When you have a large group of athletes that are all in the same grade, your hope is that when they all become seniors, they turn out to be really good that season in that high school sport.

This winter there are nine seniors on the boys varsity hockey team and most of them have been playing together since they first learned how to skate.  The top two guys who were captains last year and have been chosen to lead the team again this season are Zach Foesch (captain) and Cameron Kaehler (assistant captain).  Last year, according to the Star Tribune, during the regular season and section playoffs, Foesch had 17 goals and 15 assist and Kaehler had 13 goals and 19 assist.  The team also had a record of 8-14-3 and one of their (Foesch and Kaehler’s) goals this season is to hopefully improve their team record and their individual stats.

“I think we’ll do really well (this year), we have 19 returning kids who lettered last year and I think will have a good run at state this year,” said Foesch.

Kaehler thinks they’ll be pretty good due to their deep senior class.  Kaehler has been playing hockey since he was about seven years old and has many great memories.

“Out of all my hockey experiences, probably scoring my first varsity goal.  I still remember scoring and just how loud it was when my name was announced,” said Kaehler.

Foesch on the other hand has been playing hockey since he was four years old, but also has many fond memories.

“When we beat Totino-Grace my eighth grade year,” said Foesch.

Both of them have had many accomplishments while playing hockey like when they both tried out for different junior leagues.  Foesch tried out for the WHL (Western Hockey League), which is a junior league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States and Kaehler tried out for the NAHL (North American Hockey League), which is based all throughout the United States.  Both are leagues that players go to after high school if they aren’t offered a scholarship for a college team.  Another achievement  for both of them was making the North Suburban all-conference team last winter during their junior year.  These accomplishments couldn’t have been made without help from their friends, family and coaches.

“The biggest impact on my hockey career would probably be all my coaches and definitely my parents, because they push me everyday to get better,” said Kaehler.  Foesch also said his dad has had the biggest impact for him.

Every game students and parents alike pack into a freezing ice arena (which at times can feel like below-zero inside) to watch the game and cheer the team on while trying to stay warm whether through the concessions stand food and drinks or hundreds of blankets.

“I love the atmosphere of playing in front of the whole school and everyone,” said Foesch.

Kaehler feels the same way about all the fans that come to each and every game.

“I love it, that’s what gets me pumped the most (the fans); that’s what I love the most about high school hockey, just the fact that everyone comes out to support and cheer us on,” said Kaehler.

Each game-day both Foesch and Kaehler have different routines and ways of preparing for the three periods of somewhat non-stop hockey.

“I usually listen to my ipod and do stretches, I like to be by myself before the games,” said Foesch.

Kaehler instead takes a different approach.

“Before the games there’s a ton of stuff that goes into, eating right, getting your mind in the right place, and just really getting ready for the game,” he said.

As team captains Foesch and Kaehler have important roles according to their head coach, Tyler Schaff.

“As of now I see Zach as a senior leader, he’s our team captain and he does a lot on the powerplay, but he definitely leads by example on and off the ice,” said Schaff.

When asked about Kaehler his role was very similar.

“Cam Kaehler is definitely another one of the senior leaders on the team and he’s definitely one of our guys that’s a very fast skater and a grinder,” said Schaff.

Schaff seems to think that the way they both show their leadership is very much the same.

“Zach gives 100% at all times and he also is able to work with any of the younger guys whenever they need it,” said Schaff, “Cameron is very similar, he gives 100% at all times, leads by example and definitely a role model for our younger players in the program.”

After their senior year of hockey both of them hope to play junior hockey somewhere and then eventually get offered a scholarship to play division one or division three college hockey.

“I fully expect to win conference (this season) or that’s my expectation, I sure hope we do,” said Kaehler.