SHS girls hockey teams open season today

Superior High School girls hockey coach Ernie Harker believes his Spartans are going to sneak up on some teams this season.

They have more depth, are much faster, are solid on defense and have two capable goaltenders.

“I feel we should be much stronger this year,” Harker said. “We have three full lines with depth and plenty of speed. I really think we could surprise many teams.”

Under Harker in his first year as SHS coach, the Spartans were 4-17-1 overall, 0-4 in the Lake Superior Conference and lost to River Falls in the first round of the WIAA playoffs.

Superior’s top returning player is junior Ari Jago, last year’s leading scorer and an honorable mention pick on the all-conference team.

Other key players returning include goaltenders Justine Stenberg and Payton Michaud; forwards Kari Miller and Kelsey Reder; and defensemen Paige Gilbertson, Paige Harker, Anna Lurndal and Amanda Hinaus.

Other returning players include forwards Tina Lurndal, Kali Krivinchuk, Kayla Raboin, Jordyn Thompson, Tapenga Anderson, Rachel Taylor and Michelle Androsky. Sophomore Alyssa Kolanczyk is expected to see time at forward and defense.

Also expected to help out are freshmen Sadey Laurvick, Devyn Moss and Kayla Raboin.

“I feel this team will be a hard-working group that will give the top teams in the state a run for their money,” Harker said. “I would like to say we’ll finish first place in the LSC, but we are still young and would be happy with second in the LSC.

“If we have any weaknesses, it’s that we still have a lot of players learning our new system of hockey,” Harker said. “Despite that, we will be competitive in every game.”

The Spartans open their season against the Bay Area (Green Bay) Ice Bears at 7 p.m. today at the Chippewa Falls Ice Arena.

Superior will then host the Eau Claire-Altoona Stars at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Superior Ice Arena.

SPARTAN SPIN: The Ice Bears will play at Chippewa Falls at 1 p.m. Saturday. … Superior’s last state tournament appearance was 2005. … Lost from last season’s team were all-conference defenseman Kaitlyn Mergen and goaltender Sarah Runser. … Harker’s assistant coach is Kayla Chilstrom and the team manager is Taylor Whitaker.

Superior High School

2012-13 Girls Hockey Team

1 Justine Stenberg Jr. G

2 Tina Lurndal Jr. F

3 Sadey Laurvick Fr. F

4 Amanda Hinaus So. D

5 Kari Miller Sr. F

6 Paige Gilbertson Sr. D

9 Kali Krivinchuk Jr. F

11 Alyssa Kolanczyk So. F/D

12 Paige Harker Jr. D

13 Kayla Raboin Fr. F

15 Jordyn Thompson So. F

16 Anna Lurndal Jr. D

17 Devyn Moss F. F

20 Ari Jago Jr. F

21 Tapenga Anderson Fr. F

22 Kelsey Reder Sr. F

24 Rachel Taylor Jr. F

28 Michelle Androsky Fr. F

30 Payton Michaud So. G

Coach: Ernie Harker

Assistant Coach: Kayla Chilstrom

Manager: Taylor Whitaker

Superior High School

2012-13 Girls Hockey Schedule

Fri, Nov. 16 vs. Bay Area at CF, 7 p.m.

Sat, Nov. 17 vs. Eau Claire, 2 p.m.

Thu, Nov. 29 vs. Silver Bay, 8 p.m.

Thu, Dec. 6 vs. New Richmond, 7 p.m.

Fri, Dec. 14 at Chippewa Falls, 7 p.m.

Tue, Dec. 18 at Proctor/Herm., 7:30 p.m.

Thu, Dec. 20 at Hayward, 7 p.m.

Sat, Dec. 22 at ML/WR, 1 p.m.

Thu, Dec. 27 at Webster Invite

Fri, Dec. 28 at Webster Invite

Sat, Jan. 5 vs. River Falls, 2 p.m.

Mon, Jan. 7 at Cloquet, 7:30 p.m.

Thu, Jan. 10 at Duluth, 5:30

Tue, Jan. 15 vs. ML/WR, 8 p.m.

Tue, Jan. 22 at Eau Claire, 6 p.m.

Sat, Jan. 26 at Hudson, 2 p.m.

Tue, Jan. 29 vs. Webster Co-op, 8 p.m.

Thu, Jan. 31 at Silver Bay, 7 p.m.

Tue, Feb. 5 vs. Chippewa Falls, 6 p.m.

Sat, Feb. 9 at New Richmond, 2 p.m.

Thu, Feb. 14 WIAA Regional

Tue, Feb. 19 WIAA Sectional Semi

Sat, Feb. 23 WIAA Sect Final N.R.

March 1-2 WIAA State at Madison

NOTE: Home games are at the Superior Ice Arena.

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