NORTON SHORES – In this area, there probably isn’t a better way for a high school goalie to prepare for the season than to spend some time working out with the Muskegon Lumberjacks.

Mona Shores’ Carter Dethloff had that opportunity in late September, and says he learned a lot that will help him in his first season as the Sailors’ No. 1 netminder.

Dethloff, only a sophomore last season, was impressive as a part-time goalie for Mona Shores, alternating games with senior TJ Habetler.

The two of them combined to help the Sailors have one of their best seasons in program history, posting a 14-3-1 record, winning a second straight conference title and advancing to the regional finals in the Division 2 state tournament.

In the offseason, Dethloff sought to sharpen his game by participating in the elite Michigan Developmental Hockey League in the Detroit area.

About the time that was ending, he got a call from Lumberjacks Coach Mike Hamilton, asking if he wanted to spend a week in training camp with the United States Hockey League squad, and dress for a few preseason games as the Jacks’ backup goalie.

“He dressed with the Lumberjacks for a week,” said Mona Shores Coach Chris Benedict, who spoke to reporters at the Sailors’ Media Day on Wednesday. “He was super excited about that. In the preseason games they could only dress so many overage kids, so they had to scratch a goalie for the games, and it was a great opportunity for Carter.

“He played in the Michigan Developmental Hockey League, which is basically a state high school All-Star league, and did great in that, then he had a really good experience with the Lumberjacks. Now we’re looking forward to seeing what he can do in net for us.”

Hamilton said Dethloff has worked out with the Jacks in the past when they needed an extra practice goalie, and has always done a good job, so he was invited for a week of training camp.

“He works real hard, he’s a great kid, and his family was a billet family for us in the past,” the Lumberjacks coach said. “Over the past few years we’ve turned to him when we needed an extra body to share some shots in practice.”

Dethloff was thrilled about the opportunity to skate with the Jacks, and now feels completely prepared for the new season. The Sailors will open their 2021-22 campaign on Saturday against Reeths-Puffer.

“It’s definitely much faster than high school hockey,” Dethloff said about the USHL. “I learned a lot in just that one week.”

Dethloff said it was fun to dress with the team and serve as the backup goalie in two exhibition games at Mercy Health Arena. He didn’t see any live game action with the Jacks, but that was always a possibility.

“That was the best part, skating out of the tunnel at the arena with the team,” he said.

Dethloff knows it will be a big adjustment to be the everyday goalie for the Sailors, who play a challenging schedule against a lot of good teams.

“It will be a lot different – I’ll really have to stay in shape and get as much rest as I can,” he said.

Coach Benedict has no doubt that Dethloff is ready, particularly after performing so well in a part-time role last year.

“He’s very big, fundamentally strong and plays the puck well,” Benedict said. “He did a great job last year. He’s a great goalie.”

Both Benedict and Dethloff believe that this year’s Sailor squad has the opportunity to be even better than last year’s team.

They return a lot of talented players, including big-scoring juniors Chris Benedict and Jack Nanna, and have several guys who have returned to high school hockey this year after playing in junior development leagues last season.

“On paper we’re probably stronger than last year,” said Benedict, whose team only lost six seniors to graduation. “Last year we had a team that gelled together and was really close, and I see that already in this group of guys.”

Last season was a head-spinning and emotional experience for Dethloff and the Sailors, who couldn’t play until January due to COVID restrictions.

It began on a tragic note when Dethloff’s older brother, senior Brennan Dethloff, was killed in a tragic car accident just days before practice began.

Brennan was a defenseman on the team, and all the players and coaches were stunned and devastated by the loss.

They honored the memory of their teammate by going on a great run at the start of the season, winning their first nine games. The  season finally ended with a 3-2 loss to Byron Center in the regional finals, but the Sailors accomplished a great deal, especially for a team that relied on a lot of very young players, and had to start its season on such a painful note.

When asked how he and his family are coping these days, Dethloff said, “It’s been up and down. There are days when things are OK, and days where it sucks still.”

Detholff said the incredible support from the Mona Shores hockey community played a huge part in helping him and his family get through the first months.

“This team is a family, they are really close to all of us, and it was great to have them there,” he said. “We definitely couldn’t have done it without them.”