Mankato East finished 12-14-1 last season, falling 3-2 to rival Mankato West in the Section 3A Playoffs Semifinal. While the team’s leading scorer graduates, Mankato East returns three of its top five scorers from last season, along with a goaltender who split starts almost evenly with the departing senior. That combination gives the program a real foundation heading into 2026-27.
Players Lost to Graduation
Mankato East graduates seven seniors, led by the team’s top point producer.
Luke Lebens (F|D) led the team, posting 9 goals and 33 assists for 42 points in 27 games, with 4 power-play goals, 9 power-play assists, a short-handed goal, a short-handed assist and a game-winner — an outstanding playmaking season.
Landen Haglin (F) was the team’s No. 5 scorer, finishing with 18 goals and 10 assists for 28 points, adding 3 power-play goals, 3 power-play assists, 2 short-handed goals, a short-handed assist and 4 game-winners.
Micah Beckendorf (F) adds 7 goals and 4 assists for 11 points, with a power-play goal, a power-play assist and a game-winner, while Eddie Engen (F) contributes 5 goals and 8 assists for 13 points with a power-play goal and a game-winner.
Jack Fugazzi (F) posted 4 goals and 5 assists for 9 points with a power-play goal and a game-winner, and Carson Stenzel (F) adds a goal.
In net, Colin Pierskalla (G) graduates after splitting last season’s starts, posting a 5-6-1 record with a 3.88 GAA, a .875 save percentage and a shutout in 16 appearances.
Returning Players for 2026-27
This is where Mankato East’s outlook gets genuinely encouraging. Three of the team’s top five scorers from last season are juniors-to-be-seniors, and the goaltender who shared starting duties returns as well.
Top Returning Scorers
Braydon Arnoldy (F), a senior next season, returns as Mankato East’s leading returning scorer, posting 9 goals and 27 assists for 36 points in 27 games — second on the entire team last season, with 3 power-play goals, 11 power-play assists, a short-handed goal and a short-handed assist.
Zacharia Lang (F), also a senior next season, adds 20 goals and 15 assists for 35 points, with 2 power-play goals, 5 power-play assists and a short-handed goal.
Indy Ragan (F), a senior next season, posted 14 goals and 18 assists for 32 points, leading the team with 8 power-play goals and adding 7 power-play assists and a short-handed goal, plus 2 game-winners.
Mason Burgess (D), a junior next season, returns after a 13-point season (3 goals, 10 assists) with a power-play goal and 3 power-play assists.
Jackson Stenzel (D), a senior next season, adds 3 goals and 7 assists for 10 points.
Among other returning forwards, Ashton Lotton, a senior next season, posted 4 goals and 5 assists for 9 points with 2 power-play assists, and Xavier Lauwagie (F|D), a junior next season, added 2 goals and 4 assists for 6 points.
Returning Defense Core
Mason Burgess and Jackson Stenzel combined for 23 points last season and return as the foundation of the blue line. Ryan Kim also returns after a 4-point season. With Luke Lebens — who played significant minutes on defense in addition to forward duties — graduating, this group will need to take on a larger role, but both Burgess and Stenzel have real varsity experience to build from.
Goaltending Situation
Mankato East is in a strong position here. Brayden Bernard (G), a senior next season, split starts almost evenly with Colin Pierskalla last season, posting a 7-8 record with a 4.11 GAA, a .879 save percentage and a shutout in 16 appearances — numbers nearly identical to the departing senior’s. With a full season of experience already banked, Bernard should be ready to step into a full-time role without much of a transition.
Players to Watch
Braydon Arnoldy, Zacharia Lang and Indy Ragan give Mankato East one of the more complete trios of returning scorers anywhere in Section 3A, having combined for 103 points last season. Mason Burgess and Jackson Stenzel will be looked to for larger roles on the blue line, and Brayden Bernard’s even split of starts last season should make the transition to a full-time role a smooth one.
Key Players to Replace
Mankato East’s offseason priorities center on:
- Luke Lebens’s 42-point season and elite playmaking
- Landen Haglin’s 28-point season and complete special-teams game
- Secondary scoring depth from Micah Beckendorf, Eddie Engen and Jack Fugazzi
2026-27 Outlook
Mankato East loses its leading scorer in Luke Lebens, but the program returns three of its top five point producers from last season in Braydon Arnoldy, Zacharia Lang and Indy Ragan — a trio that combined for 103 points. Brayden Bernard’s near-identical numbers to the departing starter suggest the goaltending change should be seamless. With this much returning offensive firepower and a stable situation in net, Mankato East has a real chance to be one of the more competitive teams in Section 3A in 2026-27, building on a season that already pushed rival Mankato West to a one-goal semifinal.
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
