The Eau Claire North boys hockey team is coming off a six-win campaign last year and is hoping to find its footing.

Huskies coach Ryan Parker has seen his roster shift from year-in to year-out, with this year showing a true test of its depth.

“We went through a phase where we graduated 24 guys in two years,” Parker said. “We had to start playing a lot of young guys early. Maybe they weren’t ready to play, but we had to start them early and the last couple of years have been very trying (with) a lot of growth.”

A 4-3 start to the season has seen highs like the Huskies winning their first two games and lows like losing to conference foes Hudson and New Richmond.

North’s biggest high, in its most lopsided game of the season so far, was its 13-1 win over Wisconsin Rapids on Dec. 16 at Hobbs Municipal Ice Arena.

“I feel like (we did) a lot of the little things right,” forward captain Garrett Stange said. “We were working hard down low. Bearic (Wolle) was finding the back of the net a lot that game so that helped a lot.”

A senior forward, Wolle notched a hat trick against the Red Raiders. His five goals this season is tied with defenseman Cam Moseler for the team lead.

“We had a pretty bad first period (with) only one goal,” Wolle said. “Our second period, we had nine goals (by) pretty much just pounding home around the net.”

The younger Huskies also helped pick up the slack, as freshman defenseman Bennet Pecor tallied two goals and two assists, sophomore forward Ty Haats had two goals and junior defenseman Easton Parker had a team-high five points (one goal, four assists).

North junior goaltender Carter Duss also had 21 saves and boasts a 2.73 goals against average in five games this season.

“Everyone was just stepping up and playing their role in what they needed to do,” forward Westley Thillman said.

“We got a lot of young guys stepping up, taking on some pretty big roles and doing what they have to do,” Stange said.

The Huskies still have 11 seniors, including Stange, Thillman and Wolle, who have all felt the need to improve their recent standing in the Big Rivers Conference. North has won a combined four BRC games over the last two years, finishing last in the 2023-24 season and only above Menomonie last year.

“We got a lot of guys with experience from past years,” Wolle said. “We’re really using that to get above where we’ve been in past years. I feel like this year we got a pretty good chance to do that.”

Parker said his team still needs to work on its in-zone offensive presence and its ability to play calmer and more together as a unit.

“We work fairly hard in our d-zone and I think we need to get a little more of a rhythm, a little more flow as we enter the offensive zone,” Parker said. “Then, our in-zone offensive play, we have to get that clicking a little smoother and fluid. Once we get that down, we should create a lot more opportunities.”

More opportunities will come for North heading into the new year as it competes in the Rocket Red Nose Classic holiday tournament from Dec. 28-30 in Appleton.

“(It’ll come with more) playing, listening, executing and trying to keep understanding where we’re at and what we need to keep growing,” Parker said.

With teams like NHM, New Richmond, Bay Area, Middleton, University School of Milwaukee, Tomahawk and Stevens Point Area Senior High, the tournament is a true measuring stick for the Huskies.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Stange said. “I think we got a pretty good chance of doing pretty good this year.”

“I’m excited to play some of the top teams in the state,” Thillman said. “They’re going to push us and we’re hopefully going to push them.”

“New guys to hit, new guys to score on,” Wolle said.

Dec. 26—GRAND FORKS — Matt Smaby was asked what he likes about this year's UND hockey team.

"How much time do you have?" he responded.

Then, UND's first-year associate head coach got into it.

"A lot," he said. "If you take the results out of it, take the hockey out of it, we have really good kids. That is the starting point for success for any good team. You need character, you need leadership, you need full buy-in from the guys. And you need a group of guys that really gets along well together. That's what we have in this room. We feel we have a tremendous group of kids in that room that really want to do it the right way."

The Fighting Hawks have returned from Christmas break to begin preparations for the second half.

The first half went about as well as they could have imagined under first-year head coach Dane Jackson, considering the massive roster turnover — 15 new players, which ties 1973 and 1951 for the most in a single season since Year 2 of the program.

UND is 14-4 and ranked No. 4 nationally. It is also No. 4 in the NPI, which is used to select and seed the NCAA tournament.

