The Superior High School girls hockey team opens its season at 2 p.m. Saturday against Eau Claire-Altoona at the Hobbs Ice Center in Eau Claire.
The Spartans are coming off a 4-17 injury-fill season, which included having six starters sidelined with various bumps and bruises midway through the season.
"We lost a lot of games to injuries, but the rest of the team was able to keep forging ahead for the remainder of the season," SHS coach Ernie Harker said. "The team is looking for a good run into playoffs this year."
That road took a bit of a detour when sophomore Sadey Laurvick, last year's leading scorer, suffered an injury during the volleyball season.
Along with losing Laurvick for some time this season, the Spartans also lost through graduation last year's captains, Kelsey Reder, Paige Gilbertson and Kari Miller.
ADVERTISEMENT
"Kari was second in scoring and very creative in the offensive zone, while Gilbertson was the third in scoring and will be missed defensively," Harker said. "Kelsey will be missed for her work along the boards."
Gilbertson was an all-conference selection in the Lake Superior Conference.
"The past two years the team has been in a rebuilding mode," Harker said. "We've competed in the LSC playing against some very good Minnesota teams. Playing well against top tier teams has given the team the attitude and determination to keep pushing on."
Last season ended for the Spartans with a 3-1 loss to River Falls in the opening round of the WIAA playoffs.
"Despite the tough loss, the girls showed they're on the right track towards becoming a competitive team," Harker said. "Hayward, Onalaska and St. Croix/River Falls look to be the teams to watch again this year. They all continue to put out strong teams, but I really feel we have a good core of freshman coming on board this year and should figure into the line very well."
Providing leadership this season are seniors Ari Jago, Justine Stenberg, Paige Harker, Kali Krivinchuk, Anna and Tina Lurndal and Rachel Taylor. Jago, along with Laurvick, were honorable mention selections on last year's LSC all-conference team.
Juniors include Amanda Hinaus, Jordyn Thompson and Alyssa Kolanczyk. Laurvick and Devyn Moss are the team's sophomores, and new freshmen include Emma Peterson, Samantha Young and Missy Walkowiak.
The Spartans' first four games of the season are on the road. Their first home game is against Hudson on Friday, Dec. 13.
ADVERTISEMENT
SPARTAN SPIN: Anna and Tina Lurndal are twin sisters. ... Laurvick and Young are both members of the Team Wisconsin U16 team. Laurvick was leading the team in scoring through its first seven games of the season with four goals and two assists. Young finished as the team's third-leading scorer with three goals and four assists. ... Harker's assistant coach is former UW-Superior Yellowjacket Kayla Chilstrom. Both are entering their third year with the Spartans. ... Also helping out are Shanley Peters and Haley Olmstead, both current members of the undefeated UWS women's hockey team. ... Superior was 2-5 against teams in its section last season. ... The Spartans' team manager is Natalie Helgerson. ... Eau Claire-Altoona is honorable mention in the wisconsinprephockey.net preseason poll.
