sailor . com Lake Conference Hockey • Thursday , December 12 , 2024 Page 11
New optimism inside the old hockey barn
JOHN SHERMAN john . sherman @ apgecm . com
Hopkins Pavilion is one of the unique venues in Minnesota high school hockey , a rustic alcove on the south edge of downtown Hopkins .
It is , of course , home to the Hopkins Royals boys varsity team . In the past the Royals were contenders for Lake Conference hockey titles , but for the last several years the team has played a modified Lake schedule . This season the Royals are considered an independent team . They will play a total of four games against Lake Conference opponents - two against Buffalo and one each against St . Michael-Albertville and Eden Prairie .
“ Returning to a full Lake Conference schedule is my eventual goal ,” Hopkins head coach Dylan Talkovic said prior to the
1 - Senior goalie Isaac Winkler 2 - Senior defenseman Jack Wilcox 3 - Senior defenseman Wyatt Petersen 5 - Junior forward Kirill Udaltsov 6 - Senior forward Weston Schenkelberg 7 - Junior defenseman Noah Carr 8 - Senior forward William Anderson 9 - Senior forward Olin Jackson 11 - Senior forward Sam Odegard 13 - Senior forward William Swenson 14 - Sophomore defenseman Garrett Lochner 15 - Senior forward Zander Brown 16 - Senior forward Greyson Hatlestad 17 - Junior defenseman Baylor Paul 18 - Junior defenseman Ben Knight 23 - Senior forward Brady Tersteeg 24 - Sophomore forward William Hoiska 26 - Senior forward Cooper Reece 27 - Freshman forward Madden Brown
HOPKINS ROYALS BOYS HOCKEY
season . “ It is an honor and a privilege to play in the Lake Conference .”
The Royals will test the waters with a challenging independent schedule this season . With a lot of juniors and sophomores in key roles last season , they posted an overall record of 7-19-0 .
Hopkins ’ chances on improving on that record hinge on the performance of a dozen seniors . The leader of the group is forward Weston Schenkelberg , who starred last season by amassing 41 points on 29 goals and 12 assists .
“ Any team would love to have him ,” coach Talkovic said . “ Weston scores , hits big and plays the full 200 feet .”
Schenkelberg , captain on the offensive side , is joined by two key seniors on defense - captain Wyatt Petersen and Jack Wilcox .
Hopkins is more experienced on defense than offense . Returning along with Petersen and Wilcox are blue-liners Ben Knight , Baylor Paul , Noah Carr and Garrett Lochner .
Schenkelberg , who is well on his way to the 100-point mark in career scoring , was asked about team goals .
“ To win every game we play ,” he said . “ The senior class is a great group of guys ... we are all buddies on and off the ice .”
Schenkelberg is
( SUN PHOTO BY JOHN SHERMAN )
Hopkins High ’ s boys hockey captains for the 2024-25 season are dependable defenseman Wyatt Petersen ( left ) and high-scoring forward Weston Schenkelberg .
pleased with the way coach Talkovic runs the program . “ Dylan is an awesome guy , very down to earth . He cares about every player on the team ,” the captain said .
Personal goals for Schenkelberg ’ s 2024-25 season are “ wanting to improve , reach milestones and help the team win .”
The star forward ’ s love for hockey began at an early age , and when he walked into Hopkins Pavilion for the first time years ago , he felt right at home . “ I have always been a hockey player - since I was able to walk ,” he said . “ I love the games and have always said that
the most important game is the next one .”
Petersen , a second year team captain , shares Schenkelberg ’ s love of the game .
“ This is the third year I have had Dylan as my coach ,” Petersen said . “ He is a good communicator and more approachable than most coaches . Our senior class really wants to succeed . The senior presence gives us stability . Everyone has a voice in the locker room .”
Petersen said that his main goal for the season is “ to flip some of the losses we had last season . Generally , we want to build on what we did last year . The most important game is the next one .” Both Petersen and Schenkelberg take pride in being all-around athletes . Petersen is one of the stars of the Hopkins baseball team . Schenkelberg plans to play for the Royal golf team . But before the think about spring sports , they are on a mission to make Hopkins hockey fans proud .
Schenkelberg ’ s longterm goals are focused on hockey . “ Next year I want to play Juniors in the United States Hockey League or the North American Hockey League ,” he said . “ Then I want to play Division I hockey and hopefully get drafted by an NHL team .”