Minnesota High School Season Preview: Young talent, Moorhead headline stories to watch
Minnesota High School Hockey sees a natural turnover of players every year, which makes it incredibly hard for programs to replicate success year over year. There are so many variables and outside factors at play to emerge as a blueblood, especially as a smaller school. But this year, the runaway No. 1 program is last year’s state champs, the Moorhead Spuds.
Minnesota hasn't been exempt from the seismic shifts in the hockey landscape over the past year. A former USHL tender returning to high school, a first-round NHL draft pick returning to play football before heading to play junior hockey, and the Western Hockey League’s footprint growing stronger than it's ever been. New storylines seem to be surfacing as frequently as ever.
Here are some of the top players and storylines to watch for as the season grows closer and teams’ trek to the fabled Minnesota State Tournament becomes a reality.
RJ Thompson, Eden Prairie
Every couple of years, Eden Prairie produces a talent that fundamentally reshapes the high school hockey landscape, names like Jackson Blake, Nick Leddy, or Ben Steeves. This year, that player could become freshman forward RJ Thompson. Returning home from the dominant Little Caesars 2010 group, Thompson’s resume includes a staggering 142-point campaign in just 75 games a year prior. The 2025 WHL US Draft’s 2nd overall pick was the rare 9th grader to flirt with point-per-game territory in the MN HS Elite League this fall as well. Thompson flies, playing with pace in a responsible centre role. There’s an elite two-way game and hockey sense for a younger player; RJ is someone who plays well beyond his years. He’s possibly a one-and-done situation, before either heading up to Moose Jaw or back to Michigan to join the NTDP.
Joey Cullen, Moorhead
Joey Cullen, along with his father, Matt, made waves this summer when they decided to head to Honeybaked’s 15O program as player and coach. Now back for the high school season, the sophomore is poised to lead Moorhead’s title defense efforts as an underclassman. He is an absolute game-breaker who constantly brings fans out of their seats. Cullen’s puck-handling is elite for a prospect of any age and he continuously pushes to create offensive advantages. Joey gives misinformation to defenders in transition sequences and plays with a level of deception only replicated by the game’s top-end offensive creators. He spent the fall playing against kids his own age, and may face an early learning curve, but I have no doubt he’ll be a massive addition for the Spuds.
Keegan Davis, Benilde St. Margaret’s
The Elite League serves as an opportunity for players to emerge as real prospects, flashing the potential for a breakout season ahead, and Keegan Davis emphatically did just that this fall. He stood out as the best player on his EL team after averaging over a point per game last high school season, earning a bid to the national Hlinka selection camp. Davis brings a true power game, centered around pace and high-end contact skill. He absolutely dominated shifts with The Base, a series of performances that earned him a ‘W’ grade on our upcoming NHL Draft Watchlist. NCAA schools and even NHL organizations will be turning out in bunches to Red Knights games this winter to check in on Davis.
Zac Zimmerman, Moorhead
The last of the "Big 3" Moorhead names to announce a return from junior hockey, 11th grader Zac Zimmerman, is poised to have another monster season. He accumulated 78 points in just 31 games last year, earning an extended stay with the Fargo Force in the USHL, where he’ll finish his NHL draft year in the spring. Zimmerman is a pure opportunistic scorer; he finds opponents' mistakes, strips pucks with a crafty defensive stick, and connects on high-level creative sequences. And, as a summer 2008-born player, he’s not even Mr. Hockey eligible yet this year. He’ll be included as a player to watch on our upcoming list for the NHL Draft.
Nash Roed, White Bear Lake
After a breakout freshman campaign, posting a point per game and earning a 1st round selection to USHL Waterloo, Nash Roed is set to make another massive impact for the Bears. The 10th-grade forward possesses some of the best contact skills and compete in the state; he has the ability to shed checks, work for pucks, and earn space in the hardest areas of the ice—a mature skillset not common for his age. His soft hands and creative puck skills, coupled with the high compete level, saw him finish top 15 in Elite League scoring as an underclassman. A solid high school season should earn him an early stint in junior hockey this spring.
