November 8, 2017 at 1:25 p.m.
With decent numbers, Northern Edge happy to be back on ice
With decent numbers, Northern Edge happy to be back on ice
Coach Kevin Sandstrom said the team has 17 skaters on the Northern Edge roster with a number of its top scorers from last year returning along with an influx of younger talent to keep the depth chart strong.
"We're bringing in a sophomore and a few freshmen that have experience right off the bat," he said. "We're looking to bring back everyone who had high point totals amongst our team. It's all coming back. That's already and improvement. You're adding some underclassmen to that mix that will make an immediate impact."
Sandstrom noted a couple of players may miss some practices or games due to other commitments, and the strain to splitting ice time between the two co-op cities, but said the team is trying to be as inclusive and accommodating as it can be.
"That's going to be our goal like always, to work with those who have other commitments or other things going on in their world," he said. "If they can't necessarily put hockey first, at least they're able to put something into it. We'll work with that as a coaching staff."
That number crunch is being felt across the state. Waupaca is one of the latest programs to crumble under the weight of dwindling numbers. The Comets have been absorbed into the Point/Rapids/Marshfield co-op for the 2017-18 season. That has a profound impact on a Great Northern Conference that was seven teams strong only three seasons ago. With the programs in Marshfield, Tomahawk and Waupaca dissolving in successive years, the GNC is down to four teams and needed to get creative just to play a conference schedule this season.
The four remaining GNC schools - The Northern Edge, Northland Pines, Lakeland/Tomahawk and Medford - will play each other three times, creating a nine-game conference season.
"It gives us something to shoot for during the season other than seeding for the sectional tournament," Sandstrom said. "It allows us to play for all-conference awards and a conference championship."
As for what the Northern Edge did when it got on the ice Monday at the Langlade County Multi-Purpose Building in Antigo and Tuesday at the Rhinelander Ice Arena, Sandstrom said the primary focus was on skill work.
"Under my standards it was a pretty easy practice, trying to get out skates back under us, our sticks back under us," he said. "As the week goes on, those things will get more crisp. We'll start to get a better flow. As far as effort and what we have (for skaters), it was an exciting first day."
Practices will continue to emphasize skills for the next few weeks, possibly even after the Edge opens its season against Lakeland at the RIA Nov. 21.
"You can't put a system in place if the skill work isn't there," Sandstrom said. "Getting all that under us the first two weeks (is key). Hopefully the system will kind of develop itself based on our reps and our confidence in our abilities."
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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