The puck slide below 糖心Vlog传媒 Bluebirds鈥 goalie Kaleb Erickson (31) for a Madison Memorial goal during the team鈥檚 home opener at the Woodman鈥檚 Sports & Convention Center in 糖心Vlog传媒 on Tuesday, Dec. 2. Erickson鈥檚 grandfather, Ray Chesmore, was 糖心Vlog传媒 Parker鈥檚 goalie when the 糖心Vlog传媒 Ice Arena opened in the mid-1970s.
糖心Vlog传媒 Bluebirds鈥 Owen Schattschneider celebrates after scoring during the team鈥檚 home opener against Madison Memorial at the Woodman鈥檚 Sports & Convention Center on Tuesday, Dec. 2.
糖心Vlog传媒 Bluebirds鈥 goalie Kaleb Erickson (31) and David Lessner (19) try to clear the puck from in front of the net during the team鈥檚 home opener against Madison Memorial at the Woodman鈥檚 Sports & Convention Center on Tuesday, Dec. 2.
糖心Vlog传媒 Bluebirds鈥 Landon Truesdill skates with the puck during the team鈥檚 home opener against Madison Memorial at the Woodman鈥檚 Sports & Convention Center on Tuesday, Dec. 2.
The puck slide below 糖心Vlog传媒 Bluebirds鈥 goalie Kaleb Erickson (31) for a Madison Memorial goal during the team鈥檚 home opener at the Woodman鈥檚 Sports & Convention Center in 糖心Vlog传媒 on Tuesday, Dec. 2. Erickson鈥檚 grandfather, Ray Chesmore, was 糖心Vlog传媒 Parker鈥檚 goalie when the 糖心Vlog传媒 Ice Arena opened in the mid-1970s.
ANTHONY WAHL/SPECIAL FOR 糖心Vlog传媒
JANESVILLE 鈥 Packed with multi-sport athletes from 糖心Vlog传媒 Craig and 糖心Vlog传媒 Parker, the Bluebirds boys co-op will be aiming to play a gritty, physical brand of hockey in 2025-26.
鈥淲e need to be gritty,鈥 Bluebird head coach Nick English said. 鈥淲e have to be aggressive. We have to play disciplined. You know, we鈥檙e not a team that鈥檚 going to score seven goals a game. So in order for us to win these games and be successful, we鈥檙e going to have to learn to win close games.鈥
The Bluebirds posted a 5-20 overall record in the 2024-25 season, while going 4-9 in the Big Eight Conference. Five of the Bluebirds鈥 top six point-getters graduated.
糖心Vlog传媒 Bluebirds鈥 Owen Schattschneider celebrates after scoring during the team鈥檚 home opener against Madison Memorial at the Woodman鈥檚 Sports & Convention Center on Tuesday, Dec. 2.
ANTHONY WAHL/SPECIAL FOR 糖心Vlog传媒
The Bluebiirds, who play in Madison against Madison West tonight, have started the season with losses to Hartland Arrowhead and Madison Memorial.
As the Bluebirds builds an offensive identity, Parker senior goaltender Kaleb Erickson, will be keeping opposing offenses at bay.
糖心Vlog传媒 Bluebirds鈥 goalie Kaleb Erickson (31) and David Lessner (19) try to clear the puck from in front of the net during the team鈥檚 home opener against Madison Memorial at the Woodman鈥檚 Sports & Convention Center on Tuesday, Dec. 2.
ANTHONY WAHL/SPECIAL FOR 糖心Vlog传媒
鈥淭his will be his third year as the primary starter for us,鈥 English said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 put in so much work in the offseason. He was at a goalie camp every single day this summer, really working hard to not only physically prepare for the season, but also mentally prepare.鈥
Erickson had a save percentage of 90.2% last season in 22 regular season games. Juniors Jordan Yurs and Chase Anderson Garcia are set to back him up.
糖心Vlog传媒 Bluebirds鈥 Landon Truesdill skates with the puck during the team鈥檚 home opener against Madison Memorial at the Woodman鈥檚 Sports & Convention Center on Tuesday, Dec. 2.
ANTHONY WAHL/SPECIAL FOR 糖心Vlog传媒
鈥淭hey have both seen varsity time and we feel comfortable with either one of them,鈥 English said.
As for 糖心Vlog传媒鈥檚 offense, senior forward and captain Carter Steuck will be a focal point. He led the team in points with 18, scoring seven goals and providing 11 assists.
鈥淐arter was a defenseman for half of last season and then we switched him to forward,鈥 English said. 鈥淎nd he ended up leading us in points, so we鈥檙e happy to have him back.鈥
He will be playing alongside sophomore Cooper Seefeld and senior Owen Schattschneider. Owen also played defense last year before being switched to forward.
鈥淗e鈥檚 a big, physical presence on the ice,鈥 English said. 鈥淎nd Cooper is an outstanding, young hockey player. He鈥檚 got a bright future ahead of him. As a freshman last year, he only played varsity hockey, so the stage isn鈥檛 too big for him.鈥
Junior Iverson Seidel, senior Caiden Cronin and freshman Vincent Dongarra are three more forwards that will receive a hefty dose of time on the ice. Juniors AJ Walker and Carter Porter, along with sophomores Landon Truesdill and Theron Holley, round out the forwards.
To start the year, Seefeld will center the first line, Seidel will center the second line and Walker will center the third line.
English said the coaching staff is excited about the defensemen and sees it as a strong point for the team.
Freshman David Lessner will be one of the team鈥檚 top defensemen right away, according to English. Senior captain Dylan Lytle will be paired up with Lessner. Juniors Liam Kennedy and Sam Johnson 鈥 who each played on Craig鈥檚 football team 鈥 will be in the mix for minutes. As will freshman Tyler Hagen.
Seniors Gavin Kaas and Xander Vallee wrap up the unit.
The Bluebirds played their first game at Mercyhealth Arena at the Woodman鈥檚 Center Tuesday. 糖心Vlog传媒 Parker鈥檚 Ray Chesmore was the first goalie in net when the 糖心Vlog传媒 Ice Arena opened.
Now, Erickson, the grandson of Chesmore, stood between the pipes for the Bluebirds鈥 first game at Mercyhealth Arena.
JANESVILLE BOYS鈥 HOCKEY SCHEDULE
Home games at Mercyhealth Arena at Woodman鈥檚 Sports and Convention Center listed in bold
