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Nov. 21---- Under new head coach Shawn Bakke, the Willmar boys hockey team's success will hinge on its ability to play within its structure in its defensive end this season.
Willmar, which was 0-10 in the Cenral Lakes Conference and 9-18 overall, returns its top four point-getters and two goalies along with an inexperienced defensive unit.
Bakke and the Cardinals open up the 2025-26 season with a non-conference game against Prairie Centre at 6 p.m. Friday at Sauk Centre Ice Arena.
Willmar's home opener features a conference matchup with rival River Lakes at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Willmar Civic Center Arena.
"Ultimately for us, starting from our goal-tending out, it's really playing a defensive, structured game and being able to transition quickly, get north into offense and be opportunistic," said Bakke, who replaces Jamie Hagen., who coached 11 seasons. "We have a good group of kids, both at the forward and defensive positions."
Luke Larson and Gibson Horyza are among the headlining returners for the Cardinals.
Larson, a junior forward who was an All-Central Lakes pick as a sophomore, recorded a team-best 39 points with 13 goals and a team-high 26 assists in 27 games.
Horyza, a senior forward who was an All-Central Lakes selection two seasons ago, notched 37 points after scoring a team-leading 22 goals and dishing out 15 assists.
Junior forwards Eli Hagen and Aden Jacobson return after strong sophomore years.
Hagen tallied 27 points (11 goals, 16 assists) in as many games. Jacobson contributed 26 points (14 goals, 12 assists) in 27 games.
"We have a handful of kids who can put the puck in the back of the net and are looking to build off their successes last year," Bakke said. "We have a lot of talent."
Max Garberding, another junior forward who scored eight goals last season, will look to provide depth alongside newcomer Blake Grimsley.
Grimsley, a senior forward from MACCRAY High School, previously played for Marshall where he scored five goals and tallied 11 assists in 25 games as a junior.
"Blake's a big addition for us," Bakke said. "We're definitely looking for his offensive play-making, skills and ability to be a big addition up front for us."
Both of Willmar's net-minders are back, including junior mainstay Eli Ewert.
Ewert, who was in the net for 92.6% of the minutes, will look to build off his first year as a varsity goaltender where he had an 8-17 record with an .862 save percentage.
His backup is Ian Ziehl, a senior goalie who was 1-1 with an .862 save percentage.
"We have the ability to have a one-two punch back in the net," Bakke said. "A lot of teams that I played for or even have coached for who have been very successful night in and night out, they could roll either goaltender. They both have the ability to see a lot of ice time and definitely are the cornerstone for our success."
A few defensemen who logged crucial minutes a season ago for the Cardinals have graduated, making way for senior Cooper Lownsbury to lead a young back end.
He will be joined by key juniors Jett Hoover and Bryce Morton. The two are Willmar's top returning defensemen with eight and seven points, respectively.
Bakke also mentioned freshman Jake Larson as one who could see "pivotal" minutes.
"We have a pretty big junior class across our roster and that's a large part of what makes up our defensive core as well," Bakke said. "We're looking for a lot of big things from our defensemen and we're optimistic about what we've seen."
Bakke,
, moved to the Willmar area in 2021. His wife, Amy, is from Spicer. They have two daughters, Sydney and Remy.
The new head coach will look to help the Cardinals end an extensive winless streak in the CLC.
Willmar has an 0-90-2 record in the CLC since it earned a 3-1 win against Fergus Falls in its regular season finale on February 9, 2016.
"We certainly play a tough conference schedule," Bakke said. "Our schedule has a good balance of non-conference, conference and section opponents. We round out this season with our last six games against Section 6A opponents. That's going to be a good time to be trending in the right direction."
Nov. 21: Willmar at Prairie Centre
Nov. 25: River Lakes at Willmar
Dec. 6: Breckenridge/Wahpeton at Willmar
Dec. 11: Willmar at Hutchinson
Dec. 12: Willmar at Morris/Benson
Dec. 16: Willmar at Marshall
Dec. 18: Willmar at Fergus Falls
Dec. 19: Redwood Valley at Willmar
Dec. 29: Willmar at International Falls (Winternational Falls Holiday Classic)
Dec. 30: Willmar at Fort Frances, Ontario (Winternational Falls Holiday Classic)
Dec. 31: Bagley/Fosston at Willmar (Winternational Falls Holiday Classic)
Jan. 6: Alexandria at Willmar
Jan. 8: Willmar at St. Cloud
Jan. 12: Willmar at Becker
Jan. 13: Willmar at River Lakes
Jan. 15: Brainerd at Willmar
Jan. 20: Willmar at Detroit Lakes
Jan. 22: Sauk Rapids at Willmar
Jan. 24: Willmar at Litchfield/D-C
Jan. 27: Morris/Benson at Willmar
Jan. 29: Willmar at Sartell
Jan. 31: Willmar at Wadena-Deer Creek
Feb. 2: Fergus Falls at Willmar
Feb. 6: Prairie Centre at Willmar
Feb. 12: Wadena-Deer Creek at Willmar
Continue reading...
