Hockey Team’s Miraculous Season

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13 Time Champions Add to Decorated History

By Andrew Erickson

10-yearsAt times this season, senior goaltender Peyton Flanders made his teammates anxious with his reckless play. They had no reason to be nervous in the champion-ship game, as he seamlessly protected the net, leading the Spartans to their 13th state title.

13-TitlesFlanders showed a calm head in three tournament games, especially shining in the last two while blockading all scoring attempts.

“It’s not nerve-racking going to play the puck, but if I get beat, it’s like, ‘Oh shoot, you messed up on that one,’” Flanders said.

The Spartans won their first state championship since 2005, making their first state final since 2007.


They finished 14-15-1, making them the first team in state history to be crowned state champion while having a losing record.


13-Goals“Our record doesn’t show what we have,” senior captain Tyler Nystrom said.

The defense was one of the major factors that separated this team from the past nine that could not etch their name into Superior hockey history.

“That’s how you win championships. First in the defense, and you worry about the scoring later,” head coach Jason Kalin said. “Everybody really stepped up.” Flanders thought everyone did their part down at state, and they finally were able to bring home a championship after so many years.

“I thought it was a team effort, and we knew once we got down to the state tournament that it was time for business,” Flanders said.

“It’d been too long since we had brought a title back to Superior and we were all going to step up and do right to bring one back.”

7 winsGoals were few and far and between often times during the regular season, but come playoff time the Spartans found the back of the net frequently. “It was frustrating knowing you couldn’t do anything about it, but I had faith in the team that they would put some in there eventually,” Flanders said.

37 appearancesAlthough the team did not depend on one solitary scorer, they found strength in having spread out scoring. The leading scorers during the tournament were sophomore Troy Shold with three goals and Nystrom and junior Beau Reder with two goals apiece. Seniors Grant Hanson, Jesse Polson, Matt Hinaus, Daniel Burger, junior Preston Michaud and sophomore Caden Tchop also scored one goal each.


Contrary to the regular season, the team was explosive down at state.


177 feetThe turning point in Madison came in the first game when Janesville Parker/Craig stormed back in the second period to tie the game 2-2.

Facing adversity for the first time during the tournament, the Spartans were able to answer with a little motivation from their coach Steve Downs during intermission. “Downs told us there was 17 minutes to earn another 51” Polson, assistant captain, said.

point 67 goals against averageDowns’ words really registered with the team, especially with their season on the line.

After Hanson drew a hooking penalty, the Spartans scored the game winning goal four minutes and 38 seconds into the third period.

27 penalty minutesOn the power play, Hanson took a pass at the point from junior Shane Tetzlaff and wristed one past a screened Janesville goalie to give the Spartans the lead.

They did not look back that weekend as they never trailed again, winning the next two games 3-0 and 6-0.




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