Offseason breakdown No. 33: Waseca
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…
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Continue ReadingWith 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 Waseca.
How last season went
The Bluejays found themselves at or above the .500 mark all of the 2019-20 season. Waseca’s biggest run came in January when the Bluejays rattled off six consecutive wins between Jan. 11 and 28.
Those six wins put Waseca in position to come out with a positive regular season record. That was the case as the Bluejays finished 17-8, good enough for fifth in the Big South Conference.
Despite Waseca’s success, the team’s first postseason game came in the play-in round of the Section 1A tournament. The Bluejays picked up a 2-1 win against Rochester Lourdes. After handling their business in the play-in round, they nearly pulled off the upset against third-seeded Faribault. However, Waseca’s season came to a heartbreaking close as the Falcons won 2-1 in overtime.
Who’s back and who’s gone
Ben Priebe, Jagger Johnson and Tyler Nordquist were a three-headed monster of sorts as they led the way for the Bluejay’s offense. Unfortunately for Waseca, all three graduate after combining for 74 goals and 43 assists.
The good news for the Bluejays is there are some returning players who are set to play for Waseca during the 2020-21 season. That includes Charlie Huttemier, who surpassed 30 points last season (14 goals, 17 assists). Ben Diedrich also is poised to return after manning the net for the Bluejays this past season. He posted a 3.05 goals against average and a .895 save percentage.
What to expect next season
Diedrich and Huttemier will have a lot on their plate next season as two of the most prominent returners for Waseca. The good news for them and the rest of the Bluejays is that this year showed once again that Section 1A is not one that is dominated by one or two teams. There’s potential for many teams in this section to grab hold of the title.