"I think we put ourselves in a really good spot," Smaby said. "The key for us is not the start, it's the finish. So, to build moving forward is the most important focus point for the group. We've still got better, we know that."

UND finished the first half of the season going 10-1 in its last 11 games. It swept St. Cloud State and Omaha in the last two weekends, but Smaby didn't think the Fighting Hawks were at their best in those games.

"If you look at the last four games heading into the break, probably not our best in regards to team play, but we still found a way," Smaby said. "I think the second half, it's really cranking it up, tightening things up, really continuing to grow our game a little bit day in and day out, and really looking to keep building. Really good first half. Happy with where we're at. But we're turning the focus point moving forward and trying to get better."

The Fighting Hawks host Mercyhurst on Jan. 2-3 in their final nonconference series of the season.

UND will be shorthanded for that series.

Forward Cole Reschny, forward Will Zellers, defenseman E.J. Emery and defenseman Keaton Verhoeff are at the World Junior Championship in the Twin Cities. They will all miss the series.

Junior defensemen Jake Livanavage and Abram Wiebe are at the Spengler Cup in Davos, Switzerland. They are expected to arrive in Grand Forks on Jan. 2, but that arrival could be expedited if the U.S. Collegiate Selects are eliminated early.

If Livanavage and Wiebe are unable to play, UND will have five defensemen for the Mercyhurst series — captain Bennett Zmolek, Andrew Strathmann, Sam Laurila, Jayden Jubenvill and Ian Engel.

"We talk about our goals at the beginning of the season," Smaby said. "What are our big aspirations? We know that taking care of nonconference is extremely important for us. We've got two more coming out of break that are going to be extremely important as well. We have to be super dialed, super focused."

There were several factors behind UND's big start.

In net, freshman Jan Špunar has been sensational, going 9-0 with a .934 save percentage.

On the back end, UND's defensive corps has been as good as advertised.

Up front, Ben Strinden is having a breakout senior season. Strinden leads UND in goals (11) and points (19) at the break.

But UND's depth has worn out opponents, too.

"I really like a lot of the things our team is doing," Smaby said. "I know the rest of the coaching staff does as well. Regardless of the outcomes, the team is playing really hard. That's a great baseline to have. If you make mistakes giving 100% effort, it's much easier to correct those. That's what our team has shown in spades. They're not perfect, but the guys are working really hard.

"If we can carry that over, having that baseline work as we evolve, as we work on things, as we fix things, it becomes much easier for the group."

Santa Claus made an appearance at the United Center on Tuesday night. He sounded the horn before the puck drop of the Chicago Blackhawks game against the Philadelphia Flyers.

The Hawks wanted a win for Christmas. They got more coal instead, with a sixth-straight loss in regulation, this time a 3-1 contest to the Flyers.

Scoring was hard to come by once again for the home team without Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar. The Hawks have scored just eight goals in the absence of Bedard this season, a 1.6 goals-per-game average across five games.

At 13-17-6, they’re at the bottom of the NHL standings going into the Christmas break. It’s a far cry from the playoff talk that surrounded the team heading into Thanksgiving.

“We’re doing our best, I don’t think we’re focusing on what’s been in the past,” a dejected André Burakovsky said. “We look forward to the next game and try to find success.”

Photos: Philadelphia Flyers 3, Chicago Blackhawks 1

Without Bedard and Nazar, the Hawks don’t have a forward who is decisive in shooting the puck. The home team had four shots on goal in the first period.

The Hawks prevented the Flyers from utilizing the center of the ice for a good portion of the first period. Philadelphia right winger Travis Konecny was able to find a crack in the Hawks’ defense at 10:17 in the first to go up 1-0.

The power play, despite not seeing a goal with a man advantage, produced some looks for the Hawks in the second. They took 10 of their 21 shots on goal in the second period.

“In the end, we had more chances than they did (but) we didn’t score,” Hawks coach Jeff Blashill said. “On the power play there at the end, we generated chances (and) that was probably our best power play.

“(We got to) keep grinding and find a way to score.”

Ryan Donato scored a goal for the first time since Nov. 28 at 18:30 in the second period. It was a sigh of relief, even with the chances he’s generated.

