LSC Conference Jamboree

Howie Hasnon- Howies Blog

The annual Lake Superior Conference Jamboree gives coaches, players and high school boy’s hockey fans a preseason sneak-peek of what to expect from their favorite teams and their future opponents each November, in a dizzying, non-stop, 20-minute running-time format with each team meeting two opponents in pool play.

Based on their conference finish last season, Cloquet-Esko-Carlton, Proctor, North Shore and Ashland met in an early-session poll, with the Lumberjacks competing with mostly varsity third- and fourth-line players, bottom eight defensemen and backup goaltenders.

Hermantown, Minnesota’s second-ranked team in Class 1A, and powerhouse programs Duluth Marshall, Duluth Denfeld and Superior battled in the evening pool.

And, as expected, Hermantown was impressive. The Hawks roll three equally-strong forward lines and feature elite junior defenseman Wyatt Aamodt.

Duluth Denfeld and Superior also impressed with good depth, good size and feisty, physical play. The Hunters showed they shouldn’t be overlooked in the Section 7A playoffs, after nipping the Hawks 2-0 in the Jamboree final. Superior looked like a Wisconsin state tournament-bound team.

Here’s one person’s scouting report on the eight-team LSC:

Hermantown — This is Hermantown’s best-ever group of forwards, in Coach Bruce Plante’s career. UMDHockey.com Prep Boy’s Hockey Preseason Player-of-the-Year Nate Pionk, a senior, leads a talented forward corp that also features seniors Ryan Kero, Parker Hawk, Kyle Amundson, Henry Curtis and Jared Zeleznikar, and juniors Brenden Baker, James Lindberg and Cole Koepke. Ryan Sandelin, Ethan Palusky, Matt Valure, Jesse Jacques and Logan Judnick lead an impressive group of sophomore forwards. Other top defensemen are seniors Tanner Kimball and Sam Gibson, juniors Peter Grytdahl and Eric Gotz and sophomore Dylan Samberg. Juniors Luke Olson and Peter Rutka and sophomore Cade McEwen are all solid goaltenders who only lack substaintial varsity minutes.

Duluth Denfeld — The Hunters are lightning-quick and physical on the forecheck, and playing with discipline will again be a key for the Lake Superior Conference’s most aggressive team. Seniors Cam McClure (a transfer from Duluth Marshall), Jake DeCaro, Jonah Williams (a transfer from Hermantown), Dylan Michaud, Ryan Potswald and Ben Scrignoli are rocket-fast forwards who hunger for the puck as if it’s their last meal. The talent level is also impressive among the junior forwards, a group led by workhorse captain Cody Budisalovich, Kadin Ferguson, Logan Perych, Adam Shykes, Dylan Skorich (a transfrer from Superior), muscleman Easton Stenson, Zack Thompson and Zane Peterson. Lanky senior Nick Thompson leads a defensive corp that also features juniors Ben Kidd and Adam Reynolds. Michaud will also play some defense, to help to shore up the back end. Senior Wes Cook and juniors River Alander and Brandon Johnson all are impressively talented goaltenders

Duluth Marshall – The Hilltoppers lost elite forwards McClure and Luke Dow (Duluth East) to transfer, but Coach Brenden Flaherty’s team likely won’t miss a beat as it prepares to battle Hermantown and Duluth Denfeld for a Section 7A championship later this season. Duluth Marshall features elite defensemen Jordan Fralich, Lane Krenzen and Nate Sepp, and senior forwards Jack Dodd, Derek Farrell, John McKenna and Nate Johnson. Junior forward Peter Lenz has amazing skills and good size, and Tyler Pederson and Garrett Sullivan are top junior forwards. Junior defenseman Jon Hansen is a player to watch. Top youngsters include sophomore defense Joe Liberty and impressive freshmen Willy Stauber, a slick-skating defenseman, and Levi Stauber, a forward with hands of gold. Senior Alex Murray is unargueably the best goaltender in the LSC. His talented backup is junior Cullen Mudrak.

Superior – The Spartans are big, fast and deep with talent, and stingy goaltender Peyton Flanders appears poised to have a strong senior season. The defense is led by seniors Grant Hanson and Jesse Polson, and talented juniors Mitch Anderson and Shane Tetzlaff and sophomores Braden LaPorte and Tanner Sterling. Top forwards are seniors Matt Hinaus, Anthony Bronson, Tyler Nystrom, Bryan Bergstrom, Mark Shold, Beau Redder and Kyler Krob, and sophomores Brock Gilbertson, Caden Tchop and Troy Shold.

The best of the rest: Cloquet-Esko-Carlton, which is much improved from a year ago, is led by forward Koby Bender. Proctor features senior defenseman Trace Norton and Dylon Pionk, Jake Malec and impressive freshman Jordan Linder, all forwards. North Shore players to watch: senior center and captain Quaid Cavallin and slick-handed junior defenseman Justin Ketola. Ashland is led by senior goaltender Dylan Barnes, who likely will see a lot of rubber this season.