By MIKE KEMMETER
of The Gazette
With a new coach and 10 new players, the Stevens Point Area Senior High hockey team will have a different look as the team will try to make its ninth straight state tournament appearance.
Eleven players are back from last season, a team that lost in overtime in the state semifinal. Seven of the team's top eight scorers were lost to graduation, with fourth-leading scorer - sophomore Joe Pavelski - the only high-scoring returnee. As a freshman, Pavelski had 13 goals, 8 assists and 21 points.
"We have a young team and it's going to take a few games to get everybody used to the new system, the new coach," new coach Bill Wright said.
Wright, a former minor league hockey player who is coaching for the first time, takes over for longtime coach Jack Stoskopf. Stoskopf, who took SPASH to the state tournament 11 of his 14 years as coach, resigned to spend more time with his family.
Wright said in the Valley, where the Panthers are the defending champion, Wausau West was the preseason favorite. Marshfield, Antigo, D.C. Everest and Wisconsin Rapids are other teams to watch, he said.
"I think we're going to be in the top three for sure. If not, it will be a disappointment," Wright said.
While Wright said his defense is young, the Panthers have one of the top goalies in the state back from last year's team. Junior goalie Shaun Kruzitski returns after posting a 1.35 goals against average and a 92 percent save percentage a year ago. Kruzitski's backup, junior Eric Everson, is back as well. He had a 1.6 goals against average in limited action last year.
Defensemen Joe Richter (senior), Mark Lutz (junior) and Nolan Wessell (sophomore) return. The team has four new defensemen - Patrick Ligman (junior), Alan Pearcy (sophomore), Nick Hubbard (sophomore) and Mike Soik (freshman).
Wright said the team's defense is most important. "We have to take care of our defense first," he said.
On offense, the Panthers have senior forwards Josh Kujawa (6 goals, 8 assists, 14 points), Marty Schultz (4, 6, 10), Zach Irons (3, 5, 8) and Jake Pazdernik (1, 0, 1) back, as well as junior forward Ben Roth (2, 1, 3).
SPASH has six new forwards - Kent Foster (junior), Tanner Gruber (sophomore), Brian Soik (sophomore), Luke Vreeland (sophomore), Nate Alm (freshman) and Jimmy Haluska) freshman.
"We'll let our offense take care of itself," Wright said. "We have creative players on offense." More of the team's experience is up front, he said.
The Panthers lost seven of their top eight scorers - Eric Anderson (17 goals, 15 assists, 32 points), Adam Kostichka (12, 14, 26), Justin Danielski (11, 15, 26), Noah Johnson (9, 8, 17), Josh Pagel (8, 7, 15) and Jake Swenson (6, 9, 15) - to graduation. Derrick Schultz (defense), Aaron Erzinger (defense) and Jesse Miech (forward) also graduated.
Wright said 21 players on the roster will get a look in the first several games. The Panthers lost their opener 4-2 at Wisconsin Rapids Tuesday.
"Everybody's going to play early on," Wright said. "After Christmas, we'll shorten up the bench. Everyone will get a chance to show they can play."
Wright isn't worried about the team adjusting to a new coach. "The guys, they want to win. They've been close before," he said. "They're old enough and strong enough that they're not going to belly-ache about a new system."