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March 30-31 / April 2-3, 2021 Xcel Energy Center


2021 State Tournament Leading Scorers

Player Class Team Goals Assists Total Points
Jackson Blake Class AA Eden Prairie 3 7 10
Brody Lamb Class A Dodge County 10 1 11

EAGLES FLY & STARS SHINE in ONGOING PANDEMIC TOURNEY

Eden Prairie played the part of top seed and team to beat during the 2021 Minnesota State High School League’s Boys Hockey State Tournament.  The Eagles, runner-up three times since 2016 and in each of the past two seasons, had the makeup of winning their third championship since 2009.  Since their only loss of the season, a setback to longtime Lake Conference rival Edina on Jan. 23, the Eagles assembled a 19-0-2 run to end the season, a spree that reached a crescendo with a thrilling 2-1 victory in double overtime over Lakeville South in the Class AA championship game.  

First-time state tournament entrant Gentry Academy (19-0-0) made quite a splash in its debut outscoring the opposition, 21-4, culminating a three-game run of dominance with an 8-1 victory over Dodge County in the Class A championship game.  Senior forward Damon Furuseth had a goal and three assists to help power the Vadnais Heights-based private school to a successful first state tournament trip.  Dodge County was attempting to complete a magical-type state championship run.  The Wildcats defeated a Varsity depleted line-up in No. 1 ranked Hermantown in the quarterfinals and then No. 4 Little Falls in the semifinals in earning a spot in the Class A championship game for the first time in their program history.  The Wildcats could draw no closer.  Instead, the Stars answered with four more goals in the final minutes to put an exclamation point on their championship run outshooting the Wildcats 54-9.

SLAP SHOTS

  • The Eagles from Eden Prairie 21-1-2 captured the schools third overall State Championship in Class AA coming in two straight OT contests.  Lakeville South, made its first-ever state championship game appearance, ending at 20-1-2.
  • Gentry Academy, 19-0-0, became the first Class A team since Benilde-St. Margaret’s in 1999 to win a state title in its first appearance.  The Stars also became the first undefeated Class A state champion since Hermantown in 2007 and the class's first undefeated and untied team since Red Wing went 28-0 in 1997.
  • The Wildcats from Dodge County, making its first-ever state championship appearance, ended its season 19-4-1 led by high scoring Brody Lamb.
  • For the 1st time since 1991 - when the All-Tournament team was re-introdcued - the All-Tourney team was not nominated due to COVID-19 & limited access to in-arena spectators & voting members who yearly nominate the inductees.
  • For the 1st time in the Tournaments 76 year history [1945-2021], no 3rd place or consolation game was played, nor awarded due to COVID-19.
  • Hermantown suited up mostly JV players due to a conference final COVID-19 exposure, whereas defending State Champion Hill-Murray were left no choice but to resign from Tournament (see rosters and more info below). 
  • Tournament Attendance: 8,265 (No third-place or consolation games and limited attendance in 2021 due to COVID-19 pandemic) 

Lakeville South - Class AA Section 1

Roster Position Number
Tate Pritchard W 3
Tanner Ludtke W 4
Aidan Willis W 5
Tyler Lafferty D 7
Jacob Gunderson D 8
Cam Boche W 9
Zander Billins C 11
Jed England W 12
Jack Novak C 14
Austin Stoneking W 15
Ben Portner C 16
Cade Ahrenholz C 19
Jack Malinski D 21
Ashton Dahms W 22
Brett Johnson D 23
Wyatt Sender D 24
Mason Johnson D 25
Cody Ticen G 30
Ethan Dahlmeir G 35
Eli Miller W 37
Alex Franz Manager
Caden Hauschildt Manager
Janne Kivihalme Head Coach
Corey Campbell Assistant Coach
Lee Engstrom Assistant Coach

Eden Prairie - Class AA Section 2

Roster Position Number
Ryan Koering D 5
John Hartle F 7
Drew Holt F 8
Tyler Johnson F 9
Phil Feinberg F 10
Carter Batchelder F 11
Tyler Marble F 12
Will Britton D 15
Jake Luloff F 17
Ethan Peltier F 19
Jake Casey D 20
Riku Brown F 21
Mason Langenbrunner D 22
Kam Langefels D 24
Drew Casey F 25
Luke Mittelstadt D 27
Oliver Jorgensen F 28
Cooper Czech G 29
Zach Hayes G 30
Jackson Blake F 43
Hayden King Manager
Danny Santulli Manager
Charlie Townsend Manager
Lee Smith Head Coach
Tom Gerdes Assistant Coach
Paul Ranheim Assistant Coach

