2016-17 Hockey.Indb 1 10/24/16 10:52 PM the CRYSTAL BALL
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Breakdown Sports Media TLAB E of CONteNts TABLE OF Sports Media BREAKDOWN SPORTS MEDIA 1509 Johnson Drive Moorhead, MN 56560 Phone: 763-258-3116 CONTENTS Fax: 612-454-1440 FEATURES Printing: Walters’ Publishing, Mankato, MN Class AA — Wayzata Class A — St. Paul Academy Copyright 2016 The Trojans used a gritty, hard-working style Under coach Matt Funk, the Spartans have embodied by coach Pat O'Leary to earn their been building into a Class A powerhouse. This first state title last year — and don't expect could be the year SPA wrests away a state much to change this winter. championship. PAGE 14 PAGE 100 STAFF Class AA — Stillwater Class A — Litchfield/Dassel-Cokato TIM KOLEHMAINEN Stillwater exploded onto the big-school The Dragons enjoyed a resurgent year under scene last year, advancing all the way to the coach Chris Olson, capped by a visit to the President/Executive Editor Breakdown Sports Media state semifinals before being stopped. The state tournament and coach-of-the-year honors [email protected] Ponies again look poised for a big year. for their leader. PAGE 18 PAGE 104 JUSTIN HEGNA SEASON PREVIEW Founder/President Breakdown Sports USA 2 A-B-C’s of boys' hockey 7 Top players [email protected] From A to Z, we lay out the upcoming Our listing of the Super 100 seniors, Top 75 season in boys' high school hockey. juniors and Elite 35 underclassmen. TONY CAULEY 4 In the Crystal Ball... 8 Record book Office Administration/Accounts A first look at the 2016-17 season. Coaches of the year, all-time coaching Breakdown Sports USA victories, MHCA Hall of Fame members, [email protected] 6 Mr. Hockey watch list single-season and career records, and past champions. DEAN KESLER Events Director SECTION PREVIEWS Breakdown Sports USA [email protected] 12 Class AA preview 98 Class A preview 22 Class AA sections and teams 108 Class A sections and teams 22 Section 1AA 108 Section 1A FROM THE EDITOR 32 Section 2AA 116 Section 2A 42 Section 3AA 127 Section 3A The BREAKDOWN staff would like to wish 52 Section 4AA 135 Section 4A everyone good luck in the 2016-17 boys' high 62 Section 5AA 146 Section 5A school hockey season as we look forward 70 Section 6AA 153 Section 6A to our eighth year of providing statewide 80 Section 7AA 159 Section 7A coverage. Make sure you stay informed at www. 89 Section 8AA 167 Section 8A BreakdownSportsUSA.com throughout the season. The BREAKDOWN publications are 176 Team index Minnesota’s No. 1 resource for players, coaches, fans and sports enthusiasts. The THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS BREAKDOWN is a full-service Minnesota high Hilton Minneapolis/Bloomington — p. 11 STAC, Inc. — p. 77 school sports company, offering season preview MN Hockey Magazine — p. 17 Hockey Moms — p. 79 publications, in-season and youth tournaments, CT Holdings — p. 31 Let's Play Hockey — p. 107 off-season leagues, newsletters, photography Real Ice — p. 41 Dominick's Pizza — p. 134 and an extensive website. We’re starting our This Week in HS Sports — p. 49 Strauss Skates & Bicycles — p. 145 15th year covering boys’ and girls’ basketball, Fiesta Cancun — p. 50 Integrated Manufacturing Solutions — p. 175 our 9th year in boys’ hockey and girls’ volleyball, Mark's Towing, Inc. — p. 51 Fellowship of Christian Athletes — back inside and our 3rd year in boys' baseball and girls' AIM Electronics — p. 59 cover hockey. Cranky Ape — p. 61 Hockey Ninja — front inside cover In short, The BREAKDOWN is the Sports Specific Training & Rehab — p. 69 Fury Motors — back cover “Minnesota high school sports encyclopedia.” Note: All of the information provided in the Breakdown's annual guidebook to high school boys' hockey is believed to be accurate as of our submission date of Oct. 15, 2016, but is not guaranteed. 2016-17 HIGH SCHOOL BOYS' HOCKEY ENCYCLOPEDIA 1 2016-17 hockey.indb 1 10/24/16 10:52 PM THE CRYSTAL BALL... PREDICTIONS Tim Kolehmainen / Breakdown.zenfolio.com KEY BOYS' HOCKEY EXPERTS TAKE THEIR BEST GUESSES AS TO WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE 2016-17 MINNESOTA HIGH SCHOOL BOYS' HOCKEY SEASON -- FROM CHAMPIONS TO SURPRISES AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN 1 Who will win the Class 2A 2 Who will win the Class 1A 3 Who is your favorite 1 title this year and why? 2. title this year and why? 3. sleeper team? u Stillwater. Most will look between the pipes u Hermantown. The Hawks finally broke their six- u Moorhead. Waiting patiently behind Bemidji and ask how the Ponies can replace Josh Benson, year runner-up streak by rolling to last year’s title — for the past two years, this