Winona finished 11-15 in 2025-26 and fell 6-0 to Dodge County in the Section 1A Playoffs Quarterfinal. The Winhawks graduate six seniors, including their leading scorer and starting goaltender, but a deep, young group of forwards who already produced significant offense as underclassmen gives the program real building blocks for next season.
Players Lost to Graduation
Winona graduates six seniors, and the group includes the engine of last season’s offense from an unusual position — the blue line.
Paxton Raymond (D) led the team with 10 goals and 18 assists for 28 points in 25 games, adding 3 power-play goals and 10 power-play assists — an enormous offensive season from a defenseman that will be difficult to replace.
Jack Jerowski (F) adds 5 goals and 5 assists for 10 points, with a power-play goal, a power-play assist and 3 game-winners.
Jacob Lange (F) and Myles Bruemmer (D) both finished with 7-point seasons. Lange scored 5 goals and added 2 assists, while Bruemmer posted 3 goals and 4 assists with a power-play goal.
Zack Wilken (F) contributes 1 goal and 5 assists for 6 points, with a power-play goal and 2 power-play assists.
In net, Seth Watkins (G) graduates as the primary starter, posting a 9-13 record with a 3.18 GAA, a .896 save percentage and 4 shutouts across his varsity appearances last season.
Returning Players for 2026-27
Winona returns a deep and notably young group of forwards who already contributed real offense last season, led by two juniors-to-be who topped 20 points.
Top Returning Scorers
Kaden Grass (F), a senior next season, returns as Winona’s leading returning scorer, posting 14 goals and 10 assists for 24 points in 25 games, with 6 power-play goals, 3 power-play assists, 2 short-handed goals, a short-handed assist and 3 game-winners — a complete offensive season in all situations.
Brennan Hines (F), also a senior next season, finished with 13 goals and 8 assists for 21 points in just 19 games, adding a power-play goal, 2 power-play assists, a short-handed goal, a short-handed assist and 2 game-winners.
Andrew Killian (F), a junior next season, posted 5 goals and 8 assists for 13 points, with 2 power-play goals and a power-play assist.
Gavin Kammerer (F), a senior next season, returns after a 12-point season (8 goals, 4 assists) that included 2 power-play assists and 2 game-winners.
Alex Suffrins (D), a junior next season, adds 2 goals and 8 assists for 10 points, with 2 power-play assists.
Cole Anacabe (F) and Gavin Charles (D), both juniors next season, finished with 6-point seasons apiece. Anacabe scored 1 goal and added 5 assists, while Charles posted 2 goals and 4 assists.
Returning Defense Core
With Paxton Raymond and Myles Bruemmer both graduating, the blue line shifts to Alex Suffrins and Gavin Charles, who combined for 16 points last season as underclassmen. Jonah Scoville also returns after a 2-point season, and Jackson Posey-Heyer adds an assist. Replacing Raymond’s rare offensive volume from the defenseman position specifically will be the program’s biggest challenge.
Goaltending Situation
With Seth Watkins graduating, Cayden Lingen (G), a junior next season, is positioned to take over in net. Lingen was efficient in a meaningful sample last season, posting a 3-0 record with a 2.39 GAA and a .827 save percentage in 15 appearances. Taking on a full-time starting workload will be a big step up, but Lingen’s strong early results give Winona a real foundation to build around.
Players to Watch
Kaden Grass and Brennan Hines are the headliners — both already posted 20-plus-point seasons and should anchor Winona’s offense as seniors. Andrew Killian, Gavin Kammerer and Alex Suffrins give the Winhawks further scoring depth across multiple grade levels. In net, Cayden Lingen’s strong efficiency numbers in a limited sample make him a player to watch closely as he steps into the starting role.
Key Players to Replace
Winona’s offseason priorities center on:
- Paxton Raymond’s 28-point season and rare offensive production from the blue line
- Jack Jerowski’s secondary scoring and game-winning ability
- Seth Watkins’s full-season workload in net
2026-27 Outlook
Winona’s offense returns largely intact, led by Kaden Grass and Brennan Hines, who combined for 45 points last season and should take on even larger roles as seniors. The bigger question is replacing Paxton Raymond’s unusual offensive production from the blue line, along with the transition to Cayden Lingen as the full-time starter in net. If Lingen’s strong underlying numbers carry over to a larger workload, Winona has enough returning scoring depth to be more competitive in Class A Section 1 next season.
Statistics reflect the 2025-26 regular season and Section 1A playoffs as provided.
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