Expectations Running High in Tiger Camp

by Pat Rupp

With virtually all of last year’s Consolation Champions state tournament team returning, veteran Farmington coach Jon Holmes is looking forward to another strong season in 2017-18.

“We have high expectations for ourselves both on and off the ice,” Holmes said. “We focus every day on leaving the rink, the school, the locker room and our entire program better than we found it.

“It has been a true pleasure to watch this group, as with groups before them, play and live with integrity. That ultimately defines our goal as a program.”

This year’s roster looks almost identical to that of last year’s team which started slowly, peaked down the stretch and finished with an 18-12-1 record and a Consolation state trophy for its efforts.

The only letter winner to graduate was McKenna Cavanaugh, so experience and a winning tradition should be two of the Tigers’ major assets.

“We have a stout, veteran group as well as a strong group of younger players who will be eager to contribute in a large fashion,” Holmes said.

Leading the list of returnees are senior forward Ellie Moser and senior goaltenders Abby Bollig and Emily Auge. Moser, a Bemidji State University recruit, was the team’s top point-getter last season and earned all-South Suburban Conference and all-state honors.

Bollig stepped into the Tiger nets last season after another all-conference goalie, Emily Auge, was sidelined with mononucleosis, went on to land berths on both the all-South Suburban and all-state tournament teams. Auge also returns this season, giving the Tigers with a solid one-two punch between the pipes.

Junior forwards Marissa Agerter and Bailey Kelley along with junior defender Megan Bernu earned all-South Suburban honorable mention honors last winter.

“We have two rocks in the net with Abby and Emily,” Holmes said. “All our goal scorers are back and with a year of experience under their belts, the younger players will most assuredly chime in more often offensively.

“The defense is also more seasoned. Senior Carly Simon and juniors Megan Bernu and Cassie Knutson are back and freshmen Brenna Fuhrman and Jayden Seifert both contributed a lot last year as the season progressed and will be expected to be a major part of the defensive success. Junior Kiya Vincent will also be competing for ice time on the blue line.”

Along with the long list of returnees, Holmes said one of his team’s biggest positives is one that is difficult to quantify.

“This team has a strong sense of purpose and a steady mind set,” he said. “That allows us to keep working toward being better in all situations.”

Even with all of the returning players and last year’s success in his pocket, Holmes cautioned that success is never guaranteed.

“Hockey is a fickle game,” he said. “Bounces and puck luck can play into wins and losses. Just like last year we will have to work through the rough spots and keep grinding.”

The Tigers are hoping to move up from their sixth place finish in the South Suburban Conference last season. Holmes predicted Lakeville South, Lakeville North, Eagan and Shakopee should all field quality teams again.

“We belong with that group and hope to be in the hunt for the conference championship in January,” he said “North, South, Dodge County, and Northfield should all be tough in the section but we have a goal to get back to the finals and defend our championship.”

Holmes, entering his 11th season behind the Tiger bench with an overall mark of 149-108-16, has a mix of veterans and newcomers on his 2017-18 coaching staff.

Jason Kohlbeck has been with the girls’ program since its inception in the mid 1990’s and ex-Tiger Alan Jenrich enters his 11th season as an assistant. Goalie coach Casey Preston, another former Tiger, is in her second year, and yet another ex-Farmington player, Jared Rowan, joins the crew for the first time. Steve Sabetti, who has held boys’ coaching positions at Red Wing and Richfield, has also been added to the coaching mix.

The Tigers open their season Thursday, November 16, when they entertain conference rival Lakeville North in a rematch of last year’s Section 1AA semifinals won by Farmington 4-1.