Walker-Hackensack-Akeley hockey

[dueling21]

Anyone know anything about this program? I've been noticing their scores so far this season, and it isn't pretty:

L 17-1 to Park Rapids
L 10-1 to Northern Lakes
L 12-4 to Ely
L 15-2 to Detroit Lakes
L 18-0 to Mora
L 17-2 to Wadena-DC
L 16-2 to Wahpeton (ND)
L 13-0 to Greenway

[PowerForward25]

Anyone know anything about this program? I've been noticing their scores so far this season, and it isn't pretty:

L 17-1 to Park Rapids
L 10-1 to Northern Lakes
L 12-4 to Ely
L 15-2 to Detroit Lakes
L 18-0 to Mora
L 17-2 to Wadena-DC
L 16-2 to Wahpeton (ND)
L 13-0 to Greenway

Wow. Does their goalie get a hundred shots a game?

[starmvp]

I hope the kids are having fun, if not, what a bummer...

[Goldfishdude]

If they added Traders Bay to the team name, we could just say..

WHAT hockey team...

[#4]

I'm not definite but their program is in it's third year. Their arena is less than 3 years old and the youth hockey program isn't much older. They are trying to build from the ground up and it will be a while before their youth program feeds them any talent help at the high school level.

[east hockey]

In their first season (2007-08), they were 1-19, being outscored 113-29.

Last season they were 2-19 and outscored 178-40.

I'm hoping it's just a case of needing time to grow their youth program.

By the way, they have two 8th graders on their varsity team this season.

Lee

[starmvp]

In their first season (2007-08), they were 1-19, being outscored 113-29.

Last season they were 2-19 and outscored 178-40.

I'm hoping it's just a case of needing time to grow their youth program.

By the way, they have two 8th graders on their varsity team this season.

Lee

I'm surprised they don't have any 7th graders!

[Joey (nine toes) Marcoux]

They certainly have their work cut out for them.
On the plus side--nice uniforms
Best of luck

[Goldfishdude]

They certainly have their work cut out for them.
On the plus side--nice uniforms
Best of luck

Hey Nine Toes!!!!! You've just been added to my list of favorite user names on this forum...

[defense]

In their first season (2007-08), they were 1-19, being outscored 113-29.

Last season they were 2-19 and outscored 178-40.

I'm hoping it's just a case of needing time to grow their youth program.

By the way, they have two 8th graders on their varsity team this season.

Lee

I hope so too, never enough hockey teams, I think everyone should play hockey, win or not......time will tell.

[Goldfishdude]

In their first season (2007-08), they were 1-19, being outscored 113-29.

Last season they were 2-19 and outscored 178-40.

I'm hoping it's just a case of needing time to grow their youth program.

By the way, they have two 8th graders on their varsity team this season.

Lee

I hope so too, never enough hockey teams, I think everyone should play hockey, win or not......time will tell.

You are absolutely correct. It's about the honor and privilege of playing HS hockey.. it's about being part of a team. Yeah, everyone wishes they could win, but these guys have to be extremely proud and keep their heads up, and just enjoy the experience.

After all.... it can't get much worse, and you have got to believe the kids are playing with as much heart as they can.

If it weren't for Dueling starting the thread, some of us probably never would have know they existed, and now, they just got one more fan out of this!!

[nickmon3]

not good at all

[dueling21]

Here's a photo from their website:

[dueling21]

and the Breakdown write up on the program (since I did it, I figure I can post it without copyright issues, eh?)

Walker-Hackensack-Akeley
Nickname: Wolves
Conference: Mid-State
Section: 8A
2009 Records: 0-7-0, 2-19-0
State trips: none
Coach: Ben Brovold
Phone: 218-556-6686
Email: bbrovold@amfam.com
Assistants: Carter Tyk, Adam McArthur
Letter winners returning/lost: na/8

Returning skaters
Name Pos Gr G-A-Pts
Benson Ringle F 10 1-4-5
Zack Strandlie F 10 1-2-3
Keaton Pederson F 12 0-2-2
Jarid Paulson F 10 1-0-1
Darrin Karnitz G 12 1-0-1
Cole Garoutte D 10 0-1-1
Cullen Navratil F 10 0-1-1
Cody Bixby F 12 0-1-1

Returning goalies
Name Gr Rec GAA SV%
Micah Bank 11 1-15-0 8.26 0.787
Evan Wilson 10 1-3-0 7.27 0.783

Team summary

The hockey program at Walker-Hackensack-Akeley is a young one without much varsity success to this point. Perhaps its only fitting that the Wolves’ team this winter mirrors it so closely. The Wolves lost eight seniors to graduation, including the top five scorers from a year ago and nearly all of their defensive corps. Gone are forwards Jake Karst (13-3-16), Daniel Nelson (5-7-12) and Channing Alto (5-5-10) along with defensemen T.J. Knowles (4-6-10) and Taylor Knight (3-2-5), who is running track at MSU-Moorhead this year.

“We will be inexperienced,” said coach Ben Brovold, who has three victories on his resume in three varsity seasons with the Wolves.

Sophomores Cole Garoutte, Cullen Navratil and Benson Ringle will likely play key roles for the Wolves.

