Luverne put together a dominant 23-5-1 season last year, but it ended in heartbreak — a 2-1 overtime loss to Mankato West in the Section 3A Championship. It was as good a season as any team in Section 3A has had in recent memory, anchored by one of the most prolific individual scoring seasons in the state. Now Luverne graduates an enormous senior class that included three of its top four scorers and its entire goaltending tandem, setting up a significant offseason transition for a program that just fell one win short of the state tournament.
Players Lost to Graduation
Luverne graduates nine seniors, and the losses include a historic individual season and the bulk of the team’s proven production.
Maddux Domagala (F) turned in one of the most remarkable seasons in the section, posting 49 goals and 44 assists for 93 points in 29 games, adding 4 power-play goals, 9 power-play assists, 2 short-handed goals, a short-handed assist and 5 game-winners.
Landyn Lais (F) was nearly as dominant, finishing with 22 goals and 41 assists for 63 points, with 3 power-play goals, 6 power-play assists and 3 game-winners.
Jaxon Lais (D) tied for the team’s No. 3 scoring spot from the blue line, posting 11 goals and 46 assists for 57 points, with 3 power-play goals, 12 power-play assists and 2 game-winners — an outstanding two-way season. Domagala, Landyn Lais and Jaxon Lais combined for 213 points, an enormous amount of production for any program to replace in one offseason.
Blake Sauer (F) adds 14 goals and 19 assists for 33 points, with 4 power-play goals, a power-play assist, a short-handed assist and a game-winner.
Jude Hoven (F) contributes 3 goals and 6 assists for 9 points with a short-handed assist and a game-winner, while Zeke Frahm (F) and Brady Palaschak-Smeins (F) each posted 4-point seasons.
In net, Luverne loses its entire goaltending tandem. Gavin Hoven (G) was the primary starter, posting a 21-5-1 record with a 2.32 GAA, a .898 save percentage and 3 shutouts in 28 appearances — an excellent season. Xander Remme (G) added a 2-0 record with a .935 save percentage and 2 shutouts in 8 appearances.
Returning Players for 2026-27
With three of the team’s top four scorers and both goaltenders departing, Luverne’s path forward centers on the other half of last season’s scoring tie and a deep group of returning juniors-to-be-seniors.
Top Returning Scorers
Benjamin Hartquist (D), a senior next season, returns as Luverne’s leading returning scorer, having tied for the team’s No. 3 spot last season with 23 goals and 34 assists for 57 points in 29 games, adding 5 power-play goals, 9 power-play assists and 2 game-winners — an outstanding season from the blue line that positions him as a true offensive centerpiece.
Mallachi Domagala (F), a junior next season, adds 19 goals and 30 assists for 49 points, with 3 power-play goals, 3 power-play assists, a short-handed goal and 4 game-winners.
Will Bergman (F), a senior next season, posted 27 goals and 19 assists for 46 points, with 2 power-play goals and a short-handed goal.
Ricky Rogers (F), a senior next season, returns after a 44-point season (14 goals, 30 assists) with a power-play goal, a power-play assist and 2 game-winners.
Colton Haubrich (F), a senior next season, adds 13 goals and 21 assists for 34 points with a power-play assist and a game-winner.
Maddox Miller (D), a senior next season, contributes 4 goals and 18 assists for 22 points, with a power-play goal and a game-winner.
Returning Defense Core
This is a real strength for Luverne heading into 2026-27. Benjamin Hartquist’s 57-point season is among the best from any returning defenseman anywhere in Class A, and Maddox Miller adds a productive 22-point season as well. Even with Jaxon Lais graduating, this blue line should remain one of the most dangerous offensively in Section 3A.
Goaltending Situation
This is the most significant question mark facing Luverne. With both Gavin Hoven and Xander Remme graduating, the program’s entire group of goaltenders from last season is gone. Oliver Mead (G), a junior next season, is the only name on the roster, and he did not see recorded varsity minutes last season. Identifying a new starter will be one of the most important storylines in all of Section 3A heading into 2026-27.
Players to Watch
Benjamin Hartquist is the headliner — a 57-point season from the blue line makes him one of the most productive returning defensemen anywhere in the section, if not the state. Mallachi Domagala, younger brother of graduating star Maddux Domagala, gives Luverne a proven 49-point scorer to build the offense around. Will Bergman, Ricky Rogers and Colton Haubrich provide further scoring depth across a deep, experienced forward group.
Key Players to Replace
Luverne’s offseason priorities center on:
- Maddux Domagala’s 93-point season — among the best in the entire state
- Landyn Lais’s 63-point season and elite playmaking
- Jaxon Lais’s 57-point season and power-play production from the blue line
- An entirely new goaltending situation, with both Gavin Hoven and Xander Remme graduating
2026-27 Outlook
Luverne loses a historic amount of production, including one of the best individual seasons in the state in Maddux Domagala, but this is far from a program starting over. Benjamin Hartquist’s 57-point season from the blue line, Mallachi Domagala’s 49-point campaign, and a deep group of returning forwards in Will Bergman, Ricky Rogers and Colton Haubrich give Luverne as much returning talent as almost any team in Section 3A. The deciding factor will be in net, where the program needs to find a answer after losing both goaltenders from a team that came within one overtime goal of a section title. If a new starter emerges, Luverne has the pieces to make another run at unfinished business.
Statistics reflect the 2025-26 regular season and Section 3A playoffs as provided. Have something for us? Our email is always open ftphockey@gmail.com
