Offseason breakdown No. 14: Osseo

With most sports on hold and the 2020-21 season still months out, it’s time to take a look at teams from all over the State of Hockey and examine what happened this past season and what’s ahead. The next team we’re breaking down is Osseo.

How last season went

Like a number of teams across the state, Osseo found itself hanging around the .500 mark for most of the regular season. The Orioles had some key wins, including an 8-6 win against Minnehaha Academy. But they also struggled at times, such as when they lost three consecutive games in December. All that said, Osseo finished the regular season with an 11-14 record.

The Orioles headed into Section 5AA play as an underdog against fellow Northwest Suburban Conference foe Centennial. The Cougars held their own and won 5-1, ultimately ending Osseo’s 2019-20 season.

Who’s back and who’s gone

Last year’s Orioles squad featured a mix of seniors and younger players. That means next year’s group will have some solid returners but will also have to fill some holes in order to at least keep up with the team’s 2019-20 production.

The biggest returner will likely be Jack Pojar, who’s back after putting up a team-best 29 points (16 goals, 13 assists) last season. Luke Sawicky is also expected to return after scoring 13 goals last season. The most important graduating skaters are likely Jackson Dwyer and Kamron Cline. Both leave the Osseo program after combining for 20 goals and 29 assists as seniors.

Last season, Cooper Olson Cooper Olson Goalie Osseo | 2020 State MN and Dale Pfannenstein shared time in net. While Olson leaves after posting a .905 save percentage in 15 appearances, Pfrannenstein is poised to return following 11 appearances where he posted a .888 save percentage.

What to expect next season

The challenges for Osseo and other teams in the Northwest Suburban looking to move up is dealing with perennial powers such as Blaine and Maple Grove. Those two teams rarely have a down season. The Orioles will need some marked improvement to top programs such as these to advance deep into the postseason.