looks to be the year but senior Seth Eisele has patiently been waiting and just might be stronger this year. Coach Bruce the Spuds break out again. A terrific junior class his turn and was an Elite League selection this fall. Plante’s team plays a rugged and skilled style, anchored by forwards Carter Randklev and Cole The Ponies have UMD-bound Noah Cates and exemplified by stars such as Ryan Sandelin, Jessie O’Connell and goalie Lance Leonard now get help Luke Manning back as 20+ goal scorers and Jesse Jacques, and Dylan Samberg, who is headed to from Bantams who finished second in the state last Bjugstad to anchor the defense. UMD. Keep an eye on sophomore D Darian Gotz year. Sophomores Ethan Frisch and Isaac Howe as another rising Hermantown star. haven’t played a second of varsity hockey yet, but — TIM KOLEHMAINEN both earned an Elite League spot. — TIM KOLEHMAINEN u Eden Prairie. Led by The Mighty Casey (we’re — TIM KOLEHMAINEN talking about projected first-round NHL draft pick u Hermantown. Hermantown halted its Casey Mittelstadt, of course) Eden Prairie returns a inexplicable run of six straight runner-up finishes u Minnetonka. High-level talent from back-to-back handful of elite-level players from last year’s state last March with a long-awaited championship and state Bantam AA championship teams is flowing runner-up squad. with standouts Ryan Sandelin, Dylan Samberg and up into Minnetonka’s high school ranks, a good Jesse Jacques returning the Hawks appear poised sign for a program that has remained formidable — LOREN NELSON to repeat as champs. even in the most talent-thin of years. u Stillwater. It’s Pony time. They’re balanced, — LOREN NELSON — LOREN NELSON senior-heavy, and back for a title. They have an easier road to the State Tournament and a high u Hermantown. The Hawks are in a class of their u Delano. If anyone is going to beat Hermantown, seed than all of the other main contenders. After own when compared to the other A teams, and it might just be the Tigers. Beating Breck in 2A falling short in the semis last season, they’ll be should roll to a second consecutive title. won’t be easy, but they have a group of top-flight hungry. talents who can get them to the Class A final. — KARL SCHUETTLER — KARL SCHUETTLER — KARL SCHUETTLER u Hermantown. It is the Hawks and the rest in u Wayzata. The Trojans will repeat as the the Class 1A this year — and I am sticking to the u Holy Family Catholic. Hardly a sleeper as the champions. In a season that has a lot of attention theme of back-to-back championships in high Fire were a top-10 team last year and top-five in placed on the Eden Prairie Eagles and Stillwater school hockey this year. Breck will give the Hawks many instances. The Fire are indeed on an upward Ponies, the Trojans will be able to fly under the a game and anything can happen as we know, but trajectory an have plenty of talent led by Matt radar. With 11 players returning from their state this is Hermantown's to lose. Anderson and Jared Moe. The Fire will be in the tournament, including most of the blue line, mix all year long and will remove the 'sleeper' label — PETE WAGGONER Wayzata will be able to draw on that experience this year. and deliver the second title in school history. — PETE WAGGONER — PETE WAGGONER 4 2016-17 HIGH SCHOOL BOYS' HOCKEY ENCYCLOPEDIA 2016-17 hockey.indb 4 10/24/16 10:52 PM Breakdown Sports Media 2016-17 SeasoN PREVIEW Who will win Mr. Wayzata will... Copeland and Clayton Phillips (17s) had decided 4 6 to return. u Continue to be one of the toughest teams Hockey and why? — TIM KOLEHMAINEN 4. 6.in the state to play against. Coach Pat O’Leary’s u Casey Mittelstadt, Eden Prairie. When Mittelstadt bunch will advance to the Section 6AA final as the u Duluth Marshall, the small school on the hill, announced he was returning for his senior season No. 1 seed, but get knocked off by a surging Edina does the unthinkable and beats big-school rival at Eden Prairie to chase a state title, it made him team rallying after a slow start to the year. Duluth East on its way to a most unforeseen (except the instant favorite to win the award. He has the by me) Section 7, Class 2A title. past production (80 points as a junior), big state — TIM KOLEHMAINEN tournament moments (11 points in last year’s — LOREN NELSON u Make another deep postseason run behind the tourney), and future resume (Gopher recruit, stellar work of goaltender senior goaltender Reid u Eden Prairie goes down in sections. Casey anyone?) of the best Mr. Hockey candidates ever. Waszczenko but lose to longtime nemesis Edina in a Mittelstadt and company will be dominant in the — TIM KOLEHMAINEN Section 6, Class 2A title game thriller.