The Eagles hockey team has high expectations for this upcoming season since it was 10 to 16 last year with a line-up of mostly underclassmen. This year, the team will be young with twenty-three new players: sixteen sophomores, four freshmen, two seniors and one junior. However, they are already performing well.

 

They plastered Bagley/Fosston in their first game last week with a score of 8 to 2 and then defeated in the Moose Lake Area with a score of 7 to 4.  

 

“With this young group we are hoping that the juniors and senior carry the load at the beginning of the year while the young kids mature and contribute later on when you are playing your best hockey,” says Coach Doug Friedrichs.

 

A few players graduated last year. Weston Schug, Aubrey Hartfiel, Max Nelson, Alec Doran and Logan Beckstrom all graduated. Weston Schug became the leading scorer in Becker and Big Lake History with 120 points while Aubrey Hartfiel moved up to third all-time scoring with 94 points. Then, there is Jason Tonneslan, who has 97 career points.

 

The Eagles are looking to contend for the Two Rivers conference championship this year. Even though the hockey team lost four of the five top scorers from the team last year, returning forwards Corbin Kollar, Jacob Bahe, Tyler Ruppelius, Graham Kossila, Jaden Keo and Austin Rydberg pick up right strong where they left off last year. Meanwhile, newcomers Tyler Schmittt, Ethan Tobako, Nate Zimmerman, Noah Peterson, Trenton Rupar, Brock Ramola, Jacob Boe, Kellen Hurt, Matt Huffman, Josh Lillemo, Bennett Tatge and Tyler Mossak should provide depth at the forward position. Last season, the most improved part of the Eagles team was their young defensemen which were sophomores Tucker Rhodes and Nate Kerzman and junior Luke Mehelich. New players Ethan Orgon, Dillion Lindenau, Luke Ruppelius, Joey Peters, Dylan Pishney, Austin Barzee, Grayson Hopper and Mitch Reasoner should and will be the back bone of the team.

 

Junior Caden Weber and Sophomore Alec Anderson will battle for the goaltending job.

 

Coaching staff includes 6th year Head Coach Doug Friedrichs, Assistant Coaches Jason Hartfiel 3rd season and Zach Barzee first year.

 

The next chance to come out to support the Becker Big Lake hockey team will be on Dec. 4 at 7:15 pm, when they will play against Mora/Milaca at the Princeton Ice Arena.