The Oakdale Bears Ice Hockey season is right around the corner!

Last year’s state champion runner ups are back in action; however, this team is a different team from last year.

This year’s team features many new young skilled freshmen that will help contribute to the team, especially with the loss of highly skilled Seniors Nathan Young, Jason Mcelroy, Jake Krempa, and Phin Hooper.

The most anticipated player for the Bears this year is Brock Layden. The Oakdale Bears will be without their starting goalie, John Hallman, who played last year and for the most part was lights out for Oakdale. Layden, who showed promise last year, is predicted to  be the starter. The Bears are hoping he can help spark another state title run.

Layden expressed his thoughts on this upcoming season: “ I think people should be ready for some surprises, with us losing some superstars, many Freshmen are hungry. This season is gonna be taken one step at a time until we hopefully lock up the division and Monocacy cup.”

This year, the team will have around thirty kids trying out, so a varsity spot, except the goalie, is going to be tough. The amount of kids who will play varsity is not yet decided.

Tryouts will be held on October 3rd at Skate Frederick.

The first game of the season for the Bears will be played on October 26th, at Skate Frederick. The fan support for the State Championship game last season was amazing and the team is hoping the students can pack the house like that for every game. Admission is free for all games up until playoffs.

Junior Liam Rorer expressed his thoughts on the fan support: “The fan support should definitely be better this year since this team went all the way to the state title game last year.”

The Oakdale Bears Ice Hockey team will certainly be different than last year, but with lots of young skill and a small numbered but talented senior class, expect the unexpected.