The only place in which Walker-Hackensack-Akeley has much returning depth is in nets, where junior Micah Bank (1-15-0, 8.26) and sophomore Evan Wilson (1-3-0, 7.27) split time last season. Brovold expects significant improvement from both this winter, as they’ll be leaned on heavily.

Did you know? Jake Karst (2009) holds numerous school records for scoring, including single-season goals (13) and points (17) and career goals (20) and points (30). Daniel Nelson (2009) holds assists records for both a season (7) and career (11).

Last season: Lost to No. 7 Park Rapids Area in the Section 8A first round, 8-2.

[dueling21]

They see about 55 shots a game against. Two guys have 10 of their 12 goals on the season.

[BodyShots]

You got to love a team picture with the refs included. I'm guessing the refs are parents of a couple of the players.

[starmvp]

You got to love a team picture with the refs included. I'm guessing the refs are parents of a couple of the players.

[Goldfishdude]

here are a couple more links..

http://www.leechlakehockey.com

http://www.walkerareacommunitycenter.com

Being the putz I am, I sent an email to the coach yesterday:

Your program was recently brought up on a HS Hockey discussion forum web
site, and I have never heard of your team.

It was mentioned you are a fairly new program to HS hockey, and although
the results you have had so far aren't the best, just know that coming
from one of the state's proudest history for HS Hockey like I do in WBL,
you have gained one more fan. ME.

Just let your boys know that there are some of us adults in the Twin
Cities that are pulling for them, and we hope they cherish the teamwork
and the time spent together, to keep working hard, be positive about the
efforts they put in, and know that we are proud of them.

Good luck, Coach.

He replied back to me, with the links above, and told me to "stay off my side..... support coming from you in WBL doesn't mean a hill of beans....we only want support from the beans of HILL! They're WINNERS!"

Dang!! We can never escape the wrath of Hill-Murray!!

Seriously, he thanked me, and told me there are about 80 kids in the program. This is the third year of HS and 16th as an association.

He told me he was going to read my letter of well wishes to the team tonite.

[WB6162]

here are a couple more links..

http://www.leechlakehockey.com

http://www.walkerareacommunitycenter.com

Being the putz I am, I sent an email to the coach yesterday:

Your program was recently brought up on a HS Hockey discussion forum web
site, and I have never heard of your team.

It was mentioned you are a fairly new program to HS hockey, and although
the results you have had so far aren't the best, just know that coming
from one of the state's proudest history for HS Hockey like I do in WBL,
you have gained one more fan. ME.

Just let your boys know that there are some of us adults in the Twin
Cities that are pulling for them, and we hope they cherish the teamwork
and the time spent together, to keep working hard, be positive about the
efforts they put in, and know that we are proud of them.

Good luck, Coach.

He replied back to me, with the links above, and told me to "stay off my side..... support coming from you in WBL doesn't mean a hill of beans....we only want support from the beans of HILL! They're WINNERS!"

Dang!! We can never escape the wrath of Hill-Murray!!

Seriously, he thanked me, and told me there are about 80 kids in the program. This is the third year of HS and 16th as an association.

He told me he was going to read my letter of well wishes to the team tonite.

Nice!

[Goldfishdude]

I also just noticed their team name - Wolves.....

Maybe they should change it, because last time I checked, HS Hockey doesn't have a bin filled with ping pong balls and Lottery Picks...

[WB6162]

I also just noticed their team name - Wolves.....

Maybe they should change it, because last time I checked, HS Hockey doesn't have a bin filled with ping pong balls and Lottery Picks...

LMAO

[HShockeywatcher]

New programs are great for the sport and the high school atmosphere. Ten years from now there may be 10 more high school teams in the state and this team may hopefully be able to split into 2 or 3.

[mn miracle man]

They started out with only "B" squads 5-7 years ago as far as I can remember, seeing their name pop up on tourney brackets around the north every once in a while. Although it is nice to a community attempting to become a part of the great minnesota high school hockey tradition, they are taking quite a hit in doing so. Does anybody know if their youth teams are making improvements or are at least competitive? Somehow losing 15-0 to teams like Red Lake Falls (not exactly a hockey powerhouse) and 16-2 to Wahpeton ND dont come across as improving to me. Again, I am not trying to knock them, but I just hope they are showing progress in the feeder programs or it could end up being chalked up as a failed attempt.

[Pioneerprideguy]

I'm kinda surpised Trebil hasn't scheduled a game with them yet.

[defense]

They started out with only "B" squads 5-7 years ago as far as I can remember, seeing their name pop up on tourney brackets around the north every once in a while. Although it is nice to a community attempting to become a part of the great minnesota high school hockey tradition, they are taking quite a hit in doing so. Does anybody know if their youth teams are making improvements or are at least competitive? Somehow losing 15-0 to teams like Red Lake Falls (not exactly a hockey powerhouse) and 16-2 to Wahpeton ND dont come across as improving to me. Again, I am not trying to knock them, but I just hope they are showing progress in the feeder programs or it could end up being chalked up as a failed attempt.

I think in this particulay situation it is probably more about trying to give the local youths something to do..something to be a part of. I give them two thumbs up and if they are able to sustain a hockey program of any sort, it is likely a success.