Prep Boys Hockey: Willmar ready to trend upward

Dec. 1—WILLMAR — With just three players gone from last year's squad, the Willmar boys hockey team is hoping to build some sustainable success in the 2021-22 season.

The start of that goal gets underway Tuesday as the Cardinals open with a Section 6A game at the Willmar Civic Center against Breckenridge/Wahpeton.

"We've been working hard in practice and the coaches have been trying to get us to work hard all the time and not really slacking off," said senior forward Jason Malmgren. "We want to change this year; we want to have a better record than in previous years.

"We're trying to change the culture we've had on this team."

Willmar finished 3-17-0 In the COVID-shortened 2021 season, which included a first-round win against Windom in the Section 3A playoffs.

With section realignment, the Cardinals are now in 6A along with fellow newcomer Northern Lakes, which won the Section 5A championship in 2021. Other teams in the section include: Alexandria; Breckenridge/Wahpeton; Fergus Falls; Morris/Benson Area; Prairie Centre; and Wadena-Deer Creek.

"Section 6A has typically been a really strong section, but when they realigned, a lot of those stronger teams, other than Fergus Falls and Alexandria, moved out," said Willmar head coach Jamie Hagen. Last year's 6A champ, Little Falls, moved out, along with Sartell, St. Cloud Cathedral and River Lakes.

"It's similar to our old section where there's a couple teams that stand out at the top with Fergus and Alex. After that, it's kind of a dogfight and I think we're right in that mix."

Hagen was encouraged by this team's commitment in the offseason, saying they "probably had our largest turnout for the summer."

The blue line will be young following the graduation of defensemen Blake Tersch, Aidan Donelan and Jack Michelson. But, Willmar has a veteran group of forwards returning, including top scorers in junior Ethan Stark (4 goals, 7 assists in 2021) and senior Taton Hansen (4 goals, 4 assists). Malmgren, along with fellow senior Carter Schow and sophomore Cullen Gregory, had six points apiece last season.

"The guys are experienced in front and I think we're bigger and stronger. And we're pretty quick," Hagen said. "We haven't proven anything yet, so we're going to have to play simple and get pucks down, play in the offensive zone and hopefully, give our younger defensemen a chance to get used to the pace of the game."

In practice, the signs are positive for an offensive increase after the Cardinals averaged just 1.8 goals per game last season.

"We're trying to move the puck more and trying to open up the ice a little better; use our speed and get to the outside," Malmgren said. "We're going to regroup more and move the puck. ... The younger guys are stepping up and the older guys are working hard. We're getting better offensive production in practice."

While the defense gets up to speed, senior Gavin Steinwand (3-16-0, 5.89 goals against, .862 save percentage in 2021) will resume duties at goaltender.

"I'm a lot more confident," Steinwand said. "We played a pretty good game (scrimmage) against Marshall last weekend and I've been playing around the Midwest all summer. I'm ready to go."

Hagen said of Steinwand, "A goaltender can make all the difference in the world. He's got to be your best player on the ice every night. He's played varsity minutes for three years now. It's huge having him back there."

The Cardinals want to go on an upward trajectory, and for the players, that begins with attitude.

"We need to be positive going into games, even if it's against a hard team, and still be able to take something good from it," Steinwand said. "We want to show up and work hard. No days off."

Said Hagen, "We've had some good practices and the guys have worked hard. It does take a couple wins to get under your belt to build that confidence and we hope that starts (against Breckenridge/Wahpeton)."