Only one Notre Dame Academy fall sports team is still competing: football. Although it’s sad to see the fall teams play their last games, the end of fall sports means the beginning of winter sports–which means the Triton boys hockey team is back on the ice.

After a loss in the sectional semi-finals to Hudson last year, “the Boys” are back and ready to prove themselves. The Tritons lost eight seniors last year–Jack Pavek, Ben Krysiak, Jack Weid, Jett Jaraczewski, Beau Belmore, Zach Krysiak, Skyler Palmer and JR Lesatz–and one junior to the USHL, Michael Karow, but the Boys still have high expectations for their season.

“We plan to win the conference championship, and our team hopes to make a state run,” said senior Stephen Lovell.

The 2016-2017 team consists of Head Coach Cory McCracken; seniors Brady Bjork, Jason Revolinsky, Bennett Christenson, Jadon Motquin, Steven Gerbers and Lovell; juniors Grant Noble, Jon Fry, Mike Gregorie, TJ Burke, Matthew Kini, Tyler Foytik, Logan Braun, Bryce Poshak, Jacob Peterman and Max Polack; and freshmen Spencer Allen, Eli Canedo, Sam Peterman, Jacob Conrad, Reid Milton, Riley Onell and Charlie Weid.

Although the team lost a lot of players from last year, Lovell maintains the team is a “close group that has brought in the culture and success that this program has a reputation of having.”

With that being said, in order to improve from last year, the team hopes to increase team chemistry and try and get into a groove early and often.

Getting into a groove may be a challenge for the Tritons because of a tough schedule which includes the Eau Claire Memorial tournament over Thanksgiving, a tough Friday night game against conference rival Bay Port on December 9 and the MIHL showcase in Detroit in February.

For those interested in seeing the boys hockey team play, their first home game is on December 3 against Edgewood at Cornerstone Community Center.