Three Teams that have Exceeded Expectations
The fact of the matter is, every fan loves a good underdog, especially one that out performs expectations going into the season. Fortunately, the State of Hockey has had no shortage of success stories this year. Across all classes and…
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Continue ReadingThe fact of the matter is, every fan loves a good underdog, especially one that out performs expectations going into the season. Fortunately, the State of Hockey has had no shortage of success stories this year. Across all classes and conferences, a slew of teams have been exceeding expectations and energizing their fanbases in the process, so let’s take a look at three teams that have defied the odds and risen to the top of the ladder.
Rochester Century/John Marshall (11-2-1)
The Cougars are coming off a 16-11 year in which they were far from a bad team, but even so, the start they have had to this season has been unprecedented. At this time last year, Rochester Century was a 8-6 team with middling success, but in 2023-2024, it has been nothing but smooth sailing. Of the Cougars’ two losses, one came to Northfield, a state-tournament caliber team that they still took to the wire, losing a 3-4 nailbiter. Aside from that, though, the 11 wins Rochester Century has put up so far have been in dominant fashion. The Cougar defense has been excellent, holding opponents to an average of 2.36 goals per game, thanks in part to a triad of goalies they have deployed that includes Kyle Lappi, Zachary Bohan and Thorin Shelley. All three boast winning records and solid save percentages, so it will be interesting to see how the playing time in the net is distributed going forward. On the attack, senior Aiden Emerich has led the charge with 27 points on a well balanced spread of 14 goals and 13 assists. Thanks in part to his willingness to spread the puck around, guys like Jonathan Bermester, Ole Fevold and Brock Clarey have been able to keep pace in the middle of the pack, keeping the attack from being one-dimensional. As of now, Rochester Century/John Marshall controls its destiny in the Big Nine conference, and will look to hold down the top spot as the team navigates the rest of its schedule.
Northern Lakes (9-3)
A team that has struggled to get its foot in the postseason door, Northern Lakes may finally be over the hump, as indicated by its 9-3 record that already almost matches the team’s win total from last season. The Lightning have admittedly kept games too close for comfort at times, but their ability to finish close games can not be denied. The attack has been incredible, led by Drew Paulbeck’s 24 points and strongly supported by skaters like Jerome Martin, Logan Verville and Taylor Berg Taylor Berg 5'8" | Forward Northern Lakes | 2024 State MN . Heck, even defenseman like Wyatt Balmer have added plenty of points to the mix, and this depth is likely the reason Northern Lakes averages 5.33 goals per game. Between the pipes, goalies Nigel Desanto and Hunter Moreland have combined for hundreds of saves, a save percentage north of .900 and plenty of wins to boot. Both guys have shone at different times on the ice, and the use of a tandem approach could very well be employed going forward if Moreland continues to impress. This Class A team has a few daunting matchups ahead, including games against Little Falls (9-4), St. Cloud Cathedral (11-3-1), and even Warroad (12-3). Nonetheless, Northern Lakes has exceeded expectations already, and will tack a few upsets onto its win column as the team prepares for the postseason.
Ely (11-4)
After a team goes 8-18 and fails to make a splash in the section tournament, it’s safe to say the next year is designated as a rebuild. That is the usual circumstance with a struggling program, but Ely has taken this notion and spun it on its head, roaring out to 11 wins so far on the year and becoming a dark horse to make a postseason push. The Wolves have admittedly kept some games a bit too close for comfort, but their ability to win close games down the stretch cannot be denied. Three of their last four wins have been by just one goal, and virtually every game seems to come down to the final few minutes. While the Wolves haven’t had many decisive wins, their ability to win under pressure should go a long way as the season progresses. The majority of Ely’s offensive production comes from Drew Marolt and Deegan Richards, who have scored 28 and 24 points on the year, respectively. Aside from them, Brecken Sandberg is the only other skater on the roster to have cracked double digit points so far with 11. Between the pipes, Ben Leeson has been a workhorse, starting all 15 games thus far and boasting a 11-4 record to go with a 2.53 Goals Against Average and .914 save percentage. Ely could use another few skaters to ramp up production on the attack, but even so, this team should be celebrated for how far they have come thus far.