Park varsity girls hockey coach Bay Shock is excited to be leading his new team back on the ice. And in a new ruling Wednesday, fans will be allowed at state high school games this season. Up to 150 fans will be permitted in gyms and arenas, with up to 250 at outdoor events. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz announced Wednesday that fans will be allowed to attend youth and high school sports games when they resume next week.

Walz’s updated order says venues must limit capacity to 25 percent, following limits for both indoor and outdoor sporting events. High school sports practices in Minnesota resumed Monday. Games have been approved to begin Jan. 14 and the use of masks will continue to be required for hockey players.

Shock was the head girls hockey coach at Red Wing for five years and an assistant there for another. He then came up to Woodbury where he was the head coach of the Royals from 2003 to 2009 and also an assistant for four years at Woodbury. He’s excited to get started, even in this crazy season. “The wait and the season being pushed back has been really tough on them,” Bay said. “They want to be out here playing. The last three days, though, under the masks there’s smiles everywhere. They’re working hard. They love it.”

Park was 11-14-1 overall last season, finishing 8-9-1 and seventh in the Suburban East Conference. The Wolfpack lost 5-4 to Eastview in a first round Section 3AA contest.

Leading scorer Adie Steinke, starting goalie Jocelyn Veary and top skater Emma Henderson all graduated. But Park has seven experienced varsity seniors returning to the ice, including top forward Shauna Miller and defensive leader Carissa Oberding. Miller had 14 goals and eight assists last season, second best on the team.

Other senior veterans back include defenders Emma Osland, Emily Waldo and Brynn Moser and forwards Julia Menard and Nina Fragola. The goalies will be mostly new as Isabella Wegele and Tori Stepka saw limited ice time last season.

“The expectations this year – we’re changing a few things obviously with the goalies is a little different – the difference this year is with 18 conference games, and our conference is loaded. You look at the schedule and there’s no game you say, OK, this will be a nice one. Every team we have to really compete with.

“I’d like to see that consistency of playing, competing, and making hockey plays instead of watching a team panic and then it’s just disarray,” Shock said. “If we can figure out how to start putting out hockey plays – we’ve got some good young players that are coming up – if they can step in and get some experience we might surprise a couple teams.”

Park will host a traditionally strong Forest Lake team Saturday, Jan. 16, in the Cottage Grove Ice Arena to open the season. The Wolfpack are scheduled to skate in 18 regular season games, all against Suburban East Conference foes.