Despite an upsetting 3-4 loss to Breck during double overtime in the section final, paired with the loss of 13 seniors from last year’s varsity squad, the Orono men’s hockey team is coming back full throttle for the upcoming season.
The team ended their 2010-2011 season with a record of 17-10-1. This year’s team will only have four returning regular varsity players: senior Jimmy Lee, juniors Danny Willson and Derek Limesand and sophomore Jake Flemmer.
The coaches this year are head coach and Orono substitute teacher Aaron Johnson, along with assistant coaches Thomas Johnson, Rory Dynan, Josh Leddy and Pete Samargia. Orono graduates Miles Knutsen and Brian Urness are also helping out.
“It is going to be interesting to be on the other side of the game this year. I think I will have some helpful insight because I played on the team just last year,” stated Knutsen.
Orono finished third in the Wright County Conference last year behind St. Cloud Cathedral, who placed first, and Delano, who finished second. According to MN Hockey Hub, the top three leading scorers from the team last year were Orono graduates Ross Luedtke with 59 points, Michael Smith with 30 points and Crosby Sampson with 29 points. “Orono is losing more scoring players than every team in Class A hockey,” the website reported.
“Losing that many players gives a lot of new players an opportunity to step up and fill roles for us. We expect guys to compete for the open spots and fill the voids left by last year’s players,” stated A. Johnson.
On the subject of the loss of the seniors, Lee said “obviously [they] will be affected, but [they] have a lot of young talent.” Lee is captain of this year’s varsity squad along with juniors Willson and Limesand as assistants. Willson said that what he is most excited about for the upcoming season is “sniping goals and succeeding with [his] new team base.”
According to Johnson, some of the key players to watch this season are captains Lee, Willson and Limesand along with Flemmer and freshmen forward Gavin Payne. Payne is the only freshman on the varsity squad.
The new team has been avidly preparing for the upcoming season by playing on fall teams and lifting in the weight room. The young team showcased their talent during their first game at home against Owatonna on Dec. 1. Orono tied Owatonna 4 to 4 after a single overtime. Payne scored two goals and the other two goals were scored by sophomore Sam Challgren.
Stephanie Urness is a News Editor for The Spartan Speaks
