boys hockey
Home School: Aitkin High School
Age when you started hockey: 4 Other sports/activities/hobbies: football and track Plans after high school: Attend Bemidji State University What do you want to be when you grow up: DNR Fisheries Biologist
Favorite teacher:
Mr. Henke; Mr. Smith; Mr. Richters
Favorite youth hockey memory: Shutout in Regions (Bantams)
Favorite gas station stop after hockey: P-Square Best flow on the team: Austin DeGrote
SENIOR FORWARD 21 DARBY BOELTER
Home School: Pequot High School
Age when you started hockey: 5
Other sports/activities/hobbies: football Plans after high school: Attend University
What do you want to be when you grow up: Unsure
Favorite teacher: Mrs. Sullivan
Favorite youth hockey memory: 2nd Year Bantams
Favorite gas station stop after hockey: P-Square Best flow on the team: Austin DeGrote
SENIOR DEFENSEMAN 10 ZACK EHNSTROM S
Home School: Aitkin High School
Age when you started hockey: 8
Other sports/activities/hobbies: Football & baseball Plans after high school: Attend a 4-year college (med school)
What do you want to be when you grow up: Some sort of doctor or surgeon
Favorite teacher: Mr. Smith
Favorite youth hockey memory: Going to Regions (taking 3rd place Bantams)
Favorite gas station stop after hockey: Kwik Trip Best flow on the team: A-Train
SENIOR FORWARD 11 ETHAN SHETKA
Home School: Pequot High School
Age when you started hockey: 9
Other sports/activities/hobbies: hunting
Plans after high school: Undecided
What do you want to be when you grow up: A Lineman
Favorite teacher: Mrs. Stefen
Favorite youth hockey memory:
When Nick pressured me in to "Come Try Hockey"
Favorite gas station stop after hockey: Kwik Trip Best flow on the team: Austin DeGrote
SENIOR FORWARD 16 MALAKI MCLAUGHLIN
Home School: Pequot High School
Age when you started hockey: 5
Other sports/activities/hobbies: video games
Plans after high school: Attend college What do you want to be when you grow up: Undecided
Favorite teacher: Mr. Kirk
Favorite youth hockey memory: Hibbing Tournament (Squirts)
Favorite gas station stop after hockey: Pelican Square Best flow on the team: Nick Brunkhorst
SENIOR DEFENSEMAN 22 CHRISTIAN CRUTCHER S
Home School: Pequot High School
Age when you started hockey: 2
Other sports/activities/hobbies: Football and fishing
Plans after high school: Play Junior hockey What do you want to be when you grow up: Undecided
Favorite teacher: Mrs. Sullivan
Favorite youth hockey memory: Scoring the game winning goal in DL Tourney's Championship Game (Bantams)
Favorite gas station stop after hockey: P-Square Best flow on the team: Myself
Home School: Pequot High School
Age when you started hockey: 5
Other sports/activities/hobbies: cars
Plans after high school:
Attend North Dakota State University What do you want to be when you grow up: Own a Construction Company
Favorite teacher: Mrs. Washer
Favorite youth hockey memory: 1st Place in the DL Tournament (Bantams)
Favorite gas station stop after hockey: Holiday Best flow on the team: 100% ME
Home School: Pequot High School
Age when you started hockey: 3
Other sports/activities/hobbies: soccer and biking Plans after high school: Trade School
What do you want to be when you grow up: Undecided
Favorite teacher: Mr. Borene
Favorite youth hockey memory: 1st Place in the DL Tournament (Bantams)
Favorite gas station stop after hockey: P-Square Best flow on the team: Preston
Home School: Pequot High School
Age when you started hockey: 2
Other sports/activities/hobbies: hunting
Plans after high school: Attend ASU for Engineering
What do you want to be when you grow up: A Realtor
Favorite teacher: Mrs. Wallace
Favorite youth hockey memory: When I made the camp for MN
Favorite gas station stop after hockey:Best flow on the team: Austin DeGrote
JARED BUSHMAN Junior | position
Home School: Pequot High School
Favorite Hockey Rink: Hallett
Role model: Parents
Favorite athlete: Conner McDavid
Favorite gas station stop: Holiday
Favorite Celly: Sword Tack
Home School: Pequot High School
Favorite Hockey Rink: Hibbing Memorial
Role model: My Dad
Favorite athlete: Tyler Seeling
Favorite gas station stop: One with Nachos
Favorite Celly: Go to Bench
Best flow: A-Train
AMARI HAFFNER Sophomore| Forward
Home School: Crosby-Ironton High School
Favorite Hockey Rink: Hallett
Role model: Randy
Favorite athlete: They’re all cool
Favorite gas station stop: Kwik Trip
Favorite Celly: I don’t score
Best flow: A-Train
FINN FOGARTY Sophomore
| Forward
Home School: Pequot High School
Favorite Hockey Rink: Heritage in Duluth
Role model: Dad
Favorite athlete: Wyatt Balmer
Favorite gas station stop: Holiday in Crosby
Favorite Celly: Cole Caufield heart punch
Best flow: Zack
Good Luck Lightning!
