Morris/Benson Area went 10-16 last season, beat Wadena-Deer Creek in the playoff first round, then lost 6-1 to Sartell in the Section 6A Quarterfinal. The team’s leading scorer graduates, but the No. 2 and No. 3 scorers both return with real point totals, and both goaltenders come back too.
Players Lost to Graduation
Kye Suess led the team by a wide margin — 19 goals, 30 assists, 49 points, with 3 power-play goals and 8 power-play assists. Bryce Lehman added 13 points (7-6) from the blue line, with 4 power-play goals. Alex Carlson and Jacob Feist round out the departing group with smaller totals.
Returning Players for 2026-27
Connor Hadfield was the team’s No. 2 scorer last season — 19 goals, 14 assists, 33 points — as a sophomore. He’s a junior next year and the clear top returning option. Hunter Westerman wasn’t far behind at 31 points (22-9) from the blue line, also returning as a senior.
Charlie Blume added 11 points (4-7) as a junior. Jacob Blume, Brennan Wrobleski and Chase Baker each contributed in the 7-9 point range.
Goaltending
Both goaltenders return. Kason Helgeson carried the heavier workload — 5-11, a 4.63 GAA, an .862 save percentage, and a shutout in 21 appearances. Carson Petrak was sharper in a smaller sample — 5-5, a .888 save percentage in 13 appearances. Both are juniors next year, giving the program a real competition and two proven options in net.
Who to Watch
Connor Hadfield’s 33-point sophomore season was the second-best mark on the team, and he’s still only entering his junior year. Hunter Westerman gives the program a high-volume scorer from the blue line. With both goaltenders back, this is a team with more pieces in place than its record suggests.
What Morris/Benson Area Needs to Replace
- Kye Suess’s 49 points
- Bryce Lehman’s 13 points and power-play scoring from defense
2026-27 Outlook
Morris/Benson Area loses its outright leading scorer, but Connor Hadfield and Hunter Westerman give the program a proven 2-3 punch heading into 2026-27, and both goaltenders are back for another season. Hadfield in particular, with two more years of eligibility after a 33-point sophomore campaign, is the player to build the program’s identity around going forward.
Statistics reflect the 2025-26 regular season, the Marshall Thanksgiving Classic, and Section 6A playoffs.
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