Breckenridge/Wahpeton went 11-14-1 last season and lost 6-0 to Northern Lakes in the Section 6A Quarterfinal. The record doesn’t tell the real story here: the team’s top three scorers all come back as seniors, and so does the goaltender who carried the entire workload.
Players Lost to Graduation
Josh Hofman was the program’s top departing scorer — 10 goals, 13 assists, 23 points from the blue line, with 2 power-play goals and 4 power-play assists. Kai McDonald added 12 points, almost all of it playmaking, with a game-winner.
Michael Petersen and Isaiah Bruechert each finished with 10 points. Brennan Ritter, Cayson Pinsonneault, Luke Craig and Wyatt Stav round out a senior class that, beyond Hofman, mostly produced in smaller roles.
Returning Players for 2026-27
Easton Neppl and Jaxson Lopez tied for the team’s scoring lead last season — Neppl with 16 goals and 27 assists for 43 points, Lopez with 17 goals and 26 assists for the same total. Both are seniors next year, giving the program two proven, productive forwards heading into the same season.
Gracin Kaste wasn’t far behind at 36 points (19-17), also a senior. Matt Petersen added 16 points (9-7) from the blue line. Jaxon Breuer, Jack Ekren and Charlie Ekren each contributed 7 points.
Goaltending
Cale Gilbertson carried the full workload — 10-14-1, a 3.32 GAA, an .873 save percentage, and 2 shutouts in 26 appearances. He’s a senior next year and returns as the established starter.
Who to Watch
Easton Neppl and Jaxson Lopez give this program a genuine 1-2 punch heading into 2026-27, and Gracin Kaste adds a third proven scorer behind them. That’s three forwards who combined for 122 points last season, all returning as seniors. Cale Gilbertson’s experience in net rounds out a roster with more returning talent than its record suggests.
What Breckenridge/Wahpeton Needs to Replace
- Josh Hofman’s 23 points from the blue line
- Kai McDonald’s 12 points and playmaking
2026-27 Outlook
Breckenridge/Wahpeton’s record last season undersells what’s coming back. Easton Neppl, Jaxson Lopez and Gracin Kaste form one of the more productive returning trios anywhere in Section 6A, and Cale Gilbertson gives the program stability in net. Graduation losses here are modest compared to what’s staying, and this looks like a team that could take a real step forward in 2026-27.
Statistics reflect the 2025-26 regular season, the Fergus Falls Holiday Classic, and Section 6A playoffs.
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