ROSTER
EASTON ANDERSON Sophomore | Forward
Home School: Pequot High School
Favorite Hockey Rink: Blaine Super Rink
Role model: Connor McDavid
Favorite athlete: Connor McDavid
Favorite gas station stop: Holiday
Favorite Celly: Bow and Arrow
Best flow: A-Train
ANTHONY NOYES Sophomore | Forward
Home School: Pequot High School
Favorite Hockey Rink: Xcel Energy Center
Role model: Kyler Couture (brother)
Favorite athlete: Me
Favorite gas station stop: Holiday/Kwik Trip
Favorite Celly: Star Wars Stick Raise Best flow: Anthony Noyes
JEROME MARTIN Sophomore | Forward
Home School: Pequot High School
Favorite Hockey Rink: Hallett
Role model: My Dad
Favorite athlete: Matthews
Favorite gas station stop: Holiday in Crosby
Favorite Celly: Jagr Salute
Best flow: Austin DeGrote
Home School: Pequot High School
Favorite Hockey Rink: Heritage
Role model: My Dad
Favorite athlete: Jordan Spieth
Favorite gas station stop: One with Chocolate Milk
Favorite Celly: Stick Twirl Best flow: Ethan Thomas
PRESTON VERNESS Sophomore
| Defenseman
Home School: Pine River - Backus High School
Favorite Hockey Rink: Roseau
Role model: Andrew Tate
Favorite athlete: Nigel DeSanto
Favorite gas station stop: Holiday
Favorite Celly: Griddy Best flow: Austin DeGrote
JACK CARR Sophomore | Defenseman
Home School: Pequot High School
Favorite Hockey Rink: Warroad
Role model: My Dad
Favorite athlete: Cal Makar
Favorite gas station stop: Kwik Trip
Favorite Celly: Nothing Best flow: Wyatt Balmer
Located in Crosslake Town Square 35756 Allen Ave, P.O. Box 162 Crosslake, MN 56442 Ph 218-692-1473
GO Lightning!
JACKIE TROTT Owner, Closing Agent
DEB SHETKA Owner, Closing Agent
Junior | Forward
Home School: Pequot High School
Favorite Hockey Rink: Greenway
Role model: My Mom
Favorite athlete: Darby Boelter
Favorite gas station stop: Holiday in Crosby
Favorite Celly: Heartbreaker
Best flow: Kunz
RANDY PAPENFUSS Junior
| Defenseman
Home School: Crosby-Ironton High School
Favorite Hockey Rink: Hallett
Role model: Toe Drag Toney
Favorite athlete: Nigel DeSanto
Favorite gas station stop: Casey's
Favorite Celly: Only Apples; No Goals Best flow: A-Train
JADEN MARTHALER Sophomore
| Forward
Home School: Pequot High School
Favorite Hockey Rink: East Grand
Role model: I Don't Know
Favorite athlete: Alexander Ovechkin
Favorite gas station stop: One with Chocy Milk
Favorite Celly: With Team
Best flow: Randy Papenfuss
SEVERSON Junior | Forward
Home School: Crosby-Ironton High School
Favorite Hockey Rink: Hallett
Role model: My Dad
Favorite athlete: Nathan MacKinnon
Favorite gas station stop: Pelican Square
Favorite Celly: Bow and Arrow
Best flow: Ethan Thomas
DREW PAULBECK Junior | Forward
Home School: Aitkin High School
Favorite Hockey Rink: East Grand Forks Civic Center
Role model: Druw Jones
Favorite athlete: Kirill Kaprizov
Favorite gas station stop: Pelican Square
Favorite Celly: MBD’s Griddy
Best flow: Jaden Marthaler
WYATT BALMER Sophomore | Defenseman
Home School: Pequot High School
Favorite Hockey Rink: Hallett Community Center
Role model: My Mom
Favorite athlete: Finn Fogarty
Favorite gas station stop: Holiday in Crosby
Favorite Celly: Row the boat
Best flow: Drew Paulbeck
JOSIAH DEEMER Junior | Forward
Home School: Pequot High School
Favorite Hockey Rink: Hallett
Role model: My Dad
Favorite athlete: Sidney Crosby
Favorite gas station stop: Holiday
Favorite Celly: Walk off Best flow: A-Train
ROSTER
ETHAN THOMAS Junior |
Defenseman
Home School: Pequot High School
Favorite Hockey Rink: Hallett
Role model: Ed
Favorite athlete: Rickie Fowler
Favorite gas station stop: Holiday in Crosby
Favorite Celly: Superman Best flow: Me
ISAAC PETERSON Junior | Defenseman
Home School: Pequot High School
Favorite Hockey Rink: Hibbing Memorial
Role model: My Mom
Favorite athlete: Cale Makar
Favorite gas station stop: Holiday
Favorite Celly: Violin Best flow: Kunz
Located in downtown Aitkin www.aitkinflowers.com Go Lightening!
