2025-26 Section 3A

[ClassAGuy]

2025-26 Section 3A Preseason Preview

Section 3A, for the first time in over a decade, saw the #1 seed get through the sectional as Luverne was able to put the prior season’s upset to bed, and though it wasn't easy, they found a way to get through Gustavus as Section Champs for the 2nd time in the last 3 years. Now they enter as the favorite to return to State, but Mankato West returns a roster loaded with experience, and they will want to avenge last year’s double overtime heartbreaking Section Final loss. Also, you can never count out traditionally 3A power New Ulm, who will return a nice young core of scoring, looking to get back to State after missing out last year. Add in that both Mankato East & Minnesota River are bringing back good talent and should be strong contenders as well this year, and this looks like it should be a fun section race down in Southwest Minnesota. And as we know in Section 3A, it’s always a wild ride, and we should prepare to be shocked by who wins to take home the 3A title this winter.

BHS 2025-26 Section 3A Preseason Ranking
1- Luverne Cardinals
2- Mankato West Scarlets
3- New Ulm Eagles
4- Mankato East Cougars
5- Minnesota River Bulldogs
6- Marshall Tigers
7- Windom Eagles
8- Fairmont Cardinals
9- Worthington Trojans
10- Redwood Valley Cardinals

1- Luverne Cardinals
Head Coach: Tony Sandbulte, 7th year, (105-42-7)
Last Year’s Record and Finish: (22-6-2) Section 3A Champion and Class A State Participant
Cardinals Outlook- Luverne had a great season last winter as they were able to avenge their playoff upset from the year prior and return to the State for the second time in three years. Now this year’s version of Roll Cards Roll will look to make consecutive state tourney berths for the first time in their program's history and for the first time in Section 3A in over a decade. Luverne is returning loads of its top-end talent and, on paper, appears to be the favorite in 3A this winter. On offense, they return their top line of Seniors Landyn Lais, Maddux Domagala & Blake Sauer, who put up massive numbers last year. They also return Juniors Will Bergman & Colton Haubrich, who both have varsity experience to add depth, and look for Junior Ricky Rogers, a Warroad Transfer who can also play defense if needed, and Sophomore Malachi Domagala, from the youth program, to make big contributions. On the backend, they return Senior Jaxon Lais & Junior Ben Hartquist, who are the top two defenseman in Southwest Minnesota, and look for Juniors Maddox Miller & Trenton Lass, who return with some experience, and Sophomore Ian Thorson from the youth to add to the depth on the blueline this winter. The Cardinals also return senior goaltender Senior Gavin Hoven, who was the main guy last year as he played nearly every minute and has tons of experience and poise. Add to that, Coach Sandbulte will be looking to lead his alma mater back to the State Tournament yet again as he led the girls program to 5 straight tourneys before taking the boys to state in his 1st year behind the bench with them in over a decade last year, and there is a lot to like about this year’s version of Luverne. Looking at all the talent and experience they return, this should be a very good team, and they should have a good chance to return to State for the 5th time in their program’s history.

2- Mankato West Scarlets
Head Coach- Nate Olsen 5th year, (37-64-7)
Last Year's Record and Finish: (13-13-2) Lost in Section 3A Championship
Scarlets Outlook- Mankato West looks to be entering a very good era of Scarlet Hockey as they should build off of last year's .500 season that saw them come up just short of state, and they should be a main contender within Section 3A this winter with all the talent they return. They will return experience and depth in phases of their lineup. At forward, they should be deep as they return 7 of their top 9 forwards led by Juniors Jakobe Tosch, Brodie Cox & Keaton Dorzek. Add in Seniors Isaac Ulman & Brayden Keech, and Juniors Rickey Enter & Weston Grassmann, who all have good varsity experience, for this to be a dangerous team on offense. Also look for Sophomores Dane Hatlestad, Cambell Barrett & Kipton Keech from the youth program to add to the offense. On defense, they have good experience back, as well as Senior Jaden Reddy, along with Juniors Grady Schmidt, Hudson Clarksean, Blake Rewitzer & Carson Brelje, all return with varsity experience and look for 9th grader Brooks Baukol to step in as well to allow them to have a good defensive unit to be strong in their own end. The reason to really like this team as a state contender, though, is that they have the best goaltender in Section 3A in net. Senior Mason Schreiber returns for his 4th year of varsity hockey, and he has shown that he can lead this team to a Section 3A Championship Game. They also have Sophomore Blake Brekke, who is a young stud in net, coming in. The Scarlets, looking at their large number of returners who have experience and are a year older now, and bigger and stronger, giving this team the belief they are in for a big year and ready to win Section 3A to crash through to State for the first time in a decade.

