Minnetonka 

2016-2017 Record: 15-12-0

Yes, the Skippers finished just three games over .500 last season. Yes, they have a new coach in Sean Goldsworthy. Yes, they lose leading goal-scorer T.J. Rogers to graduation. Yes, standout defenseman Clay Hanus jumped to the Western Hockey League. 

But reduce the engine power and drop anchor because what returns is three Division I commits and a team chock-full of talent thanks to back-to-back state championships at the Bantam AA level.

Sophomore forward and Denver commit Bobby Brink (10-20-30) impressed in his freshman campaign, and the offense also features Minnesota-Duluth commit Luke Loheit (6-7-13) and junior Jack Bayless (7-15-22). Junior Grant Docter (5-16-21) returns on the backend to stabilize the defense, and junior goaltender Charlie Glockner went 7-1-2 in Elite League play.  

Six of the Skippers’ 12 losses last season came against teams that advanced all the way to the state tournament, plus two losses came against Section 6AA finalist Edina.

With Goldsworthy perhaps breathing new life into a program that hasn’t made the trip to St. Paul since 2010, the Skippers have the pieces in place to make a serious run in the postseason.