The Otters have some holes to fill with the graduation of seniors Sophie Rausch (Hamline), Hallie Sheridan (Wisconsin-Eau Claire), Mady Eklund (UM-Duluth Club Hockey), Jadyn McKeever (NDSU Club Hockey) and Amy Johnson, however, they also have a number of returning players who gained valuable varsity experience and were great contributors to their successful 2018-2019 season. 

A solid core of seniors returns, including Jade Zierden (C, Captain), Lexi McGary (W), Vivian Karsnia (W), Chloe Nelson (D, Captain) and Liz Mattson (C).  Junior Ellie Andersen (W), sophomores Piper Andrews (W), Gabby Brimhall (D), Marilyn Karsnia (D) and Hope Goepferd (D), and freshman Maddie Hulter (C) give Head Coach Tim Lill a talented group of experienced varsity players.

“We should be able to score some goals this season,” noted Lill, “but we lost both of our senior goalies, so we’ll have to figure that out.”

Freshman Ava Hastings is joined by eighth-graders Ana Jyrkas and Lexi Metcalf as candidates for the goaltending job.

Juniors Abbi Jensen (W) and Natalie Fransen (W), sophomores Talia Nelson (W), Jadyn Bye (W) and Kelsi Beck (C), and freshman Skye Norgren (D) will all be expected to provide varsity ice time for the Otters.

Lill, who will be assisted by Todd Hershner, Brooks Andersen, Nikki Kaasa and Fritz Karsnia, sees Willmar and River Lakes as the top teams in Section 6A, while Brainerd, Alexandria, St. Cloud and Sartell/Sauk Rapids should battle it out in the Central Lakes Conference.