3- New Ulm Eagles
Head Coach: Ryan Neuman, 11th year, (171-87-9)
Last Year’s Record and Finish: (12-13-2) Lost in Section 3A Semifinals
Eagles Outlook- New Ulm had a .500 season last year that saw them struggle more than normal in the regular season, but some of that had to do with a good effort by the Eagles to boost their schedule strength to be more ready for a postseason run. Ultimately, they failed to reach the Section 3A Final for the first time in three years, and they graduated a big chunk of depth and scoring. Add to that, the other two 3A favorites are returning most of their roster above them, and this season could be a challenging one. However, with all that said, they still return some good pieces both up front and on the blueline, and if they can find goaltending, New Ulm should be a strong contender to win Section 3A as normal. Up front, they return Senior Brody Nordby and Juniors Carson Uecker & Hunter Larson, who were their top three scorers from last season, and look for Senior Melvin Sellner, Sophomore Carsten Haala & 9th grader Jaxon Saenz to be the new pieces to build offensive depth around as they lost most of their depth to graduation. On defense, they should be strong as they bring back Senior Kayden Klein and Juniors Mason Buegler & Josh Forstner, and Sophomore Trevan Thordson, all of whom have good experience, and they learned on the fly last year, and they should be a strong point looking at this year’s team. Also, look for 9th grader Robert Rewitzer to contend for minutes to add to the depth. They will need that strength in defense, as in net, they have no one returning with varsity experience, so they will be breaking in a brand new goalie. However, New Ulm is always a contender when it comes to Section 3A, and with the scoring they bring back and the pieces that they return on the blueline, they should again be right there in the end, fighting for a chance to win Section 3A as normal.

4- Mankato East Cougars
Head Coach- Adam Fries 13th year, (162-147-12)
Last Year's Record and Finish: (10-17-0) Lost in Section 3A Semifinals
Cougars Outlook- Mankato East is coming into this season looking to get back to their normal standards when they were a Tourney regular only a few short years ago. In their first year in Section 3A, they did what many assumed would be a trend when they easily cruised to State by playing a tougher schedule than most in 3A to be more prepared to get to St Paul. However, that formula has not worked as well of late, as for the last three years they have struggled with consistency during the season, and they have not been able to get past the 3A Semifinals. This will be an interesting team to watch play this winter as they return a good chunk of scoring, and they are bringing in a nice sophomore class that should allow them to build a contender. At forward, they return Seniors Luke Lebens & Eddie Engenall and Juniors Indy Ragan & Braydon Arnoldy, who were 4 of the team's top 6 scorers last year. They will also return Junior Zach Lang from injury, and Junior Jack Fuggazzi, who has varsity experience, for depth. They are also bringing up from the youth, Sophomore Parker Altmann from the A Bantams team, to contend for minutes. On defense, they return Junior Ryan Kim, and they have Sophomores Peyton Frauendienst, Peyton Wendinger & Mason Burgess, who look ready to step in from the youth and play to build a solid defensive core around. In net will be the question mark as they don't return anyone with experience, so the Cougars will need to find an answer there, which will go a long way in determining their success. If they can find a goalie, Mankato East looks to have a deep lineup, and they should be considered as a main contender to win Section 3A and get back to State this winter.

