A year after finishing 23-4 with an Iron Range Conference championship, the Broncos eye another memorable season

A good encore can do wonders for any performance.

The 2008-09 Broncos, who open the season tonight at Hibbing/Chisholm, are eyeing a memorable encore themselves after last year’s squad finished 23-4 with an Iron Range Conference championship.

The 23 victories were the most by a Falls team since the 1971-72 season, with the 2002-03 campaign coming the closest with 22 wins. Not even the state championship squad from the 1994-95 season (20-7-1) reached the 23-win mark.

“Some big shoes to fill at 23-4, but I think we can do it,” said senior Josh Leinum, a captain this year with fellow seniors Jacob Casareto and Jake Ruelle.

The three captains lead this year’s team into action with a good core and an experienced goalie, but the loss of eight seniors gives this squad a much different look than last season.

“Everybody has to work really hard and contribute,” Leinum said.

The most noteworthy loss to graduation is Jake Youso — a Mr. Hockey finalist and a University of Minnesota recruit. Youso led a group of talented seniors that combined to score 80 out of the 142 goals last year. The ’08 grads also occupied numerous positions on special teams, leaving the returning players to fill those roles.

The captains aren’t lacking confidence, however, and think the numerous losses on paper will cloud opponent’s views of the Broncos.

“I think they’ll be surprised,” Ruelle said.

“That’s what we want — teams to think that it’s going to be a down year,” Casareto added.

Mike Hart, a pleasant surprise in goal last year as a sophomore, returns with three defensemen to power the defense. Hart earned All-IRC honors last season along with fellow returnee Jace Baldwin, who also played in the CCM All-Star Game with graduated seniors Eric Olson, Ladd Corrin, Kyle Potter and Youso.

Jake’s brother Matt Youso and Willie Corrin, both juniors, also return after earning Associated Press All-State honorable mention honors last year.

Leinum, Casareto and senior Daniel Eldien are expected to man the first line, while Ruelle, Baldwin and junior Jordan Christianson will run the second line. Juniors Jon McDonald and Chris Little and sophomore Michael Bounds — three inexperienced players looking for key roles — are on the third line.

“We have a chance,” Ruelle said.

Staring the Broncos in the face mask in the opener is the same Hibbing/Chisholm team that upset the Falls in the semifinals of last year’s section tournament. After splitting two regular-season matchups, the Bluejackets ended the Broncos’ season with a 3-1 victory.

“I’m never going to forget it,” Leinum said. “I’d like to get them back in the playoffs where it really counts.”

First things first is tonight’s opener, and the Broncos would enjoy nothing less than a win to open the season in the right direction.

Let the encore begin.