Blaine's Will Hillman
Tonka celebrates their win over Shattuck
The 2016-17 Bantam season had several great moments, especially it's final 3 games of the state tournament (all multiple OT finishes). It saw Minnetonka take state for the second straight year, repeating as champs in dramatic fashion for the second straight year. The Skippers were the number one team wire to wire, a very difficult task at the grind-like Bantam level. They also skated to a tie with Shattuck's national championship Tier 1 Bantam team and eventually won in a shootout.
The Skippers weren't the only great story - several teams had great seasons including Cloquet and Moorhead. Cloquet won the North region and took third in state and the Spuds lost a heartbreaker in the Minnesota state final and won the VFW state title.
In April, YHH announced its five Bantam Player of the year finalists...Jack Bayless (Minnetonka), Ethan Frisch (Moorhead), Ben Fritsinger (Andover), Darian Gotz (Hermantown) and Jack Jensen (Eden Prairie). With Moorhead defenseman Ethan Frisch grabbing the coveted award.
Others not making our list of top 50 skaters, but not forgotten were the always valuable players between the pipes. Here are six (not including Ben Fritsinger who was POTY finalist) that had some great highs while manning the blue paint:
Jesse Brown, Stillwater
Joe Daninger, Blaine
Kyle Espernum, Elk River
Danny Fraga, Wayzata
Cade Kujawksi, Prior Lake
Kiron Morioka, Minneapolis
We also included five Minnesota players from the Shattuck-St.Mary's team that won nationals in Alaska. Those five plus a few more from the state of hockey played vital roles in their title.
Nik Norman and 7 other Minnesota natives anchored SSM to a national title
Player | Position | Team | District |
---|---|---|---|
Jon Baker | Forward | Cloquet | 11 |
Brady Baker | Forward | Hermantown | 11 |
Tommy Bergsland | Defense | Wayzata | 3 |
Kaden Bohlsen | Forward | Shattuck St. Mary's | N/A |
Jacob Braccini | Defense | Buffalo | 5 |
Bobby Brink | Forward | Minnetonka | 6 |
Bryce Brodzinski | Forward | Blaine | 10 |
Max Carter | Defense | Rosemount | 8 |
Joey Foss | Defense | Elk River | 10 |
JJ Foster | Forward | Alexandria | 15 |
Will Francis | Defense | Centennial | 10 |
Matt Gleason | Forward | St. Paul | 2 |
Darian Gotz | Defense | Hermantown | 11 |
Shane Griffin | Forward | Lakeville North | 8 |
Clay Hanus | Defense | Minnetonka | 6 |
Drew Helleson | Defense | Shattuck St. Mary's | N/A |
Isaac Henkemeyer-Howe | Forward | Moorhead | 15 |
Carter Henry | Defense | Sibley | 8 |
Luke Herzog | Forward | Sibley | 8 |
Will Hillman | Forward | Blaine | 10 |
Aaron Huglen | Forward | Roseau | 16 |
Jonah Jangula | Forward | Armstrong Cooper | 3 |
Tyler Kostelecky | Forward | Osseo Maple Grove | 3 |
Mason Kruse | Forward | Brainerd | 15 |
Trevor Kukkonen | Forward | Osseo Maple Grove | 3 |
Armstrong Cooper's Jonah Jangula
Player | Position | Team | District |
---|---|---|---|
Landon Langenbrunner | Forward | Cloquet | 11 |
Nick Latvala | Defense | Osseo Maple Grove | 3 |
Luc Laylin | Forward | STMA | 5 |
Luke Loheit | Forward | Minnetonka | 6 |
Josh Luedtke | Defense | Minnetonka | 6 |
Tanner Mack | Forward | East Grand Forks | 16 |
Joel Matthews | Forward | Wayzata | 3 |
Cole McCarver | Forward | Mahtomedi | 2 |
Creighton McMahon | Forward | Spring Lake Park | 10 |
Cade Moreland | Forward | Virginia | 12 |
Ryan Mulrenin | Forward | Wayzata | 3 |
Nik Norman | Forward | Shattuck St. Mary's | N/A |
Hanson O'Leary | Forward | Roseau | 16 |
Preston Perreault | Forward | Orono | 3 |
Tim Piechowski | Forward | Eden Prairie | 6 |
Garrett Pioniemi | Forward | Delano | 3 |
Joe Raleigh | Forward | Stillwater | 2 |
Mason Reiners | Defense | Edina | 6 |
Tyler Rollwagon | Forward | Shattuck St. Mary's | N/A |
Dylan Schneider | Forward | Rochester | 9 |
Grant Silianoff | Forward | Shattuck St. Mary's | N/A |
Ryan Solz | Forward | MVI | 2 |
Dustin Sorenson | Forward | Rochester | 9 |
Dane Stoyanoff | Defense | Cloquet | 11 |
Mike Vorlicky | Defense | Edina | 6 |
Dane Stoyanoff, Cloquet