Storylines To Watch
St. Thomas Academy Youth Talent Infusion
The private schools are annual wild cards in the summer transfer carousel, and the St. Thomas Academy Cadets may have struck gold with two game-changing freshmen. First, Maverick McKinnon. The undersized forward has vaulted himself to the top of 2010 player discussions nationally following a historic 50-point season as an 8th grader at Forest Lake High School, capped by a remarkable 16 points in 6 games at the World Selects Invitational. The Portland Winterhawks prospect brings pace, deception, and is already one of the best pure scorers in the state.
If one superstar freshman wasn’t enough, enter Owen Ryan. He has been touted as a "generational goalie prospect" out of Minnesota and enters his high school career with higher expectations than any local goalie in recent memory, perhaps since Jake Oettinger. Despite the high-skill, low-structure nature of the fall MN High School Elite League, Ryan managed a .921 save percentage, good for 1st in the entire league as its youngest overall player. STA should be getting an outstanding two years from Ryan, immediately solidifying their crease.
Moorhead's Back-to-Back Hopes
If you had to pick one team for maximum entertainment value on any given night, Moorhead should easily be the choice. They are absolutely loaded on paper, fielding a team that rivals the likes of 2015 Lakeville North, 2021 Eden Prairie, or 2023 Minnetonka. The Spuds return a big 3 from junior hockey in Zac Zimmerman (Fargo USHL), Brandon Mickelson (Wenatchee WHL), and Tyden Bergeson (Madison USHL) that will outpace any trio in the state all season. Then throw in Minnesota-Duluth commitment Max Cullen and Elite League standout Max Wanner. Don’t forget about adding age-outs from the #1 Bantam team in the country, including WHL picks Drew Kortan, John Gramer, Owen Kraft, and arguably the nation's top overall 2010, Joey Cullen. The ridiculous depth and top end talent make Moorhead the state's clear preseason #1.
The Mr. Hockey Race
The annual Mr. Hockey selection always draws attention, driven by a mixed pot of dominant junior returners and unheralded players stepping into expanded roles.
St. Cloud State commit Caz Carlson is back on the Iron Range with Rock Ridge after a brief stint in the USHL. He’ll lead the Wolverines’ state tournament efforts as a pacey, scoring forward.
Tyden Bergeson and Brandon Mickelson of Moorhead will accumulate the production and team success required to be serious finalists. Bergeson led USHL Madison in scoring at the time of his departure.
Shakopee High School loses Cooper Simpson to graduation, but returns a Big 3 of Tristan Wassengeso, Cooper Siegert, and Carson Steinhoff. They’ll have a chance to get back to the tournament, and any of the 3 could be a part of the Mr. Hockey ceremony.
Chaz Lentz lit up the Elite League this fall and returns to powerhouse Hill Murray with NTDP experience under his belt. He could be one of the highest-producing seniors this season.
Tate Swanson of Hibbing put up a staggering 64 points last year and will lead the scoring efforts on the top team in Class A. He’ll be in the Mr. Hockey race.
Cole Bumgarner is back at Rogers High School after a full season with the Fargo Force. He was tendered by Fargo in the Summer of 2024 and has been a highly touted prospect for most of his young career. Brock Cheslock and Jayden Kurtz could also become nominees from the Royals.
Class A Top 5
1 - Hibbing Bluejackets
The Hibbing Bluejackets are poised for title contention as favorites once again, retaining the majority of their star-studded team that entered the State Tournament as the #1 overall seed last season. Waterloo (USHL) 2nd round pick Cole Swanson will join his brother Tate Swanson as a 1-2 punch up front, supported by USHL picks Ethan Sundvall, Whitaker Rewertz, and Jackson Strukel. They have the talent and depth to traverse the hardest section in Class A’s playoffs once again
2 - Warroad Warriors
Like any other year, the Warroad Warriors will once again be a threat in the Class A field. USHL picks and top scorers Ryan Shaugabay and Gavin Anderson will lead the charge up front. Broden Hontvet returns from the NAHL to significantly bolster the D core, and Sam Hard could log huge minutes alongside him. With an infusion of talent from the back-to-back Bantam A state championship group, including Rodrick Jackson and Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) draft choice Ayven Hontvet, the Warriors look like serious contenders.
