Standouts from the 2026 Minnesota High School State Hockey Tournament

The Minnesota High School State Tournament has possibly the most variance of all the events which line the annual hockey calendar, bringing varying stakes and implications for its participants. 

Some kids spent this past weekend in St. Paul playing for NHL Draft consideration, others hoping to impress WHL scouts prior to the 2011-born bantam draft. While some left to fill top-six roles in the USHL after the conclusion of the event, others went on to pursue AAA national championships. Every team competed for the same team goal - a state championship - but the individual sentiments had a wide range of wishes. The standouts who earned recognition in this article all boosted their stock for whatever their next pursuits will be.

In a single elimination, three game tournament, every night is of paramount importance. There were players omitted from this list despite having great moments, guys who stood out in pockets but were unable to put together consistent performances in the biggest games. Selections factored in the totality of the tournament, prioritizing play in an inverse order of the bracket (finals most important, semifinals next, quarter-finals least), and not including consolations games played at Mariucci Arena. 

These are the names that stood out most at the State Tournament, kids who put together outstanding efforts on the biggest stage in Minnesota Hockey.  

Cash Hardie, LW, Minnetonka Skippers

When considering the totality of the tournament, there weren’t many overall performances better than the one of Minnetonka Skippers forward Cash Hardie. The 10th grader was one of the youngest players in the Skippers’ lineup, yet made massive contributions shift after shift. In the opener against Gentry Academy, he posted four points in a 5-0 win. Hardie followed that up with an overtime winner in the semifinals to advance over Rosemount, and another nice goal in the eventual championship loss. Even as a first year high school player, it’s apparent Hardie has figured out scoring at this level. He runs smart routes off the puck, creates space for his shot, and can beat goalies to spots with a quick, compact release. Hardie could develop power forward elements into his game as he ages, becoming a true junior hockey prospect. If the 2009-born star is back at Minnetonka next year, he’ll be a game changer once again. 

Ethan Sturgis, RW, Minnetonka Skippers

This year’s Minnetonka group took on a different identity from years past, one the Skippers program has rarely embodied. A team annually built on reckless offensive involvement and speed was now centered around heavy, consistent, team-first players. Perhaps no player epitomized that more than Ethan Sturgis. Sturgis, as Dartmouth commit, played in straight lines, disrupted plays on the forecheck, and created possessions to create off the cycle. He scored two massive goals in the semifinal against Rosemount, both the result of incredible net front work, and added a third in the championship. I’m not sure the pro upside became any more clear at this event - he’s currently ranked 213th by NHL Central Scouting - but it was a complete showing, one that could convince a team to take a chance on the 6-foot-2 forward. 

Daniel Browning, D, Minnetonka Skippers

It’s quite difficult to pick one blueliner that stood out over the rest for Minnetonka, but if forced to choose, I’d go with Danny Browning. Minnetonka’s blue line was loaded, with three defenders named to the official all tournament team and multiple others playing major roles. Above all, I was most impressed by Browning. He only recorded one point across the three games but ate huge minutes and constantly drove offence from the back end. Browning’s skating is a massive asset; he transitioned pucks with his feet and effortlessly accessed the offensive zone with possession. He had an assist on the opening goal of the state championship, hitting a seam on the power play to break the ice. There are deceptive elements in his puck moving game. Browning looks like a potential offensive defender in the NCAA. 

Tyden Bergeson, LW, Moorhead Spuds

As late as the day of tryouts, fans were still unaware if Tyden Bergeson would be back in Moorhead. Coming off a 2025 MSHSL championship and a point-per-game fall with USHL Madison, Bergeson ended up returning to the Spuds for one more run. He now concludes that run with another state championship and a Mr. Hockey Award, as the state’s top senior. There was no player more offensively threatening than Bergeson at any stage in this tournament. He’s an elite puck handler, has unmatched offensive instincts in high school, and broke teams down in every game. When the Spuds struggled offensively early against Edina, it was Bergeson who provided a kickstart, recording three points in the 3-1 win. He’ll head back to the USHL now, an Augustana commit with a chance to earn an NHL selection as a re-entry. 

Brandon Mickelson, D, Moorhead Spuds

Brandon Mickelson was presented the Reed Larson Award Sunday morning following the state championship, annually given to the state’s top defender. Even if you just watched one period of this Moorhead team this weekend, #4 in orange likely stood out to you. The undersized blueliner returned from Wenatchee in the WHL for one last run at a championship, a chance to go back to back, and he got the job done. His deceptive skating and manipulative handling was a problem for teams to handle in both offensive transition and blue line activations all tournament long. Mickelson quarterbacked the Spuds' top power play unit and provided everything you’d ask for in a No. 1 defenceman. He’ll likely return to the WHL now, hoping to earn an NCAA scholarship.