“I think it’d be different if I wasn’t getting the chances, that would be a little scary,” Donato said. “Definitely a little bit of weight off the shoulders.”

It can be tough to deal with a skid like the Hawks are on, especially with a young team. But the skaters seem to be keeping their heads up.

“The young guys are actually always positive, in great moods and happy-go-lucky guys,” Donato said. “It’s a matter of finding a way to win.

“There’s no negative attitude, there’s no feeling sorry for ourselves. I think everybody’s hungry to push in the right direction.”

Spencer Knight (17 saves) skated off the ice near the end of the third period, down 2-1. It was poorly timed, as the Flyers went on a breakaway with right winger Carl Grundstrom scoring the empty-netter to put Philadelphia up by two.

“I made the decision to pull him,” Blashill said. “I thought we were getting possession (and) we didn’t get possession, so that’s on me.”

Nick Lardis seems to be the Hawks’ best chance at putting shots in the back of the net without Bedard and Nazar. His ice time increased to 10:32 against the Flyers compared to 8:17 on Saturday in Ottawa.

He didn’t have any shots on goal, but he was active on the power play. The young player also got into a scuffle with right winger Matvei Michkov early in the third, sending them both to the penalty box.

“When you get into those type of combative situations, that brings the emotional level of the whole building up,” Blashill said. “At least it puts (the team) in a position to have that emotion rise, which I think is a good thing.”

If Lardis’ ice time is going to increase, Blashill is looking for a few things from the young winger.

“I would say finding space at this level, he’s not really fast and he’s not really big,” Blashill said. “He’s a good skater (but) he’s not going to separate himself with his speed, so I think he’s got to find the right spacing.”

For now, the Hawks need to enjoy the holiday break. With the Dallas Stars, Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Islanders on the horizon, things aren’t getting easier.

“I think with where we’re at, (the break is) probably a good thing,” Blashill said. “I love Christmas, I love seeing my family and I’m sure a number of guys are the same way.

“Flying to Dallas that first day coming out is a hard thing, but we’re going to have to find a way to grind.”

Dec. 23—The Austin boys hockey team lost to Pine City 3-2 in overtime on the road Tuesday.

Austin (2-7 overall) tied the game at 2-2 when Trent Rubin scored with 1:27 left in the third period, but it fell short in the extra session.

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Eli Krueger scored the first goal of the night for the Packers.

Pine City (5-4-1 overall) took a 2-0 lead in the first period, but the Packers were able to get back in the game.

Dec. 23—GRAND FORKS — College hockey is sending an all-star team to the Spengler Cup for the first time.

The U.S. College Selects will compete in Davos, Switzerland, from Dec. 26-31, in a six-team tournament that has been held since 1923.

But they don't want it to be the last.

"We understand the responsibility to college hockey players in the future to have this opportunity and platform," U.S. College Selects coach Guy Gadowsky said. "We want to represent college hockey extremely well so we continue to get to do this."

The U.S. College Selects began building the team by offering spots to last year's All-Americans — a reward for staying in college another year.

UND's Jake Livanavage was one of those players. The other returning All-Americans who accepted invites were defenseman Mac Gadowsky (Army, Penn State), UConn forward Joey Muldowney, Penn State forward Aiden Fink and Minnesota State goaltender Alex Tracy.

All-American goalies Trey Augustine of Michigan State and Albin Boija of Maine were unable to join the Selects.

General managers Steve Metcalf and Sean Hogan continued building the team with players who had strong starts to the 2025-26 NCAA season like Fighting Hawks defenseman Abram Wiebe, Minnesota Duluth forward Zam Plante and Denver defenseman Eric Pohlkamp of Brainerd, Minn.

College hockey officials acknowledged to the Herald that they're hoping to build a rapport with the Spengler Cup to bring future NCAA all-star teams.

It might not be an annual thing, but it could be biennially.

"We're the pioneers in this tournament," Gadowsky said. "We're going to learn a ton about how to improve it for future years."

The benefits of the Brian C. Stone Memorial Christmas Hockey Tournament show themselves at the most important time of the year.

Hosted at JFK Coliseum in Manchester and sponsored by Brady Sullivan Properties, the annual high school boys hockey tournament gives less experienced players — and their coaches — confidence when they are needed late in the season.

