While Delano fans may feel their anxiety bubble when an opposing player races in on goaltender Jackson Hjelle, the Tigers’ junior netminder might as well have the Bobby McFerrin hit “Don’t Worry, Be Happy playing on loop in his mind. 

“Don’t worry about if it’s going to go in, don’t worry about they’re going to do, just read and react and hope for the best,” Hjelle says of his philosophy when staring down breakaways.  

The “no worries” vibe that emanates from Hjelle has afforded him a hot start to the 2016-2017 campaign, including a 5-2 win over longtime rival Breck on Tuesday night. 

The win partly avenges the four previous years where the Mustangs have ended the Tigers’ season in the Class 1A, Section 2 playoffs, once in the semifinals, and three times in the section champinship.    

Hjelle made 38 saves, including several breakaways and point-blank chances, as the Tigers scored three times in the second period and twice in the third lead to earn the victory. 

“He’s such a competitor,” Delano coach Gerrit van Bergen said of Hjelle after the win. 

“He’s so focused now being a year older,” van Bergen continued. “We see it in practice every day.”

Hjelle’s improvement in practice may come from trying to stop shots from arguably the top line in the state, consisting of Tiger seniors John Keranen, Maine commit Ben Meyers, and Michigan Tech commit Brian Halonen. 

“Compete every day, work hard in practice, and play the best you can and good things will happen,” Hjelle said succinctly of his successful start to the season, beginning the year with five consecutive periods without giving up a goal after shutting out Blake 9-0 in the season-opener. 

Outscoring opponents 14-2 in the season’s first two games has been primarily the job of Delano’s first line, with Kernanen (five), Halonen (four) and Meyers (two) accounting for 11 of the team’s goals. 

The line has been together for nearly seven seasons according to Meyers. 

“We’ve been playing together for years, since we were about ten years old,” Meyers said after scoring a goal and handing out four assists on Tuesday. 

“I know what (Keranen and Halonen) are going to do on the ice.”

Halonen and Keranen each scored two goals in the win over the Mustangs. 

Even with the first line producing the lion’s share of scoring, van Bergen says that he has full confidence in his entire lineup. 

“Every guy is competing, contributing to his role and we saw that tonight,” van Bergen explained, pointing to plays that don’t make the score sheet, like getting pucks deep and maintaining offensive pressure.

Meyers adds that having what he believes to be the best fans in the state also helps when playing on enemy ice. 

“Every game we have more fans (than the opposing team),” Meyers said. 

“It’s an unreal experience to play in front of them, and love ‘em.”