COUGHLIN Junior | Forward
Home School: Crosby-Ironton High School
Favorite Hockey Rink: None
Role model: Father/Mother
Favorite athlete: None
Favorite gas station stop: None
Favorite Celly: None Best flow: Ethan Thomas
DESANTO Junior | Goaltender
Home School: Pine River - Backus High School
Favorite Hockey Rink: Little Caesars Arena
Role model: Preston Verness
Favorite athlete: Josh Maucieri
Favorite gas station stop: One with Apple Pie
Favorite Celly: None Best flow: Preston Verness
SEWALL Junior | Forward
Home School: Pequot High School
Favorite Hockey Rink: Greenway
Role model: Family
Favorite athlete: Yadier Molina
Favorite gas station stop: Holiday
Favorite Celly: Bow and Arrow Best flow: Austin DeGrote
39 ROSTER
AIDAN BENDSON Junior | Forward
Home School: Crosby-Ironton High School
Favorite Hockey Rink: Hallett
Role model: My Sister
Favorite athlete: Kolbe Severson
Favorite gas station stop: Kwik Trip
Favorite Celly: Bow and Arrow
AUSTIN
Junior | Defenseman
Home School: Pine River - Backus High School
Favorite Hockey Rink: Hibbing Memorial
Role model: My Dad
Favorite athlete: -
38 20 | LIGHTNING BOYS HOCKEY | 2022-2023 | northernlakeslightning.com
Favorite gas station stop: Holiday
BRICE VRY Junior | Forward
Home School: Pequot High School
Favorite Hockey Rink: Breezy Role model: My Dad
Favorite athlete: -
Favorite gas station stop: Holiday
Favorite Celly: With the team
HOCKEY ERIK VETSCH
HEAD COACH NORTHERN
LAKES
I come to Northern Lakes with 26 years of coaching experience. I spent a better part of that coaching experience under Curt Giles, former North Star and current HC at Edina High School. I went on to coach at JFK High School in Bloomington and was recently the HC at Hopkins High School in Minnetonka. I took a chance and came up to the area to teach and coach boys hockey. I am excited for the opportunity to work with these kids; it is my goal to take this program to the next level. My staff and I are excited for what these kids have to bring to the table and can’t wait to get the season started.
THE BLUE LINE CLUB
The Blue Line Club (BLC) is the booster club for our boys high school hockey team. The BLC has been supporting boys high school hockey since the co-op was created with Aitkin, CrosbyIronton, Pequot Lakes and Pine River-Backus schools in 1999. We are a volunteer run, nonprofit organization that operates year-round to help provide an opportunity for high school aged boys in our communities to play hockey after they have aged out of the youth association. In order to provide affordable opportunities for our boys, we host a number of fundraising events. Highlights of our fundraising efforts for the 2022-23 season include:
• 7th Annual Beer and Wine tasting event held at Maucier i’s in Crosslake. The event includes beer/wine tasting provided by Bar Stock Liquors, food provided by Maucieri’s, a silent auction and a live auction. This is one of our largest fundraising events!
• Ad sales for this program. This wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of our local businesses!
• Pancake breakfast fundraiser with the Pelican Lakes Conservation Club. This was our second year serving up pancakes and it was another great success!
Our fundraising dollars are spent on things such as: player equipment, pre-season ice time, jerseys, away game meals, coach busses for away games, team building opportunities, senior player recognition, team apparel, and more. Because of your ongoing commitment to our boys, they are given the opportunity to play the sport they love. If you have specific questions about how our funds are being used, or if you would like further information on how to continue your support, please don’t hesitate to email us at nlhockeyblc@gmail.com.
THANK YOU, AGAIN, TO ALL OF OUR GREAT SUPPORTERS!!!
OUR FUTURE OF HOCKEY
OUR FUTURE OF HOCKEY
OUR FUTURE OF HOCKEY
OUR FUTURE OF HOCKEY
Player Autographs