Feb. 13—KASSON, Minn. — The college football field is calling Gabe Coshenet’s name.
It’s waiting there for him in Marshall, Minn., at Southwest Minnesota State University, where four of his Byron High School teammates will join him in this fall’s freshman class on the Mustangs’ football team.
But, this winter has been first things first for Coshenet.
He’s doing exactly what he wants to be doing — helping the Dodge County boys hockey team remain a title contender in Section 1, Class 1A.
Coshenet very briefly considered hanging up his skates. He and his teammates are thrilled that he didn’t. He leads the Wildcats in goals (22 prior to the Wildcats’ game Friday night at Osseo), assists (24) and points (46), and hopes to help them reach the Class 1A state tournament for the second time in program history and first time since 2021.
“Hockey is definitely, definitely something I don’t want to let go yet,” Coshenet said, “and it’s going to be hard to do, but it’s also a good thing to take in football; it’ll be a good opportunity for my future. But, it’ll definitely be sad (to be done with hockey).
“I’m going to miss the guys, but I’m excited for the playoffs and I think everyone’s ready to go.”
Coshenet would know. He has the pulse of the team, as one of its captains.
The Wildcats are playing as well as they have all season over the past month. They were 15-7-1 overall and amid a 7-1-1 stretch going into Friday’s game. Included in that run is a 1-0 win at Lourdes on Feb. 5 — a game in which Coshenet’s linemates, Camryn Koch and Nolan Steele, accounted for the only goal — which has put Dodge County squarely back in the mix for the No. 3 seed in the upcoming section playoffs, which begin Tuesday.
“We had a huge win against Lourdes and I think we’re all just working well together here,” he said. “We’re a close team this year and that helps us play really well together. Working hard in practice and being together all the time helps us build good chemistry, on and off the ice.”
Coshenet, Koch and Steele have shown that chemistry all season.
Coshenet has 16 multi-point games and had at least one point in 20 of the Wildcats’ 23 games, prior to Friday. He’s quick to credit his linemates for that success.
“It’s been really cool playing with guys like that,” Coshenet said. “They’re young, very talented players. It helps me, too, knowing I have two quality linemates who are going to help me be successful on the ice, too.
“Working together in practice and building relationships off the ice has been really good for us, too.”
Steele, who has set the program’s record for points by a freshman, has 14 goals and 34 points; and Koch, a sophomore in his second season on the varsity’s top line, has 15 goals and 33 points. As a trio, they have combined for 51 goals and 113 points, including eight goals and 22 points on the power play.
“Cam’s a great leader, a very hard worker in practice and he’s always pushing everybody to get better,” Coshenet said of Koch. “He’s always picking everybody up, lifting the spirits if we’re down a goal. That’s huge, especially from a young guy. … That’s something you want on your team.
“And Nolan — he’s something. I really like him. … He’s been playing great and he’s a player you’re going to want to watch in the future. Very talented.”
The Wildcats’ path to a section championship game and/or a state tournament won’t be an easy one. Defending champion Northfield, Waseca and Lourdes all have the same belief and goal. But Dodge County was in the section final two years ago, a game that ended in a 4-1 loss to Northfield. Coshenet and his classmates were on the ice that night; they know what it takes to get there and what it feels like to be defeated in that spot.
“I’m just trying to soak it in and enjoy it,” Coshenet said of the last weeks of his senior season. “Now that we’re getting down to the wire, and I know I’m not going to have much hockey left, I’m definitely taking it all in. I’m excited to see what happens in the playoffs and beyond that.”