Willmar, which was 0-10 in the Cenral Lakes Conference and 9-18 overall, returns its top four point-getters and two goalies along with an inexperienced defensive unit.
Bakke and the Cardinals open up the 2025-26 season with a non-conference game against Prairie Centre at 6 p.m. Friday at Sauk Centre Ice Arena.
Willmar's home opener features a conference matchup with rival River Lakes at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Willmar Civic Center Arena.
"Ultimately for us, starting from our goal-tending out, it's really playing a defensive, structured game and being able to transition quickly, get north into offense and be opportunistic," said Bakke, who replaces Jamie Hagen., who coached 11 seasons. "We have a good group of kids, both at the forward and defensive positions."
Luke Larson and Gibson Horyza are among the headlining returners for the Cardinals.
Larson, a junior forward who was an All-Central Lakes pick as a sophomore, recorded a team-best 39 points with 13 goals and a team-high 26 assists in 27 games.
Horyza, a senior forward who was an All-Central Lakes selection two seasons ago, notched 37 points after scoring a team-leading 22 goals and dishing out 15 assists.
Junior forwards Eli Hagen and Aden Jacobson return after strong sophomore years.
Hagen tallied 27 points (11 goals, 16 assists) in as many games. Jacobson contributed 26 points (14 goals, 12 assists) in 27 games.
"We have a handful of kids who can put the puck in the back of the net and are looking to build off their successes last year," Bakke said. "We have a lot of talent."
Max Garberding, another junior forward who scored eight goals last season, will look to provide depth alongside newcomer Blake Grimsley.
Grimsley, a senior forward from MACCRAY High School, previously played for Marshall where he scored five goals and tallied 11 assists in 25 games as a junior.
"Blake's a big addition for us," Bakke said. "We're definitely looking for his offensive play-making, skills and ability to be a big addition up front for us."
Both of Willmar's net-minders are back, including junior mainstay Eli Ewert.
Ewert, who was in the net for 92.6% of the minutes, will look to build off his first year as a varsity goaltender where he had an 8-17 record with an .862 save percentage.
His backup is Ian Ziehl, a senior goalie who was 1-1 with an .862 save percentage.
"We have the ability to have a one-two punch back in the net," Bakke said. "A lot of teams that I played for or even have coached for who have been very successful night in and night out, they could roll either goaltender. They both have the ability to see a lot of ice time and definitely are the cornerstone for our success."
A few defensemen who logged crucial minutes a season ago for the Cardinals have graduated, making way for senior Cooper Lownsbury to lead a young back end.
He will be joined by key juniors Jett Hoover and Bryce Morton. The two are Willmar's top returning defensemen with eight and seven points, respectively.
Bakke also mentioned freshman Jake Larson as one who could see "pivotal" minutes.
"We have a pretty big junior class across our roster and that's a large part of what makes up our defensive core as well," Bakke said. "We're looking for a lot of big things from our defensemen and we're optimistic about what we've seen."
Bakke,
, moved to the Willmar area in 2021. His wife, Amy, is from Spicer. They have two daughters, Sydney and Remy.
The new head coach will look to help the Cardinals end an extensive winless streak in the CLC.
Willmar has an 0-90-2 record in the CLC since it earned a 3-1 win against Fergus Falls in its regular season finale on February 9, 2016.
"We certainly play a tough conference schedule," Bakke said. "Our schedule has a good balance of non-conference, conference and section opponents. We round out this season with our last six games against Section 6A opponents. That's going to be a good time to be trending in the right direction."
Nov. 21: Willmar at Prairie Centre
Nov. 25: River Lakes at Willmar
Dec. 6: Breckenridge/Wahpeton at Willmar
Dec. 11: Willmar at Hutchinson
Dec. 12: Willmar at Morris/Benson
Dec. 16: Willmar at Marshall
Dec. 18: Willmar at Fergus Falls
Dec. 19: Redwood Valley at Willmar
Dec. 29: Willmar at International Falls (Winternational Falls Holiday Classic)
Dec. 30: Willmar at Fort Frances, Ontario (Winternational Falls Holiday Classic)
Dec. 31: Bagley/Fosston at Willmar (Winternational Falls Holiday Classic)
Jan. 6: Alexandria at Willmar
Jan. 8: Willmar at St. Cloud
Jan. 12: Willmar at Becker
Jan. 13: Willmar at River Lakes
Jan. 15: Brainerd at Willmar
Jan. 20: Willmar at Detroit Lakes
Jan. 22: Sauk Rapids at Willmar
Jan. 24: Willmar at Litchfield/D-C
Jan. 27: Morris/Benson at Willmar
Jan. 29: Willmar at Sartell
Jan. 31: Willmar at Wadena-Deer Creek
Feb. 2: Fergus Falls at Willmar
Feb. 6: Prairie Centre at Willmar
Feb. 12: Wadena-Deer Creek at Willmar
Continue reading...
