Joe Drennan
Sports EditorWhen 14 seniors graduate, the following season will inevitably be considered a rebuilding year. After graduating 14 seniors, the Forest Lake boys hockey coach Carl Brandt is not worried.
Brandt says the programís strong junior varsity team is doing itís job in preparing players for the varsity team.
ìI think the good news is that without a strong JV program it would be a problem,î Brandt said about losing 14 players. ìBut we have had four winning seasons from the JV program. As long as we have a solid JV program with experience, the kids should make that adjustment to the varsity level.î
Some of those players making the jump to the varsity level are Robbie McCollum, Kyle Blumm, and Mike and Matt Butchko.
Other contributing players will be seniors Matt Fredrickson, Kayle Lewellen, Joe Lindeberg, Tyler Rife, Dan Guenther, John Miller and the only returing senior defenseman, Don Mastel.
Senior Dustin Carlson will be backstopping the Rangers this season, with junior Brandon Neujahr as his backup.
ìWe lost our best goalie ever in Brett Sawyer to graduation, but Dustin has always been the best goalie too,î Brandt said. ìOur strength will be from the goal line out.î
Assistant coach Jack Loughrey agrees with Brandt, saying he is waiting to see what player emerges as the one who puts the puck in the back of the net. Loughrey thinks maybe Matt Butchko, Christian Fogerty, or Joe Lindberg can be that player.
The captains of this seasonís team are Guenther, Carlson, and Rife.
Opponents
Brandt is confident in his team, saying they should finish as one of the top four teams in the Suburban East Conference. The Rangers were ranked fourth at last seasonís year end coaches poll as well.
With the combination of good goaltending and hard work from the junior and senior forwards and defenseman, Brandt is expecting his team to do well, especially on the powerplay and penalty kill.
Teams like Hastings, Roseville and Stillwater will give the Rangers a good idea of how they will play come sectional playoffs.
Looking at sectional play, Brandt expects his team to battle for the 7AA championship. This is not an easy task as the Rangers will be competing against perennial power house Duluth East, Cloquet, and Grand Rapids.
ìWeíll have some brometers of our ability to compete,î Brandt said. ìEvery game of ours is against a AA school, but half our section opponents play A schools most of the season.î
Early season
The Rangers opened up their season at home when they played host to Irondale.
Irondale struck first, but the Rangers wasted no time tying the game up less than a minute later. The Rangers goal came at 8:50 of the first period and was scored by John Miller, and assisted by Blake Woodward.
Patrick Fogerty gave the Rangers the lead late in the second period when he scored on a slap shot. Robbie McCollum assisted Fogertyís goal. Kyle Lewellen gave the Rangers an insurance goal 13:01 into the third period, and it was needed as Irondale scored a goal three minutes later.
Dustin Carlson helped protect the Rangers lead, stopping 35 of the 37 Irondale shots. The Rangers were outshot 37-29 in their 3-2 victory.
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