Courtesy Photo The 2019 Alpena High School hockey team includes: Jimmy Bolanowski, Eli Gosselin, Matt Thompson, Evan Kraenzlein, Ben Nowak, Charlie Halleck, Jack Hamp, Sean Stevens, Nick Schultz, Jaden Marchlowski, Jack Steinke, Brett Ciupka, Brody Thompson, Anden Marceau, Ian Lightfoot, Blaise Keller, Tanner Orban, Cam Young, Hunter Canute, Easton Schultz, Mitch Agius, Colin Lightfoot, head coach Chris Limback and assistant coaches Nick Esch, Cam Givens and Ian Stevens.

A year ago, the Alpena High hockey team experienced one of its greatest seasons in program history.

The Wildcats broke a school record for wins in a season and advanced to the state quarterfinals.

Last season has come and gone, so have key players Kyle VanDusen, Colby Plowman, Owen Limback and goaltender Cooper Black.

It will be nearly impossible for the Wildcats to replace the production they received from those four stellar seniors from a year ago and now Alpena must have some of its returning players step up and play larger roles this season.

“We have a young group and our goal is just going to be to teach the kids how to play and hopefully they learn how to work and play together,” Alpena coach Chris Limback said. 

The Wildcats have seven seniors this year. Jimmy Bolanowski will be one of two goalies that will see time between the pipes and Charlie Halleck, Sean Stevens and Brett Ciupka are the four returning seniors.

Alpena also returns juniors Evan Kraenzlein, Nick Schultz, Mitch Agius, Blaise Keller, Ben Nowak and goalie Colin Lightfoot, along with sophomore Matt Thompson.

The Wildcats welcome back 11 players from last year’s dream season, but also welcome 11 new faces in seniors Jack Hamp, Tanner Orban and Hunter Canute. Junior Eli Gosselin rounds up the remainder of the upperclassmen for Alpena and the Wildcats have a big freshman class in Jaden Marchlowski, Jack Steinke, Brody Thompson, Anden Marceau, Ian Lightfoot, Cam Young and Easton Schultz.

“We have a nice mix of young players and old, new faces and familiar faces, but our goal is to just get better each day,” Limback said. “Mistakes are going to happen this year, we’re going to encourage the kids and as long as they come with a great work ethic and the drive to be successful, good things will happen.”

In the early part of the season, the Wildcats have shown signs of a team that can be competitive, but they have also shown their youth and inexperience as Alpena has struggled to a 1-4 start through their first five games.

Despite having just one win, the Wildcats have been in all but one game and have had chances, but they’re going to need someone to step up in the goal scoring department.

Alpena will once again be tested with a strong schedule that includes a handful of showcases throughout the year.

The Wildcats will also have a target on their back in the Big North Conference as they try to defend their title and repeat as champs.

Alpena will faced with many challenges this season and has already been forced to face adversity as Stevens suffered a season-ending shoulder injury and Schultz has missed some time with no timetable for when he may return.

This season already has a different feel to it and will likely continue throughout much of the year, but Limback and the Wildcats are hoping to learn and get better each and every day with the ultimate goal of becoming a better hockey team.