Becker/Big Lake went 11-15 last season and lost 7-1 to Monticello in the Section 5A Quarterfinal. The roster takes a massive hit up front — four of the team’s top five scorers graduate — but the goaltender who carried the workload all season is back.
Players Lost to Graduation
Tate Spilde leaves as the team’s leading scorer by a wide margin — 30 goals, 18 assists, 48 points, with 10 power-play goals. Tanner Felton added 19 points (5-14), almost all of it playmaking, and Raymond Clark scored 11 goals for 18 points.
Jack Schwartz and Ethan Grafnitz both finished with 16 points from the blue line. Lucas Hancock had 13 points. Carter Tatge added 11, and Hayden Kipka contributed 10 from defense.
In net, neither goaltender graduates. Both Elliott Grafnitz and Max Klassen return.
Returning Players for 2026-27
Owen Zahler is the one real building block left after this graduation hit — he was the team’s actual No. 2 scorer last season, with 11 goals and 18 assists for 29 points. He’s only a sophomore next year.
Brant Rusin added 13 points (5-8) as a junior. Titus Borkoski had 7 points, and Finn Kellogg added 6.
Goaltending
Elliott Grafnitz carried the heaviest workload by far — 11-17, a 4.04 GAA, a .878 save percentage, and 2 shutouts in 24 appearances. He’s a senior next year and returns as the clear No. 1. Max Klassen saw limited action behind him and also returns.
Who to Watch
Owen Zahler is the name to know — a 29-point sophomore season puts him in a different category than almost everyone else who’s coming back. Elliott Grafnitz gives the program a proven, experienced goaltender heading into a season that will lean heavily on him while the offense rebuilds around Zahler.
What Becker/Big Lake Needs to Replace
- Tate Spilde’s 48 points
- Tanner Felton’s and Raymond Clark’s combined 37 points
- Jack Schwartz’s and Ethan Grafnitz’s combined production from the blue line
2026-27 Outlook
This is one of the bigger graduation hits in Section 5A — four of the top five scorers are gone, along with most of the defense. Owen Zahler gives the program a real foundation to build around, and Elliott Grafnitz’s experience in net buys some time while the rest of the roster develops. This looks like a rebuilding year, but a talented sophomore and a proven goaltender are a real starting point.
Statistics reflect the 2025-26 regular season and Section 5A playoffs.
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