2 weeks Ago By Jason Feldman
Head coach : John Gamble Assistants : Rachel Leger (Austin, Augsburg); Barret Boyer (Dodge County, Hamline); Jeff Phillips; Nicki deVara. ADVERTISEMENT Last season : 8-17-0 overall, 4-9-0 Big Nine Conference. Lost to Lakeville South in Section 1-2A quarterfinals.
Top returners : Jr. G Isabella Scranton (8-17-0, 5.11 GAA, .
863 save pct., 1 shutout); Sr. D Paige Groslie (5-9–14); So.
D Paige Conners; Sr. F Daelyn Williams (13-12–25); Sr. F Megan Gamble (17-14–31); Sr.
F Caydence Hanson (6-5–11); Jr. F Kate Garren (0-2–2); Fr. F Claire Groslie; So.
F Katie Nelson (11-12–23). 2024-25 Outlook : The Panthers return a good mix of scoring and shut-down ability on the back end. Their all-senior forward line of Gamble, Williams and Hanson combined for 67 points a year ago.
Coach Gamble said junior Kate Garren and freshman Claire Groslie put in work over the summer and should see increased roles up front. Sophomore Katie Nelson also returns after a double-digit goals (11) and assists (12) freshman season. New forwards Kennedy Stewart and Bristol DeWeese are also expected to contribute.
The Panthers have solid depth on defense, with Paige Groslie, Paige Conners, Quinn Stewart, Tegan Carroll and Isabella Bazzel-Sandberg all expected to play key roles. The trio of newcomers — Stewart, Carroll and Bazzel-Sandberg — should fit right in and contribute on both ends. Isabella Scranton returns in goal after playing every minute for the Panthers last year, going 8-17-0 with an .
863 save percentage. Head coach : Marcel Black Assistants : Brandon Weick, Brad Berge, Gavin Black, Ali Ratzloff. Last season : 10-12-2 overall, 7-7-1 Big Nine Conference.
Lost to Farmington 3-0 in Section 1-2A quarterfinals. ADVERTISEMENT Top returners : Sr. G Grace Kober (9-10-2, 2.
58 GAA, .915 save percentage, 6 shutouts); Sr. D Natalie Campbell (5-6–11); Jr.
D Milania Black (1-4–5); Sr. D Leksi Doyle; Fr. D Maddy Desjardins (5-0–5); Sr.
F Sophia Sather (5-5–10); Sr. F Katie Cummings (5-4–9); So. F Olivia Dahl (6-5–11).
2024-25 Outlook : Mayo has a slim roster this winter, with 13 skaters and three goalies. Its success will likely start in goal with Kober, the now-senior who is in her fifth season on the varsity. She was outstanding a year ago, going 9-10-0 with a 2.
58 goals-against and a .915 save percentage, to go along with 6 shutouts. “Having Grace back is a huge win,” coach Black said.
“She’s got a ton of talent and moves like she owns the net. Honestly, watching her in the scrimmages over the summer and in Minneapolis last weekend, it’s clear she’s even better than last year. We’re counting on her to be a wall in games, but even more, her experience will be a game-changer for our two rookie goalies, Amelia Ranfranz and Haley Roth.
We are looking to her to help bring them up in a big way.” On defense, Mayo will rely heavily on four returners — senior Natalie Campbell and Leksi Doyle, junior Melania Black and freshman Maddy Desjardins. Campbell is one of Mayo’s top two returning scorers, while Desjardins scored five goals last year as an eighth-grader and Black had five points.
“With a tight roster this year (13 skaters and three goalies), we’re only running four defenders, so we need every one of them to be on point,” coach Black said. “Our captains, Natalie Campbell and Milania Black, are aggressive, read the ice really well, and can jump up into the play when we need it. Leski Doyle and Maddy Desjardins are smart, coachable, and reliable players who we’ll be leaning on to make solid plays all over the ice.
” Up front, the Spartans are led by senior veterans Sophia Sather and Katie Cummings, along with sophomore Olivia Dahl. That trio combined for 30 points last season. “We’ve got a lot of talent up front, including some promising new faces, but I expect our senior captains, Sophia Sather and Katie Cummings, along with second-year Olivia Dahl, to be our mainstays,” coach Black said.
“Sather’s a natural playmaker with a great shot. Cummings is the kind of two-way player you want—she never quits and battles every second she’s on the ice. Dahl may be one of our smaller players, but she plays like she’s six feet tall.
She’s a grinder with serious skill and is always fun to watch.” ADVERTISEMENT Newcomers Sophie Regan, Marley Smith and Brooklyn Rippentrop are also expected to step into key roles. Another highly anticipated newcomer, Taylor Kurtz, suffered an injury during soccer season.
Head coach : Jeremy Gunderson Assistants : Dana Rasmussen, Molly Shelton, Hollywood Hermanson, Joe Wieners, Chris Anderson, Josh Harens, Dustin Stevens. Last season : 23-5-0 overall, Section 1-1A champions, Class 1A state runners-up. Top returners : Sr.
G Ida Huber (22-5-0, 1.44 GAA, .906 save pct.
, 10 shutouts); Sr. F Nora Carstensen (35-23–58); So. F Maysie Koch (25-25–50); Sr.
F Mollie Koch (16-22–38); Jr. F Zoe Heimer (10-22–32); Sr. F Hannah Peterson (13-9–22); Jr.
D Kylie Meyer (3-15–18); Jr. D Alexa Van Straaten (7-11–18). 2024-25 Outlook : After getting a taste of the state tournament last winter for the first time in program history — and reaching the Class 1A state championship game — the Wildcats are focused on returning to the Xcel Energy Center in late February.
ADVERTISEMENT They’ll have a talented senior class leading the way in that quest, starting with goalie Ida Huber, who is in her fifth season as a varsity starter. The Division I Long Island University commit has 23 career shutouts, including 10 last season. On defense, the Wildcats are paced by a pair of returning juniors, Kylie Meyer and Alexa Van Straaten, who are strong two-way players.
Senior Claire Dixon joins the defensive corps as a transfer from Owatonna; she’ll step right into a top-4 role and fit in as another 200-foot defender. Sophomores Aydn Spreiter, Sophia Buesking and Natalie Gibbs, freshman Josie Fulton and seventh-grader Maisy Fulton are also in the mix for time on the blue line. Up front, Dodge County is led by one of the best forward lines in the state — senior Nora Carstensen skating with sisters Mollie Koch (senior) and Maysie Koch (freshman).
That trio combined for 76 goals and 146 points a year ago. Zoe Heimer (10-22–32) and Hannah Peterson (Hamline commit; 13-9–22) are among a good number of talented forwards returning. Forwards Maren Hodgman and Grace Roethler played extensive JV minutes last year and are looking to step into varsity roles this winter.
Coach Gunderson says : “I think our top line will be even stronger as they all have another year of big game experience and they all got bigger, stronger and faster. Now they have also played the best of the best this offseason as well, they have a lot of confidence. .
.. It has been the norm as a majority of our starting goalies over the history of the program have started four-plus years.
Having Ida this year will be a great advantage as we can take some extra risks knowing we have her back there and we have confidence she can make some big saves.”.
