Hockey girls look for progress
Waseca Winter Sports Preview 2022
Waseca Winter Sports Preview 2022
Sat, 12/31/2022 - 4:51pm
With a new head coach, you can probably expect some changes with the 2022-23 Waseca High School girls' hockey team.
Hopefully, the biggest change will be in the win-loss department.
Chas Benson is the Bluejays' new coach, and he inherits a squad that finished 4-21-1 overall and 2-12 in the Big South Conference last year. Waseca's best finish over the last five years is 7-18.
The Bluejays are young, but it doesn't mean Benson is not optimistic.
"We had a young team last year and will again this year," said Benson. "We have a good returning core of players that I expect will produce the best record the team has had in the last five years."
Benson listed two players, captain and returning leading scorer Cece Huttmier and returning goaltender Ilamay Draheim, as being key to the Bluejays' success.
Draheim, Maizee Story and Maddy Benson figure to be their stastical leaders.
"We have a few great leaders in our upperclassmen and a lot of real special young talent," said Benson. "We have six underclassmen in our top two lines, including two eighth-graders, and an eighth-grade goaltender."
Benson feels the Bluejays will field a squad that can both attack and defend the goal.
"We have a fast team that can put a lot of pucks in the net," he said. "Our goaltending will again be solid this year. If we can learn to capitalize on our speed and play tough defense, we will be a successful team."
The favorites to win the Big South, according to Benson, are Luverne and New Ulm. He lists Waseca and Albert Lea as the top teams in Section 1A.
2022-23 Waseca Girls' Hockey
Nov. 15 Fairmont 7:00
Nov. 17 at Visitation 7:45
Nov. 19 at Worthington 1:00
Nov. 22 Windom 7:00
Nov. 26 Visitation Noon
Dec. 1 at Fairmont 7:30
Dec. 3 at Luverne Noon
Dec. 8 at Minnesota River 7:00
Dec. 15 at Hopkins 7:00
Dec. 22 Red Wing 7:00
Dec. 28 at Rochester Century 7:30
Dec. 30 Rochester Century 7:00
Jan. 3 New Prague 7:00
Jan. 6 New Ulm 7:00
Jan. 7 Worthington 1:00
Jan. 10 Austin 7:00
Jan. 17 Rochester Mayo 7:00
Jan. 19 at Winona 7:00
Jan. 20 Marshall 7:00
Jan. 24 at Mankato West 5:30
Jan. 26 at New Ulm 7:00
Jan. 27 at Marshall 7:30
Jan. 30 at Windom Area 7:00
Feb. 2 Minnesota River 7:00
Feb. 4 Luverne Noon
Feb. 8-16 Section TBA