According to Head Coach Shawn Lundgren, it’s been a “very, very interesting year” for the North Shore Storm varsity hockey team. In fact, there almost wasn’t a team this year at all. With dwindling numbers the team had to scramble to keep the program alive.
“Up to about three weeks before the season started, we weren’t 100% sure if we were going to have a hockey team,” he said. “The last couple of years we graduated 23 kids and the numbers were getting really low.”
There were about a dozen kids still in the program and, of those, only two had varsity experience. For a program that has traditionally relied on multi‑sport athletes and small but steady classes, the sudden drop created a real question about whether the Storm could field a competitive roster. Luckily, the North Shore Storm was able to form a coop with Stella Maris out of Duluth, bringing five more players into the program and giving the team a much-needed boost.
“Then we had a couple of late additions of kids who decided they wanted to play,” recalled Lundgren. “Next thing you know, we had enough for a hockey team.”
But filling the roster wasn’t the only challenge the team has faced this season. The boys have dealt with injury and illness from the start, and there have been games where they’ve skated with just nine or ten players. For a varsity team, that’s barely enough to run two lines, and it forces players to take long shifts, play out of position, and dig deep in situations where most teams would be exhausted.
During the recent Holiday Tournament in Proctor, teams dropped out and the Storm stepped in to play some JV games to help fill the schedule. What should have been a chance to get more ice time turned into another hurdle.
“That was another fiasco,” said the coach. “As the tournament progressed, we ended up getting a bunch of kids sick. By the time the tournament ended, we ended up losing three kids for the season. We’ve got five kids in slings.”
Even so, the Storm have kept their chin up. They’ve kept games close, posted a shutout against Spooner on the road, and recently beat Mora/Milaca in a home game January 9 at Sonju Arena. For a team that started the year unsure whether it would even exist, those moments have meant a lot to the players, coaches, and families in the stands.
“It’s been a tough go,” said Lundgren. “The kids have dealt with adversity pretty well. It’s challenging but I’m proud of the kids on how they’ve dealt with it.”
“One thing that’s really unique is that they get along extremely well. They work hard and they’re improving,” he said.
The team also has strong leader‑ ship this year in the form of its four captains. Goaltender Dax Krech, a sophomore, has been a force in the net. According to the Minnesota Hockey Hub, he currently holds a .906 save percentage during his 517 minutes between the pipes this season. His consistency has kept the Storm competitive in games where they’ve been outshot or outmanned.
Krech is one of the two players who had varsity experience last year. The other is Nox Peterson, who was injured and is out for the remainder of the season. As a top goal scorer and all-around great player, it’s a tough blow for the Storm, especially given how thin the roster already is.
“I can’t say enough great things about Nox,” said his coach. “He’s just a great athlete, a great student, a great teammate, great leader. That one was a big hit for sure. At least he’s a junior and he’ll have another year to come back.”
Senior Josh Johnson is also a captain this season and one who has shown significant growth. His presence on the ice and in the locker room has helped steady the team during a season full of unexpected challenges.
“He’s put in a lot of work in the last couple of years and has made big gains,” said Lundgren. “He brings a lot of positive attributes to the team.”
Also bringing many positive attributes is Isaiah Bertin, a Stella Maris student who has made an immediate impact for the Storm. His versatility has been especially valuable as the team has shuffled lines and positions to cover injuries.
“Isaiah’s just been a great addition,” said Lundgren. “His maturity is beyond being a senior. He’s a very skilled hockey player, but just his maturity and his leadership has been a blessing. He’s one of these kids too that he’s capable of playing wherever we need him. He’s played some defense as well.”
Though Bertin was recently injured, Lundgren said he hopes to see him back on the ice soon. His return would give the Storm another experienced skater as they push through the final stretch of the regular season.
The coaching staff has been another source of stability. Andy Fellows has been with Lundgren for previous seasons and continues to be a steady presence behind the bench. This year, the program brought back Dan Thewis, who was an assistant coach when Lundgren first started. Jesse Larson has also joined the staff, coaching youth hockey and adding another layer of experience and support.
“He’s been a nice addition as well,” said Lundgren, adding how much he appreciates having such a great supporting staff. “We’re blessed in that regards.”
The Storm have a tough schedule ahead as they move into the last few weeks of the regular season. The plan, according to the coach, is to “continue working hard, improving, and striving to be the best version of ourselves.”
As challenging as the year has been, Lundgren said the group has made the season worthwhile.
“It’s been really a group of kids that has been extremely enjoyable to coach,” he said. “And from a coaching perspective, for everything that’s kind of been thrown our way this year, really proud and pleased of where they’re at and the direction that we’re headed.”
The Storm return to action this week as they continue their push through the final stretch of the season, carrying the same determination that has kept them moving forward since day one.
