Monarch has long been a perennial CHSAA hockey power—the Coyotes earned state runner-up finishes each of the past four seasons—so it was no surprise when the team was highly-ranked before the start of this season.
Nor was it a surprise when the team outscored its first two opponents, Standley Lake and Pueblo County, by a combined 26-1 margin.
But unlike in winters past, when the Coyotes have appeared largely invincible throughout the regular season, this year Monarch (9-3, 5-2 Foothills Conference) has already shown cracks via losses to Fort Collins on Dec. 10, Ralston Valley on Dec. 17 and Regis Jesuit on Jan. 7 in a rematch of the 2015 title game.
The graduation of 17 seniors will do that to a program, as coach Jimmy Dexter’s squad is still adapting to the new roster this season. Leading the way for Monarch on the stat sheet and in the leadership category is senior forward Brendan Van Haute (15 goals, 12 assists), who’s been crucial in getting the team’s inexperienced players to buy into the program’s championship culture.
Denver Post preps editor Kyle Newman caught up with Dexter to discuss his team’s progression this season, Van Haute’s importance, this season’s ultimate goal and much more:
