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After a year hiatus, Lutheran South Lancers hockey is back.

After graduating 12 players following the 2015-16 season, Lutheran South was unable to field a varsity team last year – and could barely fill a junior varsity roster with the Mid-States Club Hockey Association. But after a one-year hiatus, the Lancers' varsity squad is back on the ice.

"There's a lot of dedication," Lutheran South hockey head coach Mike McWilliams said. "Hockey's not something where you just go out and play on Saturday afternoon. A lot of these kids play on other clubs, and we practice several times a week."

The junior varsity players have now helped Lutheran South build a varsity team of 18 players, 11 of which are freshman.

"As a program, that's great because you're looking at it from a four-year standpoint, not a game-to-game or a season," he said.

But the rebuilding process has its share of growing pains. Lutheran South (1-4) lost 10-4 against the Webster Groves Skatesmen (3-3) on Dec. 5.

"It's painful, even though you know you're rebuilding," McWilliams said.

The Lancers fell behind early in the game against Webster, trailing 6-1 after the first period.

"We're a really young team," McWilliams said. "Sometimes they lose motivation and we're playing Webster and (their head coach) Dave Garth – the guy's a legend. His teams are always prepared, and they're older than us."

Despite going head-to-head against the older, more experienced Skatesmen, the Lancers held their own in the second and third periods. But it wasn't enough to overcome the first period, and the Skatesmen defeated the Lancers 10-4.

For Coach McWilliams, whose hockey knowledge stems from his days as an amateur hockey player in 1967, the opportunity to share his understanding and love for the game comes with open arms. The veteran hockey coach has spent time coaching at Rockwood Summit and Lindbergh high schools, as well as his time with the Lancers.

"We were told, 'You have to give back to the game or the game will never grow,'" he said.

And with such a young squad, it will be the gift that keeps on giving.