“Getting that ice time here, it helps build that confidence in them for when their number is called later in the season, because it will be with injuries happening and just overall growth,” said fifth-year Bedford coach Jon Garrity, who helps organize the tournament. “It also builds trust for the coaches knowing, ‘OK, this is the player I have and I’ve seen him do what I want him to do.’ And that’s massive, too — the trust that you start to gain with these kids in this tournament.”

NHIAA Division I teams Bedford, the Manchester Kings co-op program, Trinity, Concord, Bow, Hanover, Exeter and Division II Goffstown will participate in this year’s tournament, which begins on Friday and runs through Sunday.

The championship game is scheduled for Sunday at 8 p.m.

Concord is both the defending Division I and Stone tournament champion.

Trinity coach Mike Connell sees the tournament as a great opportunity to get young guys like freshman forward Hunter Therrien more experience. Therrien has been skating on a line with junior twin brothers Tristan and Cal Lucier, who both joined the team this season.

Connell will dress each of his 27 players.

“To me, it’s good to get the kids in and see something that maybe I didn’t see during tryouts or practice,” he said.

Manchester coach Jeremy Baker will also use the tournament as a development opportunity.

To compete against the top Division I teams like Concord, Trinity and Hanover, Manchester needs its young players to contribute, Baker said. Right now, Manchester’s top 10 skaters see most of the ice time, he said.

“When it comes to those games (against top teams), you really have to run three lines and you have to have at least five (defensemen) in the mix," said Baker, adding that, otherwise, players run out of gas by the third period.

The tournament is a season highlight for both players and coaches.

Trinity players enjoy wearing the team’s annual Christmas-themed jerseys during the tournament. This year’s sweaters look like Santa’s famous red suit.

The field of teams has become a Christmas tradition.

Named after the late Brian Stone, who coached and played at Manchester Central, the tournament for many years consisted of Central, Manchester Memorial, Bedford, Trinity, Concord, Hanover, Bow and Goffstown.

When Central, Memorial and Manchester West together formed the Kings co-op program in 2021, Exeter filled the tournament’s open spot. The Blue Hawks have participated ever since.

Coaches enjoy the camaraderie and the atmosphere at JFK, a beloved rink within the state’s hockey community, Garrity said.

“... People love playing there because of its history and just its feeling and the tightness of it — of how small it feels but it’s kind of intimate, in that way,” he said. “We have a good group of coaches. Most, if not all, of us really have a good relationship with each other and that makes it really easy to keep it going and communicate and make sure we’re doing it the right way.”

ahall@unionleader.com

Dec. 23—BEMIDJI — The Bemidji High School boys hockey team was just over five minutes away from getting out of the Bemidji Community Arena with a win over Roseau.

Then Jude Wittrock scored the tying goal on the power play.

Wittrock's tally knotted the game at 3-3. Abram Waage delivered the overtime winner 5:57 into the extra session.

Cal Mattfield, Camden Bentfield and Landon Knott discord for BHS (5-3). Quinn Niemi, Griffin Dewar, Dawson Schoonover, Eli Kringen and Mattfield all recorded at least one assist.

Roseau (3-6) picked up its first two goals from Anton Klint and Tanner Paulson.

Christian Hill made 25 saves in the loss for the Jacks. Roseau's Brendon Simmons stopped 29 shots for the Rams.

Roseau 4, Bemidji 3 (F/OT)

ROS 1 1 1 1 — 4

BHS 1 2 0 0 — 3

First period — BHS GOAL: Mattfield (Niemi, Dewar) 0:43; ROS GOAL: Klint (Paulson) 10:08.

Second period — BHS GOAL: Bentfield (Schoonover, Kringen) 1:24; BHS GOAL: Bentfield (Schoonover, Kringen) 1:24; BHS GOAL: L. Knott (Mattfield, Dewar) PPG, 11:20; ROS GOAL: Paulson (Klint, Hammer) 12:20.

Third period — ROS GOAL: Wittrock (Klint, Waage) 13:48.

Overtime — ROS GOAL: Waage (Hammer, Paulson) 5:57.

Saves — Hill (BHS) 25; Simmons (ROS) 29.