November 30, 2020 at 8:59 a.m.
Team preview: RHS boys' hockey
Hodags have sights set on improvement, deep postseason run
Team preview: RHS boys' hockey
With several pieces of last year's squad back, and bolstered depth courtesy of a number of players from a bantam squad that placed third at state a year ago, Rhinelander has high expectations for the season.
"Last year we were one shot away from seeing (Northland Pines) in the sectional final and you and I both know we should have been there," coach M.J. Laggis said. "We want to get to that game. It's to build all year long, win a couple playoffs games and give yourself a chance at it. I believe in my gut we can do it."
Rhinelander will be tested right away as it kicks off the season Thursday night at defending Great Northern Conference champion, and WIAA Division 2 state runner-up, Northland Pines.
The Hodags do have a few holes to fill to start the season. The most pressing need is at goaltender, as four-year starter Seth Stafford has graduated. The starting nod will likely boil down to Stafford's backups from a season ago, juniors Garrett Kulhanek and Caleb Shefveland. Kulhanek was 3-1-0 in limited action last year with a 3.09 goals against average and a .875 save percentage. Shefveland was 1-0-0 with a 2.46 goals against average and a .857 save percentage. Both will get some starts early season to see how the competition shakes out, Laggis said.
"We're going to see how it looks, communicate with the goalies and let them know where they're at and just kind of roll from there," he said. "Garrett is definitely ready to go. He definitely, I think, has an edge and will play really well for us. Caleb Shefveland is without a doubt just a super hard worker, a great locker room guy and a big part of our team. We need them both to be there."
Tyler Kimmerling, the goalie on last year's bantam squad, gives the Hodags three goalies on the roster.
Up front the Hodags took a hit as Conor Pequet opted to forego his senior season to play junior hockey. That, coupled with the graduation of Harrison Shinners and Max Spaulding, leaves the Hodags looking for some new pieces on the front line to pair with senior Harlan Wojtusik, a second-team all-GNC forward, who amassed a team-high 34 goals a season ago.
"Frankly, Harlan can play well with anyone. It doesn't matter. He can carry a line," Laggis said.
The answer may come with what the Hodags decide to do with junior Joe Schneider, who scored 10 goals and tallied 12 assists last year. He skated on the front line with Wojtusik and Pequet for a time last year, but moved back to defense at the end of the season when Rhinelander needed added depth at that position.
If Schneider plays forward on a line with Wojtusik, it likely keeps intact what became an effective second line for the Hodags toward the end of the season with senior Jake Losch, junior Cal Laggis and sophomore Leo Losch. Jake Losch scored 14 times last season, including twice in the Hodags' 3-1 playoff upset win at Lakeland.
"When we move Jake with Cal and Leo, it gives us two really balanced lines that can get it done, and a third line that is right there," coach Laggis said. "I really like some things. We ended last year with Jake and Leo and Cal, and I love the way they played, but we've got to make sure we've got the right stuff with Harlan. I love Joe Schneider with Harlan, that's for sure. The problem there is you need Joe at forward and defense, you need two of him."
Whether Joe Schneider is needed on the blue line will likely depend on how the rest of a relatively young core of defensemen develops. The team graduated its top defenseman from last year, in all-conference honoree Danny Zuiker. Senior JC Adams is the most seasoned defenseman of the group. Sophomore Layne Roeser returns on the blue line as does senior Jared Arno. Also expect Sam Schneider, Joe's younger brother, to be in the defensive mix.
"JC's a senior and we need him to log a lot of minutes and play very consistently. He's definitely got a lot on his shoulders and he's definitely ready for that," coach Laggis said. "Sam Schneider's a newcomer and just fits in immediately on our team. He's a big kid with hands and a really nice player. From there you move to a sophomore in Layne Roeser, comes back with a ton of experience. We like a lot of what he's doing and senior Jared Arno has come a long away. Arno has really improved and we're going to look for him to get some minutes as well."
Rhinelander will be tested right away by a Pines squad that went 25-4 last year before losing to Fond du Lac St. Mary's Springs 5-1 in the state championship game. Though a number of seniors have moved on from that team, coach Laggis said the Eagles are still the team to beat in the GNC.
"I think Pines is still the favorite, no doubt," he said. "After that, I think it's anyone's race, I really do. I think there's so much parity in the conference. I think the team that improves the most down the stretch will be the team that's right there for second, third, but I'd definitely give the edge to Pines right now."
The Hodags finished sixth in the GNC last year and seventh in the conference tournament, but upset Lakeland in the playoffs and nearly upset Mosinee as well. Coach Laggis said the goal will be to peak come February once again.
"We improve down the stretch. We get better and better and better," he said. "We showed that again last year. That will be a goal again this year. Wherever we start, we know we're going to finish at a much higher level."
Scrimmage
The Hodags' lone dress rehearsal of the season was Saturday as the team scrimmaged Wausau East/Merrill at the Rhinelander Ice Arena.
Nine different Hodags scored, and Rhinelander unofficially outscored the Bluejacks 11-2.
"I think we were all feeling good to go out there against another team and put some line combinations together, play and see how it looked and have a little bit of a game-like feel," Laggis said.
Adams and Leo Losch both scored twice in the scrimmage. Ben Brooks, Carter Detienne, Sam Schneider, Jake Losch, Joey Belanger, Wojtusik and Cal Laggis also scored as Rhinelander held a 70-16 advantage in a scrimmage that included three 20-minute 5-on-5 periods plus a 10-minute power play session for each team.
"We had a lot of guys with a lot of chances," Laggis said. "I really think we can get some guys that can play together, try to get the assists instead of the goals. When you play like that, then everybody starts scoring. I think we've got a pretty good pack mentality up there."
With Kulhanek not available on Saturday, Shefveland saw most of the action in goal, making 12 saves on 14 chances. Kimmerling stopped both shots he faced in the scrimmage.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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