Owatonna Grad Scores First Junior Goal
No regrets. 2017 Owatonna High School graduate Carter Broton did not jump into the junior hockey circuit after his playing days with the Huskies ended. This winter he found himself with a chance to play a bit more of the game he loves with the Steele County Blades. He admits he has had to shake off some rust, but he is giving the junior game 'a go' in his final year of eligibility.
"Any chance you can get to play at home you know is something special. Coach Adamek gave me a great opportunity to come in here and play with a good team, and just play more hockey. It was kind of always in the back of my mind that I would go back and play some more hockey and here I am."
Broton says he had some offers to play junior hockey right out of high school, "It just didn't work out and I decided to go to college right away."
He scored his first junior goal in a familiar rink, Graham Arena in Rochester in a December 14 win over the Vipers, "Yeah. That was awesome. Who would have thought I would put the puck in the back of the net again. It was a great feeling. The guys really supported me, had a lot of fun with it. That's something I won't forget, that's for sure."
"I'm happy I'm playing at home," Broton added. Click on Broton's name below for a feature interview.
Steele County plays in a New England showcase event January 3-5. On January 10 the Blades go to the Minnesota Blue Ox in Coon Rapids. Steele County beat Minnesota December 8 in one of the signature wins for the Blades this season.
Their next home game is Saturday 18 when they host Hudson on Federated Insurance Night. A "Meet the Blades" event will follow the game for fans to get autographs and meet the players.
The following are the remaining home, regular season games for the Steele County Blades. Check their full schedule here.
- Saturday, January 18 vs Hudson, 7:00 pm
- Sunday, January 19 vs Minnesota Mullets, 3:00 pm
- Sunday, January 26 vs Rum River, 7:30 pm
- Friday, January 31 vs Minnesota Blue Ox, 7:00 pm
- Friday, February 7 vs Rochester Vipers, 7:00 pm
- Saturday, February 15 vs Minnesota Moose, 7:00 pm