Delano put together one of the best seasons in the entire state last year, finishing 23-5-3, winning the Section 2A title outright over Orono and Blake, and advancing all the way to the State Class 1A Tournament before falling to Warroad in the semifinal and Mahtomedi in the third-place game. It was a season carried by one of the most dominant top lines in Class A hockey, and Delano now graduates the headline names from that group — including a Mr. Hockey finalist. The good news for Delano: a sophomore phenom and a deep, experienced defense corps both return intact.
Players Lost to Graduation
Delano graduates seven seniors, and the losses include two of the most productive scorers anywhere in the state.
Daniel Halonen (F, Capt.) was the headline of this entire program, finishing with 44 goals and 36 assists for 80 points in 31 games, adding 5 power-play goals, 8 power-play assists, 4 short-handed goals and a short-handed assist, plus 7 game-winners. Halonen was a Mr. Hockey finalist and a Michigan Tech commit, and his graduation removes one of the most dynamic offensive players in Class A hockey.
Brady Kangas (F) wasn’t far behind, posting an even more prolific season by points, with 33 goals and 52 assists for 85 points — the team’s actual leading scorer — adding 9 power-play goals, 3 power-play assists, a short-handed goal, 2 short-handed assists and 3 game-winners.
Brody Geislinger (F, Capt.) adds 14 goals and 19 assists for 33 points, with 3 power-play goals, 2 power-play assists, 2 short-handed goals, a short-handed assist and 2 game-winners.
Connor Oja (D) was the top offensive defenseman among the departing class, scoring 4 goals and adding 23 assists for 27 points, with a power-play goal and 11 power-play assists.
Jacob Perlich (F, Capt.) contributes 5 goals and 8 assists for 13 points with 2 game-winners, and Andrew Bruett (F) adds 4 goals and 6 assists for 10 points with 7 game-winners despite limited point totals.
In net, Evan Geyen (G) graduates after a strong senior season, posting a 12-2-1 record with a 2.13 GAA, a .911 save percentage and 3 shutouts in 15 appearances.
Returning Players for 2026-27
Delano’s offseason outlook is buoyed by arguably the most exciting returning sophomore in the section, plus a deep, proven defense corps.
Top Returning Scorers
Lance Halonen (F), a junior next season, returns as Delano’s clear top returning scorer, posting an outstanding 23 goals and 28 assists for 51 points in 31 games as a sophomore — third on the entire team last season, behind only two graduating seniors. Halonen added 5 power-play goals, 7 power-play assists and 3 game-winners, positioning him to be the focal point of the offense going forward.
Dylan Nelson (D), a senior next season, returns after a 26-point season (5 goals, 21 assists) from the blue line, with a power-play goal and 6 power-play assists.
Jackson Wollak (D), a junior next season, adds 6 goals and 19 assists for 25 points, with a power-play goal, 6 power-play assists, a short-handed goal and 2 short-handed assists.
Bennett Halonen (D), a senior next season, posted 4 goals and 12 assists for 16 points with 4 power-play assists.
Henry Tate (F), a junior next season, returns after an 8-point season (2 goals, 6 assists) with a power-play assist and a short-handed goal.
Grant Bruett (F) and Austin Kazin (F), both juniors next season, each finished with 6-point seasons. Bruett scored 2 goals and added 4 assists with a short-handed assist and a game-winner, while Kazin posted 3 goals and 3 assists with a game-winner.
Returning Defense Core
This is a major strength for Delano heading into 2026-27. Dylan Nelson, Jackson Wollak and Bennett Halonen combined for 67 points last season, giving Delano one of the most loaded returning blue lines anywhere in Class A. Even after losing Connor Oja’s 27-point season, this trio should keep Delano’s defense among the best in the section.
Goaltending Situation
With Evan Geyen graduating, Lincoln Truax (G), a senior next season, is positioned to take over as the full-time starter. Truax was excellent in a complementary role last season, posting a 9-4-1 record with a 2.27 GAA, a .904 save percentage and 3 shutouts in 16 appearances — numbers nearly identical to Geyen’s. Axel Kestner (G), a junior next season, also returns after a small sample with a .853 save percentage. Delano should feel very comfortable with Truax stepping into a full-time role given how well he performed in a near-even split last season.
Players to Watch
Lance Halonen is the clear headliner — a 51-point sophomore season puts him among the most exciting returning players in all of Class A hockey, and he now inherits the spotlight from a graduating Mr. Hockey finalist. Dylan Nelson and Jackson Wollak give Delano serious returning firepower on the back end, and Lincoln Truax’s strong underlying numbers suggest the goaltending transition should be smooth. Watch for Delano’s deep sophomore-and-junior core to push this program right back into section title contention.
Key Players to Replace
Delano’s offseason priorities center on:
- Daniel Halonen’s 80-point season and elite all-around game
- Brady Kangas’s 85-point season — the actual team scoring leader
- Brody Geislinger’s secondary scoring and special-teams contributions
- Connor Oja’s 27-point season and power-play presence from the blue line
- Evan Geyen’s .911 save percentage in net
2026-27 Outlook
Delano loses an extraordinary amount of star power, including a Mr. Hockey finalist and the team’s two actual leading scorers, who combined for 165 points. Few programs anywhere in Class A could absorb that kind of loss without a significant step back. But Delano’s path forward is clearer than most: Lance Halonen’s 51-point sophomore season gives the program a true centerpiece, and a deep, experienced defense corps in Dylan Nelson, Jackson Wollak and Bennett Halonen should keep Delano competitive defensively even as the offense retools. With Lincoln Truax stepping into a starting role after performing at a near-identical level to the graduating starter, Delano has enough in place to remain a factor in Section 2A — even if matching last season’s run to the state semifinals will be a tall order.
Statistics reflect the 2025-26 regular season, Section 2A playoffs, and State Class 1A Tournament as provided. Have something for us? Our email is always open ftphockey@gmail.com
