Waconia finished 11-11-5 last season under second-year head coach Steve Maciosek, who now carries a 16-10-0 record with the program. The season ended with a 6-0 loss to Delano in the Section 2A Playoffs Quarterfinal. Waconia graduates a significant chunk of its scoring punch, including one half of last season’s tie for the team lead in points, but the other half of that tie returns as just a rising junior, giving the program a true building block heading into 2026-27 — alongside one of the more impressive young goaltenders in the section.
Players Lost to Graduation
Waconia graduates eight seniors, and the group includes a co-leading scorer and the team’s No. 2 point producer.
Devon Stifter (D) tied for the team scoring lead, posting 10 goals and 9 assists for 19 points in 27 games, with 2 power-play goals, 2 power-play assists and 2 game-winners — an excellent two-way season from the blue line.
Maxwell Kelley (F) was the team’s No. 2 scorer, finishing with 11 goals and 6 assists for 17 points, adding 2 power-play goals, 2 power-play assists, a short-handed goal, a short-handed assist and a game-winner.
Nicholas Gleason (F) adds 9 goals and 3 assists for 12 points, with a power-play goal and a short-handed goal.
Mccullen Mayo (F) posted 7 goals and 4 assists for 11 points, with a power-play goal and 2 game-winners, while Cooper Vucinovich (F) contributes 4 goals and 4 assists for 8 points with a game-winner.
Connor Rieck (F) adds 3 goals and 4 assists for 7 points with a short-handed goal, and Carter Dietz (D) contributes 5 assists. Carter Remme (F) rounds out the departing class with a goal in 19 games.
Waconia does not lose its top goaltender to graduation — the program’s strongest netminder from last season returns into next year.
Returning Players for 2026-27
With Devon Stifter graduating, the other half of last season’s scoring tie returns — and remarkably, he’s only entering his junior season. Add in one of the more efficient young goaltenders in Section 2A, and Waconia’s offseason outlook looks considerably brighter than its 2025-26 record alone would suggest.
Top Returning Scorers
Maguire Knorr (D), a junior next season, returns as Waconia’s leading returning scorer, having tied for the team scoring lead last season with 6 goals and 13 assists for 19 points in 27 games, adding 2 power-play goals, 3 power-play assists and a short-handed assist — an outstanding season from the blue line as just a sophomore.
Karsen Herman (D), a senior next season, adds 7 goals and 8 assists for 15 points, with 4 power-play goals, 3 power-play assists and a short-handed goal.
Samson Engkjer (F), a junior next season, returns after a 12-point season (5 goals, 7 assists) with a power-play assist.
Kylar Cox (F) and Mccoy Archambault (F), both juniors next season, each posted 9-point seasons. Cox added a power-play goal and 2 power-play assists, while Archambault scored 6 goals and added 3 assists with a game-winner.
Brendan Clemens (D), a senior next season, contributes 3 goals and 4 assists for 7 points, with a power-play goal and a power-play assist, plus a game-winner.
Returning Defense Core
This is a real strength for Waconia heading into 2026-27. Maguire Knorr’s 19-point season and Karsen Herman’s 15-point season give the program two legitimately productive returning defensemen, and Brendan Clemens adds further depth. Even with Devon Stifter and Carter Dietz graduating, this blue line should remain one of the more dangerous offensively in Section 2A.
Goaltending Situation
Waconia is in an excellent position here. Marek Wozniak (G), a junior next season, was outstanding as a sophomore last season, posting a 9-6-4 record with a 2.49 GAA, a .916 save percentage and 3 shutouts — one of the better individual goaltending seasons anywhere in Section 2A. Anthony Simons (G), a senior next season, added a 2-5-1 record with a .881 save percentage in 11 appearances. With Wozniak returning and another full season of growth ahead of him, goaltending should be a genuine strength for this program.
Players to Watch
Maguire Knorr is the headliner — a 19-point season from the blue line as a sophomore puts him among the most exciting returning defensemen in all of Class A Section 2. Marek Wozniak’s .916 save percentage makes him one of the top returning goaltenders in the section as well, and the combination of the two gives Waconia a genuine foundation on both ends of the ice. Samson Engkjer and the trio of Kylar Cox, Mccoy Archambault and Karsen Herman add further scoring depth as the program looks to replace its departing senior class.
Key Players to Replace
Waconia’s offseason priorities center on:
- Devon Stifter’s 19-point season and power-play production from the blue line
- Maxwell Kelley’s 17-point season and complete special-teams game
- Nicholas Gleason’s and Mccullen Mayo’s combined secondary scoring
2026-27 Outlook
Waconia loses real production in Devon Stifter and Maxwell Kelley, but the foundation for next season is already in place. Maguire Knorr’s 19-point sophomore season from the blue line and Marek Wozniak’s .916 save percentage as a sophomore goaltender give this program two legitimate building blocks heading into 2026-27, with multiple seasons of development still ahead for both. Under second-year coach Steve Maciosek, and with a deep supporting cast in Karsen Herman, Samson Engkjer and others, Waconia looks well-positioned to build on last season’s competitive record in a tough Section 2A.
Statistics reflect the 2025-26 regular season and Section 2A playoffs as provided. Have something for us? Our email is always open ftphockey@gmail.com