5- Minnesota River Bulldogs
Head Coach- Chris Miller 5th year, (42-60-2)
Last Year's Record and Finish: (11-14-1) Lost in Section 3A Quarterfinals
Bulldogs Outlook- Minnesota River should be a team to watch in Section 3A, as they were able to play a young lineup last year and won 11 games, and really got better as the season went along. They return a good chunk of top-end scoring up front, and they have almost their entire blueline back as well as three goalies who all have Varsity experience to make this a team to watch as the year progresses in 3A, as they could be the darkhorse team to contend and possibly surprise everyone and win the Section. Up front, they did lose Ryker Rehm to transfer to Shattuck, which hurts. However, they return Senior Riley Kamm & Junior Max Hollerich, both after having double-digit goals last winter. Scoring depth will look to come from Seniors Eian O'Keefe & Jack Miller, and Juniors Ben Smykalski, Aiden Domras & Ethan Moreau, who all got some varsity experience last year and should only be better, being more experienced and stronger. Also, add to them Sophomores Brek Wachal & Cole Haggenmiller, who will be contending for minutes as well. On defense, Senior Levi Wachal and Juniors Nathan Tews, Corbin Guggisberg & Tyson Fredrickson are all back to give the Bulldogs an excellent core of returners on the blueline for them to build around. Experience is back in net as well as three players return with game actions, but between Senior Anders LeDell and Juniors Connor Messer & Tiago Hettig, they will be looking for someone to hopefully grab the starter job more consistently this winter. Overall, this Bulldogs crew is one to keep an eye on as this team could develop into a contender as the year goes along and maybe win Section 3A.

6- Marshall Tigers
Head Coach- Michael Weiss 13th year, (176-128-6)
Last Year's Record and Finish: (11-15-0) Lost in Section 3A Quarterfinals
Tigers Outlook- Marshall had a tough season last year as they were unable to finish above .500, and they just never were really able to win any of those big games to allow them to contend for a 3A top seed, but they did finish the year playing well and were close to yet another playoff upset that they are known to pull off. This season, though, will be challenging early on as they were hit hard by graduation, but they do bring back some decent pieces, and they are always well coached, and they will look to be playing their best hockey come playoff time, as always. Offensively, Seniors Carson Kopitski & Blake Grimsley and Junior Jacob Allen all return with double-digit points from last year for them to build their new core around. For scoring depth, look for Seniors Riley Pfannschmidt, Koda Peterson & Henry Horvath, who all have some varsity experience and Junior Easton Greenwood, who missed much of the season last year due to injury, to contribute even more this year, and look for Sophomores Easton Jiskoot, Brendan Price & Bryce Becker from the youth to contend for minutes. Defensively, Senior Nate Drown & Junior Tate Mellenthin return as the main pieces from the blueline last year, and they will look to them to help lead the way on the backend, and Sophomore Dylan Steilen, coming from the bantams, should contend for minutes. In net, they do return Senior McCoy Guenther, who got action last year, to be contending for the main starting role this season. There is more than enough here to make Marshall a contender again by season's end in 3A, and as we have learned, you can never really count the Tigers out in this section.

7- Windom Eagles
Head Coach- Travis Janssen 7th year, (56-90-3)
Last Year's Record and Finish: (6-19-1) Lost in Section 3A Play In Round
Eagles Outlook- Windom has been going through a few rebuilding years after reaching the first Semifinal in program history just a few short years ago. They will look to make some improvements this season after last year's tough six-win campaign, and looking at what they bring back and some of the talent they are bringing up, they should be improved. Up front, they have some good points back as Sophomore Jonah Lohse & Senior Andrei Rivera are back after having double-digit point seasons, and they have Senior Weston Murray back, along with Juniors Jessy Gentry & Isaiah Adams back, who both seem poised for big things after a good 10th-grade campaigns. Also look for 9th graders Daniel Staples, who has varsity experience, and Nash Dietz, Cormac Raderstorf & Mason Buckentin, from the youth, to provide scoring depth as well. On defense, they return Senior Jackson Veenker, Juniors Ayden Endreson & Gavin McNamara with varsity experience on the blueline, and 9th graders Wyatt Soderholm & Carson Low should contend for minutes from the Bantams. In net, they return a good young goaltender as 9th grader Kole Espenson returns after being in the starting role as a middle schooler last winter, and he should be only better this year with experience, which will be critical as this will be a very young team hoping to develop as the year goes on.

