A few years ago, as a means of organizing all the players in the state of Minnesota, I started keeping a list of all the high school players in the state that I've seen by which grade they were in. It's a fairly handy little list, with players constantly moving up and down.
I've decided to post the top parts of my list as a way of pointing out some of the top players in the state this year. I'll go with 20 seniors, 15 juniors, 10 sophmores, and 5 freshmen. Obviously I know the older kids a little better having seen them more, so I think the senior list is fairly solid, on down to the freshman list, where it's mostly a shot in the dark. If you think I've missed anyone, feel free to leave a comment or email me about it.
I'd also like to mention just how deep high school hockey is this year.There's a lot of really good seniors floating outside of the top 20 right now, including 4 that have made college commitments. Comparing this year's group with the past two senior classes, I think this year's is already way ahead of them.
The list is after the jump.
Top 20 Seniors
- Nick Bjugstad-F-Blaine(Minnesota)
- Zane Gothberg-G-Thief River Falls(North Dakota)
- Brock Nelson-F-Warroad(North Dakota)
- Caleb Herbert-F-Bloomington Jefferson(UMD)
- Adam Knochenmus-F-Roseau
- Troy Hesketh-D-Minnetonka(Wisconsin)
- Jacob Meyers-G-Benilde
- Max Gardiner-F-Minnetonka(Minnesota)
- Max Gaede-F-Woodbury(Minnesota State)
- Andrew Prochno-D-Minnetonka(St. Cloud)
- Mark Alt-D-Cretin-Derham Hall(Minnesota)
- Brett Stern-D-Centennial(Minnesota State)
- Cal Decowski-F-Andover
- Justin Holl-D-Minnetonka(Minnesota)
- Chris Casto-D-Hill-Murray
- Adam Krause-F-Hermantown(Minnesota-Duluth)
- Christian Isackson-F-St. Thomas(Minnesota)
- Joe Faust-D-Bloomington Jefferson(Princeton)
- Archie Skalbeck-F-Hopkins
- Justin Crandall-F-St. Thomas(Minnesota-Duluth)
Top 15 Juniors
- Ben Marshall-D-Mahtomedi(Minnesota)
- Dan Molenaar-D-Eden Prairie
- Adam Wilcox-G-South St. Paul(Minnesota)
- Garrett Hendrickson-F-Virginia(St. Cloud)
- Andrew Welinski-D-Duluth East(Minnesota-Duluth)
- Brandon Wahlin-F-White Bear Lake
- Ben Bahe-F-Hill-Murray
- Ryan Jaremko-D-Elk River
- Zach Schroeder-F-St. Thomas
- AJ Reid-F-St. Thomas
- Kyle Rau-F-Eden Prairie
- Andrew Ford-G-Eden Prairie
- Max Birkinbine-F-White Bear Lake
- Tyler Heinonen-F-Delano
- Max Everson-D-Edina
Top 10 Sophmores
- Christian Horn-Benilde-St. Margaret's
- AJ Michaelson-F-Apple Valley
- Brady Skjei-D-Lakeville North
- Brock Kautz-G-Rochester Century
- Michael Zajac-F-Eagan
- Gage Torrel-F-Monticello
- Mike Reilly-D-Holy Angels
- Austin Rudnick-D-Breck
- Derek Smith-D-Apple Valley
- Nate Arentz-F-Lakeville North
Top 5 Freshmen
- Parker Reno-D-Edina
- Grant Besse-F-Benilde-St. Margaret's
- Lance Carney-D-White Bear Lake
- T.J. Moore-F-Benilde-St. Margaret's
- Dan Labosky-F-Benilde-St. Margaret's