3 - Hermantown Hawks
While they may not be overflowing with the high-end talent or Division 1 commitments of years past, this year's rendition of the Hermantown Hawks brings a critical element of experience. Their USHL picks will lead the way, a group that includes Gabe Swenson, Alex Nicklin, and Bryce Francisco—the latter of whom could win the Brimsek award as the best senior goaltender in the state. Mixing in the top 2010s Paxson Madill (Red Deer) and Nikolai Zhukov (Spokane) from the bantam ranks ensures they’ll give Hibbing all they can handle in Section 7A.
4 - East Grand Forks Green Wave
The East Grand Forks Green Wave shocked everyone last year with an epic run to the program’s 3rd state title. They captivated the Xcel Energy Center crowd with a disciplined team that bought into structure and compete, battling for everything they achieved. 11th-grade forward Jace Panzer will be their highest profile returner after earning a 5th-round selection to the USHL’s Tri-City Storm last summer. This remains a tough, cohesive team that nobody should want to face come playoff time.
5 - Mahtomedi Zephyrs
When discussing dangerous playoff teams, no program has embodied that moniker better in the past decade than Mahtomedi. Their roster will be headlined by defenceman Henry Sampair, a high-end transfer returning from the Long Island AAA program and the Okotoks Oilers of the BCHL. Grade 10 defender Brock Gutterman will join him, among others, to compose one of the best blue lines in Class A hockey. Expect to see the Zephyrs in St. Paul.
Class AA Top 5
1 - Moorhead Spuds
Needless to say, if you’ve gotten to this point, you know this team will be a wagon this year. There’s enough high-end production and depth throughout the lineup to suffocate any team in the state, including their toughest Class AA foes. Moorhead has legitimate 31-0 potential this year; the dynasty will not fade just yet.
2 - Hill Murray Pioneers
Hill Murray, once again, looks like contenders in AA, a young group from last year coming back with some experience and even more infused talent. Ryland Demars, Landon Sampair, and Chaz Lentz will lead the offensive efforts. Tommy Miller, Gavin Godbout, and Gavin Sondreal should form one of the better bluelines in AA. White Bear Lake and Stillwater will rival the Pioneers in a hard section.
3 - St. Thomas Academy Cadets
Since their opt-up, the Cadets have asserted themselves as annual AA contenders, and they have the team once again for a deep run. USHL Lincoln selection Cole Braunhausen will pace their squad in points, and potentially the entire state. He's joined by transfers Owen Ryan and Maverick McKinnon, along with returner Peter Murray, who was awarded a 'W' grade on NHLCS.
4 - Minnetonka Skippers
Similar to the teams mentioned in Class A, Minnetonka has asserted themselves as a program that will just never go away. The Skippers depth makes them, once again, an incredibly hard out in section 2AA playoffs. Their blue line will be 6 defenders deep, including incoming transfer Tate Hardacre who posted 41 points last season with Southwest Christian. The offensive attack will be done by committee, relying on excellent organizational depth, featuring the likes of Caden Lindsay, Ethan Sturgis, and Shattuck St. Mary’s transfer Boone Chartier all playing important roles.
5 - Rogers Royals
Somehow, with all the talent that has come through the Rogers program in years past, the Royals’ tournament berth last year marked the program's first—but this year could make it two in a row. Former USHL tender Cole Bumgarner returns after a full junior season last year. Augustana commit Brock Cheslock and NHL Central Scouting 'C' grade Jayden Kurtz also bring an element of size and toughness. They’ll be a tough out in the toughest section in High School Hockey.
