History. Unfortunately it tends to repeat itself, and more often than not it is in a negative fashion when it does. It takes a concentrated effort to change historical results and create a culture of confidence that breeds success.
The Minnesota Junior Hockey Leagues Central Wisconsin Saints, have struggled in the past. In the 2012-2013 Season the Saints finished next to last in the Great Lakes Division with a record of 21-25.0-2. Good enough for 46 regular season points, but not good enough to make it out of the first round of the MJHL playoffs, being swept by the Illiana Blackbirds in two games of a best of three series.
In prior years, the Saints were always a middle of the pack team finishing close to the .500 mark nearly every season when competing in the Great Lakes Junior Hockey League. Good results, but not quite good enough to ever be considered a real contender.
Stunned last off-season by the sudden death of the teams founder Joe Zuniga, the team’s future was in doubt.
In May of 2013 a new Management Team started to assemble itself with the thought of turning the team into a contender that would also move players on to higher levels of play.
The summer was spent recruiting new members for the Management Team, and searching for a Head Coach that could teach as well as develop a winning team.
Head Coach Marty Quarters was brought in rather late in the off-season. Taking care to hire a good coach cost the Saints time in recruiting and it showed on the ice.
Starting out with a 1-8-0 record, fans in Central Wisconsin were starting to think it would be another season of mediocrity. Allowing 41 goals against while only scoring 16 goals for, was not a public statement of confidence. But Management knew better. That first win against the MNJHL’s perennial powerhouse Rochester Ice Hawks showed there was a lot of promise with a roster that had yet to be filled.
October’s crisp air, and new blood changes everything.
The Management team was rounded out in October, through a series of tough choices and new additions. A change in atmosphere, attitude and expectations was made.
A recruiting effort that was once based on regional talent has taken on a national, and international approach. Making the public statement that any player receiving a call up to Tier II would be unconditionally released certainly hasn’t hurt those recruiting efforts.
With a full roster and complete over haul, the Central Wisconsin Saints are now finding their stride as they enter the traditional junior hockey holiday break.
Heading into the break the Saints have gone 17-5 -0 following their 1-8-0 start. The numbers don’t lie. Going from a team that scored less than 2 goals per game on average while giving up nearly four and a half goals per game, to a team that scores close to four goals per game while giving up less than three goals per game is very impressive.
Attendance is up. More volunteers and billet families than ever before. A winning record. All that adds up to is players being scouted and receiving call ups to the NAHL and Canadian Tier II leagues. Thats what Tier III Junior Hockey is all about, development, support, and upward mobility.
Joseph Kolodziej – Publisher
