Offseason breakdown No. 117: Park of Cottage Grove
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 Park…
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Continue ReadingWith 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 Park of Cottage Grove.
How last season went
The Wolfpack fell behind during the 2020-21 season as the squad did not pick up a win until Dec. 26.
Park of Cottage Grove did end up with a 9-13-2 record. The Wolfpack did amend some of the troubles of their start to the season with wins against Mounds View, Roseville, Stillwater and Woodbury.
In the playoffs, Cottage Grove was dealt a tough hand as the No. 7 seed in the Section 3AA playoffs as the team went up against Burnsville. The Blaze won and ended the Wolfpack season.
Who’s back and who’s gone
Matthew Thompson entered the 2019-20 season as a senior leader and did so. He’s now gone after a team-best 31 points last season (12 goals, 19 assists). That’s also the case for Carter Newpower (10G, 6A).
There are three expected returners who should bring some excitement into the Cottage Grove program. That includes Samuel Janski (12G, 5A), Jack Weidner (16A) and Dalton Anderson (6G, 9A).
In net, there appears to be a reliable returner in Conner Nelsen. Last season, he posted a .901 save percentage.
What to expect next season
There are returning players to lean on. That’s a sign of hope. But this program has yet to galvanize hope amongst the community. Can that happen with a Section 3AA that St. Thomas Academy has dominated since the Cadets have moved up to Class 2A?