his career. They did get stung by the transfer of RJ Wasilowski, so they will need to try and find help for him because there is not much scoring depth back, and they will need to see growth of players like Seniors Henry Royle & Logan Vargo, and Juniors Riley Slinger & Brandon Boyd will need to improve on their production a year older. On defense, they return Senior Ajay Kieffer to the blueline with some varsity experience, but after that, it's a bunch of question marks on the back end as they lost the other main pieces of the defensive core to graduation. Add to that, they will need to find a new goalie in net as they lost their main starter to graduation. They will look for Sophomore Sebastian Timm & 9th grader CJ Callan from the youth program to contend for starter minutes. who is a sophomoreThose major questions make it look like this year will more than likely be a rebuilding project at Faribault again this winter.