The Winter sports season is over, and here at KRWC we will once again name the best of the best from the Wright County Area in Winter sports. The focus today will be on Girls and Boys Hockey. Congratulations to all the athletes and coaches on a great winter sports season.
Girls Hockey:
Player of the Year: Charlotte Heckendorf, North Wright County. It wasn’t a great season for the Riverhawks as they went 6-17, but Heckendorf was at her best in the biggest games. Charlotte had a goal and an assist in the Riverhawks 2-0 win over rival Buffalo, and a goal and an assist in a 5-3 win over Gentry in January. Heckendorf finished the season with 11 goals and 6 assists, including a goal in their season ending loss to River City in the section quarterfinals.
Charlotte Heckendorf, above, received many awards this winter in girls’ hockey, including the 2026 KRWC Wright County Girls Hockey player of the year.
Coach of the Year: Ryan Huddy, Buffalo. The Bison went 7-14-5 while competing in the rugged Lake Conference and came oh so close to upsetting Alexandria in the first round of the 8AA sections, losing 2-1 in double overtime. Huddy also led the Bison to its first win over North Wright County in ten years, with a 4-1 win in February. The son of longtime Edmonton Oilers players Charlie Huddy, will return a solid team next season, led by his daughter Violet, who scored six goals and added fourteen assists as a freshman this season.
Ryan Huddy, above, is KRWC’s Wright County Area Girls Hockey coach of the year.
Goalie of the Year: Tessa Quale, Buffalo. Again, it wasn’t a great season for the Bison, but Quale was a big reason the Bison were competitive in the Lake Conference. Quale had her best game of the season in a 4-1 win over their rivals from North Wright County in February. Quale stopped 50 of 52 shots faced in the Bison’s 2-1 double overtime loss to the Cards in the Section 8AA Quarterfinals. Overall, Quale finished with one shutout, and 2.91 goals against avg, and a 91% save percentage.
Tessa Quale, above, stopped 91% of the shots she saw this season in net for the Bison.
Boys Hockey:
Player of the Year: Daniel Halonen, and Brady Kangas, Delano. Delano had one of the top first lines in the whole state, and it was led by Halonen and Kangas. Halonen finished the season with 44 goals and 36 assists, while Kangas had 33 goals and 49 assists as Delano advanced to the state tournament and went 1-2 at state. Halonen was also up for Mr. Hockey in the state, and he and Kangas combined for three goals and four assists as Delano won its first game at state in school history with a 6-2 win over Mankato West in the Class A State Quarterfinals.
Daniel Halonen, left and Brady Kangas, right, combined for 77 goals and 85 assists this winter for Delano.
Coach of the Year: Garrett Van Bergen, Delano. Not only has Van Bergen won best hockey hair by a coach at state, but he also accomplished another great achievement, the Tigers first win at state in school history! Van Bergen has not only brought the Tigers to state numerous times, but he has also produced some of the top players in the state over the years, with many playing college hockey, and Meyers, who is playing for the Seattle Kraken in the NHL. This year though was his best! Delano won the Section, received the #2 seed in the Class A state tournament, and won their first game at state with a 6-2 win over Mankato West in the Quarterfinal round, before losing a close one to Warroad in the semifinals.
Garrett Van Bergen, above, guided Delano to its first ever state tournament win Delano boys hockey history this past winter.
Goalie of the Year: Nolan Wurm, Monticello. Wurm was the brick wall in the net as the Moose went 19-6-3 and advanced to the Section 5A finals, before losing to St. Cloud Cathedral, 3-1. Wurm was at his best late in the season against Pine City and SCC. Wurm made key save after key save late as the Moose held off Pine City, 4-3 in the section semifinals at Moose Sherritt Arena in late February. In the section final, Wurm may have even been better, stopping 25 of 27 shots faced against SCC, but the Moose came up just short, 3-1. For the season, Wurm went 19-5-1, with 1.77 goals against avg., and also had five shutouts.
Nolan Wurm, above, registered five shutouts in net this winter for Monticello.