Saint Thomas Academy - Class AA Section 3

Roster Position Number
Carsten Lardy G 1
Austin Williams D 2
Johnny Johannson D 3
Tristan Thilmany D 4
Jordan Tacheny D 6
Max Nagel F 7
Tanner Brouwer F 8
Tyler Grahme F 9
Tommy Deverell F 10
Brooks Bond F 11
Tommy Stattine D 12
Sam Casey F 13
Tommy Cronin F 14
Jackson Hallum F 15
Jared Wright F 16
Bobby Cunningham F 17
Jack Strobel F 18
Luke Candon F 19
Matt Schoephoerster G 29
Quinn Eigner G 33
Lucas Dvorak Manager
Daniel Grady Manager
Trent Eigner Head Coach
Niki Kapetanovic Assistant Coach
Jimmy McCusker Assistant Coach

Hill-Murray boys qualified for 2021 Tourney, but sadly withdrew from entire Tournament x1 day before they were due to appear in Class AA quarterfinal game with Wayzata.  Although no Pioneer player was ill, a player in sectional championship game vs. White Bear Lake had a + test result, leading to a described Minnesota Department of Health COVID team exposure, and mandatory seven day quarantine period.  A temporary restraining order/lawsuit was filed mutually by several Hill-Murray families, but was quickly thrown out by seated Judge.  Wayzata, in a very classy move, offered to move the Class AA quarterfinal contest to Thursday (which Pioneers would have been out of MDH quarantine time of 7 days, from date of exposure) - but MSHSL declined to do so, leaving no other option but to withdraw Hill-Murray from Tournament as JV players (see Hermantown roster) were either not available to play in game in place of Varsity, nor had skated since season finale.


Hill-Murray Official Statement Regarding Tourney Withdrawal

*Hill-Murray - Class AA Section 4

Roster Position Number
Nick Erickson G 1
Joe Palodichuk D 2
Brendan Bonin F 6
Anthony Madigan F 7
Triston Tabucol F 8
Nick Mountain F 9
Leo Gruba D 11
Jared Jensen F 12
Matthew Fleischhacker D 14
Brady Ingebritson F 15
Marcus Kaufman F 16
Dylan Godbout F 17
Max Zupfer F 18
Gianni Hurley F 20
Ben Karr D 21
Hunter Lachinger F 22
Matthew Whisler D 25
Axel Begley D 26
Jack Senden F 27
Jack Erickson G 33
Connor Laschinger Manager
Andrew Schlundt Manager
Bill Lechner Head Coach
Tony Flint Assistant Coach
Pat Schafhauser Assistant Coach
Mark Tollefsbol Assistant Coach

Maple Grove - Class AA Section 5

Roster Position Number
Jack Wieneke G 1
Grant Zick F 3
Parker Wente D 5
Sawyer Skanson F 7
Kyle Kukkonen F 9
Henry Nelson D 12
Luke Margeneau D 13
Nathan Jaglo F 14
Jonathon Halstrom D 15
Ethan Elias D 16
Landen Gunderson F 17
Josh Giuliani F 19
Sam Jacobs F 21
Cal Thomas D 22
Matthew Gruss F 24
Ian Barbour F 25
Chris Kernan F 27
Toby Hopp G 33
Bennett Glad F 34
Finn Brink F 36
Jacob Hicks Manager
Ryan Reid Manager
Jackson Shipley Manager
Todd Bergland Head Coach
Tom Adolph Assistant Coach
Ryan Coyne Assistant Coach
Tom Miller Assistant Coach

Wayzata - Class AA Section 6

Roster Position Number
Will Ingemann G 1
Hayden Davison F 2
Dylan Lewis F 3
Kasen Sauer F 5
Wyatt Carlson F 6
Reece Gardner D 7
Mason Osberg D 8
Kohl Sauer F 9
Drew Goetz F 10
Jake Schneider F 12
John Mattson F 14
Drew Streeter F 15
Will Subject D 16
Cashen Naeve D 17
Gavin O’Connell F 18
Mason Moree D 21
Justin Lesser D 23
Max McCollins D 24
Carson Peters D 25
Darby Sanders G 30
Jake Keller Manager
Vinny Stevens Manager
Pat O’Leary Head Coach
Miles Death Assistant Coach
Bill Rooney Assistant Coach

Andover - Class AA Section 7

Roster Position Number
Austin Brauns G 1
Kyle Law D 2
Matt Hesli D 3
Weston Knox D 4
Hudson Zinda F 5
Tristen May D 7
Grant Folkestad F 8
Jacob Pierson F 9
Parker Norling F 10
Gavin Thoreson F 12
Jaden Stiller F 15
Garrett Schifsky F 17
Kaden Andrzcyak F 18
Cooper Conway F 19
Logan Gravink F 22
Mason Cotter D 23
Ethan Lindahl F 26
Ryan Koltes D 27
Davis Gohman F 28
Will Larson G 35
Tommy Babb Manager
Owen Peterson Manager
Mark Manney Head Coach
Brett Barta Assistant Coach
Mark Cotter Assistant Coach
Cal Decowski Assistant Coach
Jake Mellem Assistant Coach
Bill Thoreson Assistant Coach

