Team preview: RHS boys’ hockey

Coach M.J. Laggis knows, on paper, the Rhinelander High School boys’ hockey team has its work cut out for itself during the 2024-25 season. After graduating the majority of its scoring production from last year and with a thin roster of only 15 players, progress may need to be found in areas other than the win-loss column.

“This year is different than any year I’ve had in the last 10, I’ll tell you that right now,” Laggis said. “One of the things we’ve talked a lot about is let’s do a couple things as well as we can. One of those things we really want to focus on is how to we act, how do we hold ourselves, what do we do in the defensive zone, and we play out from there.”

The Hodags only graduated a handful of seniors from last year, but they had a significant impact on the squad. Rhinelander bid farewell to the program’s all-time leading scorer in Joey Belanger along with fellow first-liner Gavin Denis, who has graduated and is now playing for the Great Falls (Mont.) Americans of the NA3HL. Those two combined for 51 goals and 43 assists last year for Rhinelander and were a big part of a power play unit that converted 26.6% of its chances last year. 

Scoring figures to be a premium this year as the team returns only two players who reached double-digit points last year — junior Dylan Shefveland (4 goals, 6 assists) and senior Zach Edyvean (3 goals, 7 assists).   

Shefveland will be part of a forward unit that also returns seniors Timber Cronauer (6 goals, 1 assist) and Karter Massey (4 goals, 2 assists). Those two skated with senior Van Tulowitzky on the front line Thursday when the team scrimmaged Wisconsin Rapids at the Rhinelander Ice Arena. 

“Timber and Karter bring a ton of experience and Van fits in the mix,” Laggis said. “What we need to do is try to get enough balance that we can run 2 1/2 to three lines. We’ve got to try to find a little bit of balance with the lines and try to find some scoring.

“Dylan’s a hard worker and I like the way he’s practiced. He’s a hustler and he’s going to have to really become a playmaker. Another guy that’s in there is Drake Nelson, who scored a couple of goals last year and comes back with some experience. We need to grow him and get him in positions where he can score a goal for us here and there.”

    Rhinelander’s Zach Edyvean makes a pass in neutral ice during a boys’ hockey scrimmage against Wisconsin Rapids at the Rhinelander Ice Arena Thursday, Nov. 21. Edyvean, who scored 10 points last year, is the top returning defenseman for the Hodags. (Bob Mainhardt for the River News)
  

Edyvean is Rhinelander’s top returning defenseman after the team graduated Dalton Fritz off the blue line from a season ago. It will be a young group of defenseman behind Edyvean, featuring junior Riley Squires and sophomores Gabe Kennedy and Jack Turek. 

“Zach Edyvean is going to be the pillar back there and Riley Squires has done a lot of really, really nice things for us,” Laggis said. “He continues to grow and improve. Gabe Kennedy’s got a ton of compete and Jack Turek is kind of making his bed back there. We’ve just got to make more sure plays and more relaxed plays and control the puck.”

Sophomore Asher Rivord takes over between the pipes for Rhinelander. He went 2-1-0 with a 3.75 goals against average and a .839 save percentage in limited action behind Tyler Kimmerling last year. Rivord showed flashes in Thursday’s scrimmage, stopping the first 29 shots he faced and 53 of 63 overall.

“We did a lot to keep it from going in the net, from Asher making saves and covering rebounds. He did a good job on that, especially early on, tonight,” Laggis said.

Wisconsin Rapids eventually wore down Rhinelander in Thursday’s scrimmage. The Hodags, despite getting outshot 20-4, led 1-0 after the first 22-minute session on a rebound goal by sophomore Kadin Rodziczak late in the period. Rapids scored three times over the final 10 minutes of the second 5-on-5 session before an intermission to resurface the ice. 

Following the break, the Raiders scored twice in a 10-minute power play session and added a short-handed goal during Rhinelander’s power play session. Rapids scored four more times in a final 20-minute 5-on-5 session to end the scrimmage. 

“When we have the opportunity to play someone like Rapids, they asked us, we were all in on that. They’re a nice team. Their top-end players are pretty darn good on that team,” Laggis said. “We knew we’d get overwhelmed at points but it was great to have them come here and play us. The only way to learn and grow is to play people that are a little bit stronger. We had a great opportunity to do that tonight.”

Rhinelander opens the season on the road at Shawano/Bonduel this evening and will host Chequamegon/

Phillips next Tuesday before starting Great Northern Conference play two days later at Antigo. 

“No matter how game 1 and 2 go, that’s going to be a huge focus, controlling what we can control — our attitude, our body language, how we treat each other and how we work,” Laggis said. “It’s going to be a work in progress, for sure. We’re just in that mindset that we’re building out from the defensive zone and trying to get better every week.”

As for the GNC, Laggis sees Tomahawk as the favorite after the Hatchets advanced to the WIAA D2 state tournament a year ago. Tomahawk and Lakeland shared the GNC crown last year and Laggis figures Lakeland will not be far behind. 

Beyond that, Laggis said he sees a number of teams in the conference that will scrap and claw for wins and that he hopes Rhinelander might be able to pull off a surprise or two before season’s end.

“For us, I’m just going to say we’re going to try to find out way and keep trying to claw up that ladder every single week, one way or an other,” he said. “We’re certainly not one of the favorites in the conference, but we’re going to work hard.”

Rhinelander will host the final day of the Great Northern Conference tournament Feb. 15 at the Rhinelander Ice Arena.

Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected]. 

TEAM SCHEDULE

Date    Opponent    Time

11/26    at Shawano    6 p.m.

12/3    CHEQUAMEGON/PHILLIPS    7 p.m.

12/5    at Antigo*    7 p.m.

12/7    OSHKOSH NORTH    4 p.m.

12/12    TOMAHAWK*    7 p.m.

12/17    PACELLI    7 p.m.

12/19    at Waupaca*    7 p.m.

12/27    West Bend West  (at Homestead)    5:30 p.m.

12/28    at Homestead    2:15 p.m.

1/2    MARSHFIELD    7 p.m.

1/7    at D.C. Everest    7 p.m.

1/10    TBD at Merrill    6 p.m.

1/11    TBD at Merrill    11 a.m. or 1 p.m.

1/14    at Northland Pines*    7 p.m.

1/16    MEDFORD*    7 p.m.

1/21    at Mosinee*    7 p.m.

1/23    SHAWANO    7 p.m.

1/28    at Chequamegon/Phillips    6 p.m.

1/30    LAKELAND*    7 p.m.

2/1    at Ashland    Noon

2/4    GNC Tourney at TBA*    7 p.m.

2/6    KINGSFORD, MICH.    7 p.m.

2/11    GNC Tourney at TBA*    7 p.m.

2/15    GNC TOURNEY at RHS*    7 p.m.

2/20    WIAA Regionals    TBA

* Conference games | HOME GAMES IN CAPS