A quartet of starters return for a Stoughton Icebergs girls hockey co-op that has an influx of young skaters looking to make another jump in the Badger Conference this winter.

The Icebergs went 5-15-2 last year and 2-9 to tie Viroqua for fifth in the conference. Stoughton has three players returning that received all-conference honors last year. Junior goaltender Anika Mueller is back after racking up 832 saves in the regular season and a .942 save percentage last year. She gave up only 2.3 goals per game and has been nominated for the Jesse Vetter award this season, for the state’s top senior goalie.

“We are wanting to build on the successes we had last year,” Stoughton coach Rachel Behl said. “We have solid goaltending, but we want to continue to hold teams to minimal shots.”

The trio of other returning starters are junior forwards Hazel Rothering and Ashlyn Bartels of Oregon. Both Rothering and Bartels were named honorable mention all-conference last season. Rothering returns as the team’s top point scorer (four goals, five assists). The other starter back is senior Sydney Gilbertson of Monona Grove. Both Bartels and Gilbertson scored two goals and had one assist last year. The Icebergs are looking to generate more shots on goal this year after averaging 0.9 goals per game last year. Stoughton lost to Wisconsin Valley Union 2-1 in regionals.

“We are needing to find some goal scorers within our crew,” Behl said. “We struggled with putting the puck in the net so a lot of focus this year will be on that.”

The Icebergs have 13 freshmen who will be competing for playing time.

“We have gained a lot of speed in this new class,” she said. “So far they are an energetic and fun group of athletes.”

Beaver Dam went 12-0 and won a conference title last year. Cap City finished second with a 9-3 mark in the league.

Behl said Beaver Dam and Cap City both should be strong again. The Icebergs split two games with the Metro Lynx last year.

“The Lynx rivalry is always a good battle and one we enjoy to play,” she said. “Beating Baraboo seemed to be just out of our reach last year; we are hoping to capitalize this year and at least grab one win against them. Same for Janesville.”