Moorhead - Class AA Section 8

Roster Position Number
Gavin Lindberg F 3
Joe Schiller D 4
Colby Krier D 5
Cody Martinson F 6
Jonas Spicer F 7
Jackson Score F 11
Grant Frisch D 12
Justin Stalboerger F 13
Jack Arnold D 15
Carson Triggs F 16
Thomas Schroeder F 18
Harper Bentz F 19
Caleb Alderson F 20
Luke Leonard D 21
Aaron Reierson F 22
Joe Gramer D 23
Max Dronen F 26
Ian Ness F 27
Will Kunka G 30
Tyler Swanson G 31
Ian Simonich Manager
Colton Westra Manager
Jon Ammerman Head Coach
Tony Kunka Assistant Coach
Derek Thompson Assistant Coach
Sam Walstad Assistant Coach

Dodge County - Class A Section 1

Roster Position Number
Charlie Blaisdell D 2
Gryffon Funke LW 4
Brendon Wolesky RW 5
Miles Smith RW 6
Brody Lamb RW 7
Cooper Jacobson C 8
Ethan Dale D 9
Isaac Rogne LW 10
Jake Isaak C 11
Caleb Purdue LW 13
Matt Donovan C 14
Gavin Giesler LW 15
Carl Schutz D 17
James McPeak D 20
Alex Kirmse RW 22
Easton Hammil D 25
Connor Preston C 28
Isaac Dale G 31
Ben Nelson G 33
Caeden Smith D 44
Nicky Drew Manager
Valeria Felix-Sanchez Manager
Nick Worden Head Coach
Jeff Lamb Assistant Coach
John Morales Assistant Coach
Bryce Wilcox Assistant Coach

Delano - Class A Section 2

Roster Position Number
Jack Keranen D 3
Will Brown F 4
Colin Pettit D 6
Brad Pinoniemi F 8
Nick Farniok F 10
Jesse Peterson F 11
Gunnar Paulson F 12
Adam Brown F 13
Tyler Selstad F 14
Jake Oja F 16
Trevor Oja F 18
Braeden Collings F 19
Bruce Halonen F 26
Cole Schmidt D 27
Colin Lommel D 33
Brayden Coppin D 34
Drew Dorsey G 35
Tommy Huotari G 38
Craig Halonen D 39
Emmett Bekkala Manager
Gerrit Van Bergen Head Coach
Ron Guild Assistant Coach
Kevin Johnson Assistant Coach
Adam McLain Assistant Coach
Chad Wagner Assistant Coach

*16 year old Dylan Falling - #1 [jersey held by team captain in image] was fatally injured in a car accident June 5, 2020 on Hwy. 24 near 675th Ave. in Forest City Township - about 8 miles northeast of Litchfield - that rocked the City of Litchfield, and L-D-C hockey community amid the tragedy to support his family.

According to the Meeker County Sheriff's Office, Falling and teammate Daniel Estrada were in a car that collided with another vehicle.  Falling was trapped and had to be extricated by first responders before being airlifted to Hennepin County Medical Center.  Dylan's legacy lives on today in a 68-year-old man who received the gift of his heart in a transplant procedure in Minnesota, a 34-year-old Minnesota woman received his right kidney, a 45-year-old has Dylan’s left kidney after a procedure in North Dakota, and a 55-year-old man received his liver in a procedure in California.  Dylan additionally saved the lives of countless others through tissue donation following his passing.

#DonateLife

Litchfield/Dassel-Cokato - Class A Section 3

Roster Position Number
*Dylan Falling G 1
Caden Besemer F 3
Wyatt Larson F 4
Daniel Estrada F 6
Jack Hillman F 7
Mason Schroeder F 8
Tristen Pieti F 9
Ryan Schutz F 10
Jaxon Gustafson F 14
Grant Haataja D 16
Zach Zwilling F 17
Keyton Johnson F 18
Logan Benson F 19
Blake Niska D 20
Gavin Hanson D 22
Connor Taber F 23
Grant Grochow D 24
Braden Olson F 26
Gavyn Lund D 27
Darby Halonen G 35
Travis Halonen G 40
Trenton Evjen Manager
Brice Berggren Head Coach
Brian Johnson Assistant Coach
Alex Ziegler Assistant Coach