8- Fairmont Cardinals
Head Coach- Paul Carlson & Scott Nuss 1st year, (0-0-0)
Last Year's Record and Finish: (2-24-0) Lost in Section 3A Quarterfinals
Cardinals Outlook- Fairmont is hoping their upset victory in the Play-in Round of last year’s playoffs can be used as some positive momentum heading into this year. After winning just one game during the regular season, they were able to, for the second straight year, upset Worthington in the Playoffs to advance as a 10 seed, but were then eliminated. Now, looking at what the Cardinals bring back, they should be an improved team this winter. At forward, they return their top three scorers in Seniors Klay Beemer& Gavin Kester and Junior Preston Cepress, who all had double-digit points last winter, and look for Sophomore Preston Geerdes from the youth to contribute immediately for them to build their offense around. On defense, Seniors Macklain Anderson & Axel Chapman and Juniors Noah Meixell & Caleb Meyer are back with experience, and Sophomore Tyler Pankow should contend for minutes for them to build a defensive unit around. In net, they do return Senior Brandon Hector & Junior Kaden Olson, who split the net last year, and they will look to use that experience this winter. On paper, Fairmont looks to be an improved team that should be able to win some more games and make progress as a program.

9- Worthington Trojans
Head Coach- Tyler Nienkerk 8th year, (31-117-0)
Last Year's Record and Finish: (7-19-0) Lost in Section 3A Play In Round
Trojans Outlook- Worthington is coming off another season where they won 7 games and showed improvement throughout the winter to earn a home playoff game. However, they were again upset in the 3A Playoffs Play-In Round, leaving them with a bitter taste in their mouth heading into the offseason. Things look a little uncertain on paper this year for the Trojans as they will need some new faces to step in. Up front, they return one of their leading scorers in Junior Dominic Pavelko, who had double-digit goals last season, and they will add to him Seniors Lucas Hohenstein & Ryker Thier, and Junior Kain Thepmontry, who return with experience. Also, Sophomore Aaden Wagner coming up from the youth should help add to the offensive depth. Defensively, there are lots of question marks as the Trojans graduated the majority of their blueline in the offseason, but look for Senior Tristan Henderson & Junior Tayis Lien-Onsy, who have some varsity experience, and Sophomores Dayden Duangapai & Hunter Heitkamp coming into the program to be part of the new defensive core. However, they do return plenty of experience in net as Senior Brody Pederson & Junior Tyson Petersen return as they shared the role of starter last year, and that stability should help Worthington break in a younger team as they look for success this winter and continue to improve as a program.

10- Redwood Valley Cardinals
Head Coach- Bailey Sommers 1st year, (0-0-0)
Last Year's Record and Finish: (6-20-0) Lost in Section 3A Quarterfinals
Cardinals Outlook- Redwood Valley has had a very tough stretch in recent years, but last year winning 6 games was a success for them as they were able to also win a playoff game to get some needed positive vibes going into the offseason. The Cardinals did, though, graduate a big chunk of scoring from that team, and they will need some younger players to step up this year. They also have a new coach as alumni Bailey Sommers returns home to take over the program. At forward, Senior Erik Rasmussen & Junior Landon Stoneberg return as the team's main scorers on the offensive end, and they will look for them to be more productive a year older. They will also look for Senior Elliot Lang and Juniors Blaine Jacobson, Braylon Bedner, Josh Gunderson, Knox Kramer & Peter Fox, who all have varsity experience to provide depth. Also, look for Junior Sam Klabunde, who missed last year, and Sophomore Aric Ewald, from the youth program, to help provide some offensive help as well. On defense, Seniors Owen Linsmeier & Nick Cotner are back with experience to build the blueline around. The Cardinals will also return Junior Jacob O'Halloran in net, and he took plenty of shots over the last two winters and should only be stronger this winter as Redwood Valley will look to continue to show steady improvement this year again and move up the 3A ladder.