The Bronco girls hockey team has never finished above .500 since the program began as a varsity sport in 1999-2000.
A winning record in 2011-12 is one of the team’s goals, said head coach Gerald Bolstad, who entered his third season with a coaching record of 23-25-6.
Last season’s team, which finished 11-13-3, reached the Section 7A semifinals before losing 3-2 in overtime to Chisago Lakes Area.
Two Falls players named last season to the Northern Minnesota All-Star team — forwards Sydney Gordon and Mackenzie Raboin, who each scored 14 goals in 2010-11 — are among the team’s key losses along with forward Amanda Hofius and defensive player Ashley Bahr.
Bolstad’s list of key returning players includes: defensive players Michelle McDonald, Alyssa Bergstrom and Rebekah Ford; forwards Abby Fox, Amy Auran and Bailey Bernard; and goalie Taylar Nelson.
While the Broncos’ strengths include speed, defense and goaltending, Bolstad said the team presently doesn’t have a lot of proven goal scorers.
Of the two non-losing seasons in Falls girls hockey history, one was in Bolstad’s first year as head coach when the Broncos finished 12-12-3 in 2009-10. In addition to seeking a winning record this season, he said another team goal is to win the Section 7A title.
Though he is concerned the most about depth this season, Bolstad said he is looking forward to having a “great bunch of kids to work with.”
He said the teams to watch out for include Proctor, Hermantown, Hibbing and Fort Frances, with the latter opponent across the Rainy River in Canada being on the Broncos’ schedule twice this season.
Falls began the season Tuesday at Roseau and hosts its first home game Friday against Silver Bay.
