UPDATE: Providence Academy Lions Look To Bounce Back

The following story is an updated, corrected version of a previous story posted on Plymouth Patch:

The Providence Academy Lions boys hockey team ended their four-game losing streak to start the season last week and they are looking to keep building this season.

They beat Richfield 8-1 last week, led by Ryan Tapani’s four goals. It ended a 0-4 start that included losses to ranked teams such as Duluth Marshall and St. Cloud Cathedral.

The Lions anticipate being competitive in the Tri-Metro conference, but Breck will provide a huge challenge. Breck looks to be the contender for the conference title from how they have started the season and because the team boasts one of the top rankings in the state.

“Breck is so much better than all the rest of the teams that it will be men against boys,” Lions coach Hal Tearse said.

The Lions do return some experienced key players in Marshall Klitzke, Sean Mostrom and Tapani. They helped the Lions go 18-7 last season before falling 9-3 to Orono in the section tournament.

TEAMS TO WATCH

Breck – The Mustangs have a team loaded with talent.

Blake – The Bears lost a lot of offensive fire power from last season, but they also return some young talent.

KEY RETURNERS

Conor Andrle  (Breck) – The Mustangs forward can find his teammates on the ice for goals effectively. He led the team in assists last season.

Zach Doerring (Blake)  – The Bears senior forward returns after collecting the fifth-highest point total on the team last year.

Spencer Naas (Blake)  – The Bears sophomore forward was fourth in points for the team last season and he has provided a big scoring spark early in the new season.

KEY LOSSES

George Ordway (Blake) – The former Bears star led the team in goals and assists last year.

Donald Chute (Blake) – He had the second-highest point total for the Bears last year and he can both distribute the puck and put it in the net effectively.

PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Grant Opperman (Breck) – He returns after a stellar junior season, and he has had a strong start this season with 14 points through their first five games.

Editor's Note: Below are corrections from the previous story PA Boy's Hockey:

• The Providence Hockey team has been in the Tri Metro for several years.

• Duluth Marshall is a single A school not AA and Breck is a single A school, not AA.

• Marshall Tema does not play for Providence, but St. Louis Park.

• The Providence boy's hockey team were not ranked 9th.

Plymouth Patch apologizes for these and any other errors and has made a change in our coverage of Providence Academy sports. We appreciate your continued readership.