Following last season’s 16-11 record and an appearance in the Section 7A semifinals, the International Falls boys hockey team will be seeking to go further in 2012-13.
Bruce Elson enters his second season as head coach of the boys team with the Broncos returning last year’s top scorer in the Iron Range Conference, senior Lucas DeBenedet, who recorded 61 points, and senior goalie Wesley Gunnerson, who saw most of the action in the net.
However, Falls’ graduation losses include what Elson calls “eight hard-working seniors” — forward Mason Meyer, who now plays for the SIJHL’s Fort Frances Lakers, four other forwards — Brett Musich, Broc Friend, Christian Kittelson and T.J. Wickstrom, and three defensemen — Joel Skirten, Jack Bragg and Colten LaFrance.
DeBenedet, Meyer and Musich combined for 139 points last season.
Along with DeBenedet, another top returning scorer is senior forward Erik Lassila, who had 28 points last season. The top-scoring defensemen that return include seniors Kyler Schneider (12 points), Nick Anderson (10 points) and Derek White (9 points). Also back is junior goalie Wyatt Ulrich.
Elson said the 2012-13 team has “a good representation of seniors,” including six on defense, while he believes “all areas of the game can be improved.”
“With hard work, they’ll do well,” he said.
Elson said the team goals this season, “as with all years,” are to win the Section and Iron Range Conference titles and “have a lot of fun working toward those accomplishments.”
He said he is concerned the most this season about injuries and “bad timing of the flu,” while he is looking forward to “watching the players work hard toward being the best players they can be.”
“Every team on our schedule will be a tough opponent,” Elson said. “Our conference and section are very tough.”
The Broncos open the season Tuesday when they play at Hibbing, the team that knocked the Falls out of the playoffs in the Section 7A semifinals. The Broncos’ first home game is Dec. 1 against Little Falls.
