Last years section 2A champs the Orono Spartans will have to replace one of the best goalies in the state in Brock Peyton.  He went 16-5-0 with a 1.85 GAA and a .926 save %.  They lose leading scorers Bradley Walker and his 50 points along with Avery Andersons 48 points to graduation.  On the blue line they will rely on returning players Joey Mugaas and John Engebretson, offensively they will look to Cayden Effertz, Easton Sankey, Brooks Fegers and Tommy Lewin to get back to the state tournament.  The lone returning goalie is senior Peyton Anderson who play sparingly last season.  The run to the state tournament was a good one, in the section quarterfinals the Spartans survived a hot goaltender from Hutchinson Minnesota (Hunter Lein) and won the game 2-1 in overtime.  They outshot Hutch 54-17 and Tommy Lewin buried the game winning goal in the first overtime, (assisted by Engebretson and Mugaas.)  Orono then advanced to play a solid Minneapolis team and it took 4 3rd period goals to advance to the section finals.  Scoring in this one was Easton Sankey x2, Avery Anderson, Connor Lang, Tommy Lewin x2, Caden Effertz and Brody Finnegan, the final score was 8-5 Spartans. This win set up a highly anticipated section finals matchup with Highway 12 foe the Delano Tigers.  Orono would jump out to a 2-0 lead over the Tigers and did not look back, they ended up winning 4-1 and advanced to the state tournament.

In the first round of the Minnesota High School Hockey state tournament the Spartans faced off against section 1A winner, the Northfield Raiders, this was a great class A high school hockey game and despite outshooting the Raiders 50-24 it took an Avery Anderson overtime goal for Orono to advance to the state semi-final game against Warroad.  In the semi-final game the Warroad Warriors would jump out to a 3-0 lead before the Spartans would rally back on goals from Joey Greenagle, Brooks Fegers and Avery Anderson sending the game to overtime. There was no score in the first overtime and shots were 5-3 Warroad.  In the 2nd overtime it was Erick Comstock winning it for Warroad and ending the Spartans hope for a state championship appearance.  In the third place game Orono played Hermantown and lost 2-0 and got outshot 38-15 ending the high school career for many talented hockey players from both teams.  We expect Orono to be back in the mix for another state tournament appearance again this season and would not be surprised to see a rematch with Delano in the Section 2A finals once again.