With 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 Minneapolis.
How last season went
Minneapolis hockey is slowly but surely working its way back to relevance. Look to Hockey Day Minnesota 2020 where the squad took center stage against Warroad. Though it didn’t go well, that was a common scene throughout the season.
This Minneapolis squad went 9-14-2. Once at 9-9-2, things went down the wrong path via a nine-game losing streak. That left the regular season at 9-14-2.
In Section 2A, Minneapolis was the No. 6 seed. The run didn’t last long as Breck won the contest between the two programs.
Who’s back and who’s gone
Ben Murray was a major force for Minneapolis and graduated this past Spring after posting a team-best 30 points (18 goals, 12 assists). The good news: he’s likely the only senior who made a major impact on this team last season.
Frank Lindgren (7G, 18A), Zander Zoiq (8G, 16A) and Jack Hanson (10G, 14A) are all set to return after sitting near the top of the list for most points on this Minneapolis team.
As for the goaltending situation, things are also looking up. Cole Kloek is set to return following a season where he had a .887 save percentage while Alex Lamont also is set to be back on the ice with a .867 save percentage during the 2019-20 season.
What to expect next season
Eyes are usually on the Minneapolis hockey scene due to its decline over the past few decades. That remains. While last season wasn’t particularly kind to the state’s biggest city, there are some signs of encouragement. There are plenty of people rooting for Minneapolis to make a run and become relevant in the Class 1A hockey scene.