The Prior Lake boys hockey team hopes this is the season it can break down that state door.

But it won't be easy, not in Section 2AA, where three teams are ranked in the preseason top 10 — No. 1 Minnetonka, No. 8 Eden Prairie and No. 9 Chaska.

Holy Family will also a strong again, but don't count out the Lakers, who have one of the top players in the section in senior Jackson Jutting. 

Prior Lake struggled last year to an 11-16 overall mark (7-10 in the South Suburban Conference), falling 5-2 to Holy Family in the Section 2AA semifinals. It was the seventh time in the last eight years the Lakers lost in the second playoff round.

"We want to be that first Prior Lake team to get to state," said Jutting, who led the team last year in points with 41 (24 goals, 17 assists). "In my opinion and many others, we are in the toughest section in the state. Since my freshman year, it's been the same five teams in contention."

In 2016, Prior Lake got to the section title game, but fell 4-2 to Eden Prairie. Jutting was part of that team as a ninth-grader. 

Jutting is coming off a big offseason. This past August, he competed for the U.S. Under-18 Men's Select team in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alberta, Canada. He was also recently named to the 2018-19 American Family Insurance All-USA Preseason. He was one of 11 Minnesotans named to the 18-player squad.

"That was a great experience [to play for the U.S team]," Jutting said. "You get to see where everyone stacks up around the world with other teams and players. I never played against guys from another country. It was a fun couple of weeks."

The Lakers have some skilled players back alongside Jutting, including senior forward Charlie Kashmark and senior defenseman Ty Trachsel. Kashmark had a team-best 21 assists last year, adding five goals. Trachsel finished with five goals and 11 assists.

Senior Kobe Kimmes is also back. He had six goals and three assists last year.

"Last year didn't go the way we expected," Jutting said. "We need to be better on both offense and defense. We have some guys back with varsity experience. We have a fast team. We have some big defensemen. But overall, we are going to be a fast, scrappy team."

Junior Sam Emmerich is also back on defense. He had two goals and five assists last year. Seniors Wade Winter and Brian Kallberg and junior Lazarus Kaebel also return to the blue line

Juniors Preston Lindholm, Colin Tushie, Nick Speltz and Parker Long and seniors Ben Swanson and Nathan Green also got some varsity ice time last season.

Junior Sam Shopbell appeared in eight games in goal for the Lakers last year, while senior Cade Kujawski played 10 games in net as a sophomore, but did not play last winter.

Prior Lake will open the season Nov. 27 on the road in SSC play at Eagan at 7 p.m. The team stays on the road Nov. 29 to take on Chanhassen in a battle of Section 2AA foes at 7 p.m.

Prior Lake's first five games are on the road, including league contests at Apple Valley Dec. 1, at Lakeville North Dec. 4 and at Rosemount Dec. 11. All three start at 7 p.m.  The Lakers' home opener is Dec. 15 versus Shakopee in SSC play at 3 p.m. 

Prior Lake won the SSC title outright in 2017 and tied with Lakeville North for the crown in 2016.

The Lakers will also be the host for the Hockey for Life Classic Dec. 27-29. They will play Lakeville North in the first game, Chaska in the second game and close out the round-robin format playing No. 5 St. Thomas Academy.