MVP and All-Missota Conference
(photo by Jim Lindquist)
Though the final season record of 7-17-2 (4-9-1 in Missota Conference play) wasn't the type of finish Farmington coach Keith Revels and his team were anticipating, the 2011-12 campaign was not without its moments.
The Tigers played opponents close all season with eight games decided by one goal, all losses.
"We also had two ties and in both of them we had breakaways in the closing seconds," Revels said, "but both times we came up short.
"It was frustrating for all of us and it eventually took its toll on morale. Just a handful of goals could have really changed things for us."
Senior goalkeeper Victor Simones and the defense did their part, holding the opposition to just 3.1 goals a night, the lowest figure in Revels' four years on the job.
The offense, however, managed just 69 goals in 26 games, 38 fewer than the previous season.
Twenty-two players received varsity letters at the team's awards banquet, including seven seniors: Simones, Jack Buss, Blake Weinand, Sean Johnson, Jake Eldred, Ryan Schoening and Marques Words.
Underclassmen winning letters included juniors Jordan Lugowski, Kevin Olund, John Donnelly, Austin Krause, Grant Hauswirth, Zach Colaw and Dan Block and sophomores Stan Buss, Jack Erickson, Alex Aubrecht, Tanner Grubb, Landon Nielsen, Dallas Tucker, Nick Schoening and Christopher Fitzgibbons.
Blake Weinand
Hobey Baker Award and All-Missota honorable mention
(photo by Jim Lindquist)
Simones was tabbed as the team's Most Valuable Player and was the only Tiger to make the all-Missota Conference squad. Weinand and Olund received all-league honorable mention.
Lugowksi won Most Improved Player honors and Erickson was named Rookie of the Year. Weinand received the Hobey Baker Award for character.
"We had our share of adversity," Revels said. "but we lived to tell about it. By the end of the season we had nine sophomores on our 20-man roster. That should bode well for next season and beyond.
"We'll have a pretty talented group of returnees next year and they'll be joined by the first batch of the most successful youth team we have had. We'll need to replace a very solid goaltender and find some scoring."