Zac Zimmerman, RW, Moorhead Spuds

Zac Zimmerman saved his best play in this tournament for the last minute, quite literally. He recorded points on all three goals in Moorhead’s spectacular third period comeback. He finished a wild redirect to break Minnetonka’s lead down to one. Then, with 36 seconds left, he scored the biggest goal of his life thus far. A rebounded puck bounced to him on the right elbow, and Zimmerman made no mistake, sending Grand Casino Arena into a frenzy. The Minnesota State commit was one of the most threatening offensive players in the state over the past two seasons. He attacked with pace, threatened dangerous ice, and was a smart rotator in the offensive zone, creating quick strike scoring chances off the catch. Zimmerman will head to USHL Fargo now to prepare for a college career. 

Max Cullen, C, Moorhead Spuds

There’s been a lot made of the high powered offence for the Moorhead Spuds, a crop of forwards that play with dynamic skill in transition. A player emerged this year that was able to play in the middle of the ice and on the right side of the puck, filling every two-way role necessary: Max Cullen. He didn’t flash the way that Mickelson, Bergeson, or his cousin Joey did, but Max was relied on in every single situation for the Spuds. He may have been the team’s most valuable forward. Cullen scored two goals in the quarterfinals to power the Spuds past Lakeville South before posting two assists in the final, including a beautiful play to kickstart the comeback and a primary on the game winning goal. He has one more year of remaining high school eligibility, and it remains unclear whether he’ll use it or not, but Cullen put together quite the performance this weekend. 

Daniel & Lance Halonen, Fs, Delano Tigers

It would be quite hard to differentiate the success of these two players, brothers Daniel and Lance Halonen, so I elected to bunch them together. Delano bowed out of the tournament in the semifinal to Warroad, but the Halonen brothers were noticeable in every game. They combined for 18 total points, including 10 in the quarterfinal win over Mankato West. Daniel, a Mr. Hockey candidate and Michigan Tech commit, was the most dangerous goal scorer at either level. He ripped pucks off the catch, off the carry, in transition, and in created space on the cycle. Lance, a 2009-born 10th grader, played a surprisingly mature game for his age. He dug pucks on the cycle, finished hits, and had special playmaking flashes to create for his brother. The Halonen brothers played a huge role in the Delano program's first state tournament win. 

Whitaker Rewertz, D, Hibbing-Chisholm Bluejackets

Compared to years past, this tournament felt lacking in true firepower, guys with the ability to break the game open on any given puck touch. In the Class A side, one of the only guys I felt had those attributes was Hibbing defenceman Whitaker Rewertz. He scored twice in the state championship against Warroad, including exploding on a puck in the slot to tie the game up late in the third period. Rewertz recorded 24 shots in just three games, many coming from dangerous areas. He activated deep into the offensive zone with shifty edgework, manipulated opponents with fakes and feints, and then finished sequences at the net. Hibbing dropped the final to Warroad, but Rewertz was a dominant factor, capping off a real breakout outing.  

Gavin Andersen, F, Warroad Warriors

This year’s Warroad team received the moniker of a shutdown defensive team, one that lacked the offensive firepower of year’s past. While they were elite defensively, and didn’t boast heavy scoring depth, knocking their firepower would be a disservice to Gavin Andersen. He finished the tournament with 10 points in three games, including ones that saved his team’s season multiple times. In the final, Andersen scored his second of the game with just 46 seconds left to force overtime, then had an assist on the game winner, a beautiful connective sequence. His pace and acceleration was too much for defenders to handle, putting players on their heels and opening up layers in transition. Andersen’s skill level is high and he boasts a great feel for the game. He’s an early Mr. Hockey favourite for next season. 

Rodrick Jackson, F, Warroad Warriors

Class A can serve as a wonderful opportunity for top young players at small schools to play big roles and gain valuable experience early in high school. 2010-born Rodrick Jackson played up on Warroad’s top line and was noticeable in every game en route to a State Championship. He had four assists in the final, including primaries on both the tying and winning goals. The strides he made over the course of his first high school season were wildly impressive. Jackson has always had great puck skills and vision, but he’s become far more confident and is starting to further recognize, understand, and leverage advanced offensive concepts. As a 9th grader, he’ll be a mainstay in Class A hockey for a while.