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Pre-Season No 1's Expect Big Seasons

By Michael Trzinski, 11/20/12, 12:15PM CST

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Notre Dame Academy and Onalaska lead the charge into the season's first rankings.


Boys: Notre Dame (27-3 last year)

The defending state champs lost five seniors, plus goalie Chris Nell to the USHL Chicago Steel, but were given the nod as the pre-season favorites in the Wisconsin Prep Hockey Top Ten poll.

Although the Tritons lost defenseman Tim Davison and forward Austin Vieth to graduation, they return a very talented team this season. NDA returns four twenty-goal scorers, including junior Brett Gruber (32g-30a) and seniors Jason Reynolds (21g-21a), Riley Christensen (25g-20a), and Steven Phillips (21g-17a). For good measure, toss in junior Mason Appleton (12g-35a) and senior Will Pavek (9g-8a) and you have a team that can almost score at will.

The defense is very experienced and includes seniors Cole Reince (3g-3a), Will Woodward (1g-9a), and Grant Kluesner (1g-14a). Junior Luke Davison (6g-7a) is a star player in his own right and will not have to play in the shadow of older brother Tim this season.

With the loss of Nell to the USHL, NDA coach Cory McCracken will look at juniors Eli Hicks (1.90 GAA, .805 sv% in 215 minutes) and Aaron Campbell. Freshman Zach Krysiak might get a look as well.

The only question mark will be in net, but if Hicks or Campbell settles in and plays well, NDA could be looking at a repeat of last year’s state title.

Girls: Onalaska (26-3 last year)

If not for the four-overtime semifinal game at state last March, the Hilltoppers might have been in a better position to win its first state crown. As such, they ran out of gas in the championship game, losing 6-2 to the Central Wisconsin Storm.

This season, the Hilltoppers sit atop the Top Ten as pre-season favorites on the girls’ side. The team lost only three seniors (Melinda Kunes, Ellie Meyer, and Jayda Hoerres) and returns tons of firepower.

State leading scorer Theresa Knutson (71g-34a) comes back for her junior year. Senior Baylee Darling (20g-32a) is a good playmaker, while sophomore Jacyn (pronounced ‘Jason’) Reeves (30g-7a) is a quick skater and is a sniper. Other top forwards include junior Jamie Weilandt (19g-19a) and sophomore Lucy Anderholm (9g-7a).

Other than senior Molly Coughlin (0g-7a), the ‘Toppers will be young on defense. Sophomores Kianna Kalmes (1g-6a), Kelsey Seiler (0g-3a), and Abbey Hoins (0g-2a) will see plenty of ice time.

Junior Jeanalyn Schindler (2.25 GAA, .885 sv%) returns as the starter in the crease for second-year coach Eric Bugenhagen.

Ona, much like number one counterpart Notre Dame on the boys’ side, will score at will. The defensive zone prowess will tell how far the Hilltoppers go this season.