November 22, 2021 at 9:00 a.m.
Team preview: RHS boys' hockey
Expectations remain high for Hodag hockey after Cinderella run
Team preview: RHS boys' hockey
With several key pieces from last year's squad returning, the Hodags are hopeful for similar success this season, but know duplicating the feat will be difficult in a top-heavy Great Northern Conference.
"We're still in a spot where we can feature some pretty good talent," coach M.J. Laggis said following the team's scrimmage last Thursday at East-Merrill. "We've said it from Day 1 at practice, the expectations are high. We expect to compete in the conference all year long. We expect to make a great run at it in the conference tournament and then we expect to really take a charge into playoffs."
The Hodags open the season tonight at home against Ashland, part of a strong slate as the team prepares for the start of conference play.
Some of the key players on last year's squad have graduated, including all-conference picks Harlan Wojtusik and JC Adams, and second-line forward Jake Losch. Laggis said the biggest question mark going into the season is the team's depth. It played with only nine forwards and four defensemen in Thursday's scrimmage.
"I feel like we have a group that can be really, really competitive. At the same time, we're just one injury, one sickness, one guy missing away from being in trouble," he said. "When that happens, we're right down to the wire of not having enough guys. We're on that edge. A big focus has to be everyone being there and being healthy. Then I think we can compete."
Senior Joe Schneider anchors the squad, returning after scoring 57 points (32 goals, 25 assists) in 21 games a season ago. While Schneider loses a linemate in Wojtusik, sophomore Joey Belanger figures to see a more prominent role after tallying 15 goals and 12 helpers last year. Laggis spent Thursday's scrimmage seeing who he could pair with the two, with senior Carter Detienne and junior Finn Tulowitzky among the top options.
"Joey and Joe are a nice combination we like together," coach Laggis said. "It's fun seeing Finn with them and it was good seeing Carter with them. Either one of those guys complement them really well."
Rhinelander also returns two of its three forwards off of last year's second line with senior Cal Laggis (6 goals, 17 assists) and junior Leo Losch (9 goals, 12 assists). Sophomore Gavin Denis is working with them. The third line features junior Brandon Baumann, freshman Zach Edyvean and either Tulowitzky or Detienne.
"Zach Edyvean has come a long way and we've put a pretty good third line together there that I thought did some good things. Brandon Baumann, he looks a lot different than last year as well. Then the line of Leo and Cal and Gavin was just all over the ice," coach Laggis said. "I think we have two really strong lines and then we've got to work on the depth from there."
Junior Sam Schneider figures to step in as a leader on the blue line for the Hodags, after two goals and nine assists last year. Fellow junior Layne Roeser had five goals and six assists last year, and Laggis said his shooting abilities make him a dangerous offensive defenseman.
"I think Sam Schneider's as good of a defenseman as there is around. I think that Layne Roeser, he's just a dynamic player back there," he said. "You see how much offense he generates from the blue line and he's got a really good eye shooting. He gets pucks to the net. Cody Everson, he's going to play in front of the net on the power play. He can play forward, and I thought he was excellent at defense tonight and handled the puck really well."
Rhinelander is carrying four goalies on its roster this year, but coach Laggis said he expects the bulk of the time to be split by seniors Garrett Kulhanek and Caleb Shefveland, as it was last season. Kulhanek got the majority of the minutes last year, and started all three of Rhinelander's playoff contests, going 11-6 with a 3.09 goals against average and a .878 save percentage. Shefveland went 4-1-0 with a 2.48 goals against average and a .896 save percentage. Sophomore Tyler Kimmerling and freshman John Turek round out the goalie quartet.
"The priority's going to be the two seniors," Laggis said. "(Kulhanek) was outstanding for us last year. (Shefveland) had a lot of really good moments for us. Clearly this year, those two guys are our priority all the way."
Though the Hodags won the GNC tournament last year, they shared the conference title with regular-season champion Northland Pines and Mosinee, which accumulated the most combined points between the regular season and the conference tournament. Yet it was Lakeland that beat Mosinee and Rhinelander on its way to the WIAA state tournament.
Laggis said Mosinee's depth and talent has taken a step up even from last year, but with Northland Pines and Lakeland still very strong, Waupaca consistent as usual and both Antigo and Tomahawk improving, the GNC may be as deep as it has ever been.
"Just talent and depth, it goes to Mosinee. There's no doubt about it," he said. "I think with goaltending we can match with anybody and I think we can put out two lines and three D that can match with anybody. It's going to come down to a lot of things this year, but getting some good breaks here and there, keeping people healthy and just getting better (are keys)."
Rhinelander will be tested right away in the non-conference. Following tonight's opener, the team heads to Amery over the Thanksgiving weekend where it will play Amery and River Falls. The Hodags host Northland Pines to open GNC play Dec. 2.
Rhinelander looked strong in its preseason scrimmage at East-Merrill. Unofficially, the Hodags outscored the Bluejacks by a combined 13-0 in three 5-on-5 sessions, had a 4-0 advantage in a 10-minute power play session and a 1-0 edge in a 10-minute penalty kill session. Joe Schneider scored six times in the scrimmage while Roeser and Belanger scored three times. Leo Losch added a pair of goals as Rhinelander outshot the Bluejacks 96-3.
"We had some good puck movement, I thought," coach Laggis said. "We obviously generated a lot of shots on goal and scored a lot of goals. When we get to non-conference play Tuesday against Ashland, it's going to be a much tougher look."
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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