Gentry Academy - Class A Section 4

Roster Position Number
Chet Skinner F 2
Wes Berg F 5
Shane Dean F 6
Reese Shaw F 7
Damon Furuseth F 9
Zach Reim D 10
Bailey McGraw F 13
Barrett Hall F 15
Tyler Geyer D 17
Nick Sajevic F 18
Brevan Grigus D 19
Nathan Rickey D 22
Max VonKlinggraeff F 24
Kaden Milles F 25
Conner Brown D 26
Alex Timmons G 32
Andrew Mosley D 37
Anthony Zolezzi G 50
Isaiah Norlin D 64
Dillon Conover F 79
Emma Barborak Manager
Lane Stanton Manager
Joe Cullen Head Coach
Billy Hengen Assistant Coach
Andrew Martens Assistant Coach

Northern Lakes - Class A Section 5

Roster Position Number
Jeremiah Smythe G 1
Jake Ince F 3
Caiden Kjelstrom F 7
Karter Lee F 8
Tyler Seeling F 9
Carter Holtzleicer F 10
Zachary Ehnstrom D 12
Colton Craig F 15
Owen Miller D 18
Erik Larsen D 20
Darby Boelter F 21
Christian Crutcher D 22
Kyler Couture F 23
Robert Stephens F 24
Quady Bernu F 25
Isaac Peterson D 29
Adler Hoagland G 31
Hunter Nybakken F 33
Andrew Villarreal D 34
Ben Ouradnik F 37
Craig Larson Head Coach
Kegan Couture Assistant Coach
Derrek French Assistant Coach
Tony Maucieri Assistant Coach
Chris Stewart Assistant Coach

Little Falls - Class A Section 6

Roster Position Number
Joe Majerle D 7
Jake Czajkowski F 8
Gabe Hirsch F 9
Isaiah Jendro F 10
Tauer Morrison F 13
Marshall Anez D 14
Gunnar Gustafson F 15
Tyler Brickey F 16
Coltin Johnson D 17
Carter Oothoudt F 18
Hayden Johnson F 19
Collin Kray D 20
Matthew Cooper F 21
George Moore D 22
Ben Rekstad D 23
Robby Kuchinski-Helgeson F 24
Matt Filippi F 27
Richie Varriano G 31
Nicholas Stevens F 33
Dane Couture G 35
Camdyn Gumiela Manager
Nick Henry Manager
Tony Couture Head Coach
Austin Fenske Assistant Coach
Josh Jennings Assistant Coach
Luke Sowada Assistant Coach
Bob Stark Assistant Coach
Wesley Waytashek Assistant Coach

* JV players added to active tournament team roster following COVID exposure/not printed in tournament program

** Varsity players that suited/printed in original tourney program (not exposed or held from tournament)

All others without a */** were printed in tourney program, but didn't play

Hermantown - Class A Section 7

Roster Position Number
Ty Hanson D 2
*Sam Swenson F 3
Wyatt Carlson F 4
**Cameron Pietrusa F 5
Aydyn Dowd F 6
*Britt Malene F 7
Mikey Graves D 8
Gavin Blomdahl F 9
Carter Rother F 10
Aaron Pionk F 11
Jack Olson D 12
Beau Janzig D 13
Cole Antcliff F 14
*Dylan Onofreychuk F 16
Matt Kauppinen F 17
Joey Pierce D 18
*Rolan Kuznetsov D 19
*Andrew Esterbrooks D 20
Dominic Thomas F 21
George Peterson D 22
*Connor O'Hara D 23
Ethan Lund F 24
*Josh Muehlbauer D 26
**Zam Plante F 27
*Chris Hausmann F 28
Jack Glockle D 29
*Ben Ryan G 30
Garron Opsahl G 31
**Cole Thorsvik G 33
*Aaron Evjen F 35
*Mason Sundbom F 36
*Cooper Sunde F 37
*Alex King F 38
*Colten Danelski F 39
*Zach Pruse D 44
Natalie Evanson Manager
Cayden Olson Manager
Will Peterson Manager
Alexis Wiese Manager
Patrick Andrews Head Coach
Nate Buck Assistant Coach
Chad Huttel Assistant Coach
Joe Muehlbauer Assistant Coach
Matt Swanson Assistant Coach
Chirstian Wasbotten Assistant Coach

East Grand Forks - Class A Section 8

Roster Position Number
Chase Mero G 1
Trey Ausmus D 2
Brandon Anderson D 4
Logan Spencer D 5
Garrett Beauchamp D 6
Caleb Schmiedeberg F 8
Landon Parker F 9
Justin Overgaard D 10
Gavin Avery F 11
Zach Stocker F 16
Jaksen Panzer F 17
Grady Magner F 18
Tanner Lubinski F 19
Brody Schultz F 22
Finley Lizakowsk F 23
Tommy Ellis F 24
Sam Frost F 25
Seth Aaker F 27
Sam Schumacher F 28
Cole Quirk G 31
Collin Petterson Manager
Adam Vatnsdal Manager
Tyler Palmiscno Head Coach
Carter Krier Assistant Coach
Scott Oliver Assistant Coach