A familiar face is the new head coach of La Crescent-Hokah hockey team

La CRESCENT La Crescent-Hokah activities director Terry Donovan spent the summer searching for the right person to take over the Lancers boys hockey program.

The right person turned out to be closer than expected.

ADVERTISEMENT For a third time, JP Piche will head the Lancers program.

I came here in 1992 as a 23-year-old, Piche said.

Im still feeling healthy and ...

I talked to my family about, is this (coaching hockey) something I can do? A lot of the older players have put so much time, energy and loyalty into the team.

I want to make sure they go out the right way.

Piche steps into the role vacated when La Crescent native and former Minnesota State University, Mankato, and NHL player Eriah Hayes resigned in April after six years as the Lancers head coach.

Piche coached Hayes for one season, then watched as Hayes set then-program records for career goals (135) and points (232).

Wyatt Farrell, a 2024 La Crescent-Hokah grad, broke those program records and tied a state record for career goals (196), while playing under Hayes.

Im excited to be back.

Itll be like riding a bike, I think, Piche said.

Were in bit of a numbers crunch (at the youth level), like a lot of small programs, but we do have some good classes coming up.

Piche, who has been the boys soccer head coach at La Crescent-Hokah since 1995, first served as the Lancers head hockey coach from 1992-2004.

He returned to the role from 2010-17, and over his two stints has compiled a 187-260-13 overall record (including a 93-85 mark from 2010-17).

He has a 311-176-38 record as the Lancers boys soccer coach, earning his 300th win late in the 2023 season.

ADVERTISEMENT Hayes had a 75-66-6 record in six seasons as hockey coach, including a program-record 24-win season in 2023-24, when the Lancers reached the Section 1, Class 1A semifinals for the second time ever.

La Crescent-Hokah went 9-14-4 last season, but had nine juniors who will be the backbone of this seasons team.

That group includes senior-to-be Cooper Hill, who led the team in goals (15), assists (17) and points (32) last season.

Im very excited to work with the kids again, the guys coming back this year.

We have a pretty big senior class, Piche said.

And give credit to Eriah and his staff.

They did everything the right way and worked so hard to put us on the map.

Eriah still is La Crescent hockey.

He and I have had a lot of conversations over the years and Im lucky to have been here with him.

The Lancers are scheduled to begin their 2025-26 season on Dec.

1, with a game at South St.

Paul..

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