Our five finalists this year all were are all deserving of the player of the year title...with a returning player of the year and likely Mr. Hockey winner, most have already conceded the YHH POTY.  We started YHH because what was out there was cookie cutter. We weren’t afraid to choose a junior last year and we won’t be afraid to choose a new deserving winner this year. Our award is about the best player, who meant the most to his team en route to the state tournament.

Over the course of the season, our staff has seen over 500 games, broadcasted dozens and done a weekly show dedicated to HS hockey. On January 22, nearly a month prior to the Mr. Hockey announcement we chose all ten of the finalists for the prestigious award. Narrowing our player of the year award to five which includes all players - including goalies and underclassmen - is a very difficult task. The text strings and banter to get to five were both heartfelt and amusing over the course of the last few weeks. 

Last year’s winner Casey Mittelstadt had over 60 points again and wowed fans every time he hit the ice. We again chose the best goalie in the state, Jake Begley, Jake helped Hill Murray to a great season. Our only underclassman this year was Blake McLaughlin. At times he was the best player in the state - scoring, agitating and passing like only a rare once in a lifetime type player can do. We got to see Ryan Sandelin play a few times for Hermantown…a dual threat skater who can pound you or finesse you - Sandelin is a born leader who resembles his dad Scott, but obviously loves his mom, too.  One of the reasons for an award like this was to recognize great players that forgo junior hockey and stayed home to play for their school and/or community. Ben Meyers played for the Fargo Force in the Fall and returned to Delano and helped the Tigers to a number one seed in section 2A. A trip to St. Paul for this super star would be a huge lift for he and his buddies, but also for Tigers in the past and in the future. 

Honorable Mention: Matt Anderson, Holy Family - Noah Cates, Stillwater - Seth Eisele, Stillwater - Ethan Frisch, Moorhead - Gavin Hain, Grand Rapids - Nicky Leivermann, Eden Prairie - Micah Miller, Grand Rapids - Bauer Neudecker, St. Louis Park - Nick Perbix, Elk River - Carter Randklev, Moorhead - Dylan Samberg, Hermantown

Here is a brief bio on each player and an interview we recently conducted with each of the five.

School: Hill Murray
Position: Goalie
Stats: GAA - 1.64, Save % .936, 1 Shutout
Scouts Say: "as good a goalie we've seen this year...changes the game for his team..."
Future Plans: Uncommitted 
Awards: Frank Brimsek Finalist

One of the rare goalies that can take over a game at the high school level. Very athletic goalie that has a lot of unfinished business on the ice, both in high school and beyond. A real fighter who attacks shots versus saving them.

School: Grand Rapids
Position: Forward
Stats: 16 goals, 33 assists - 49 points
Scouts Say: "great athlete, the smartest guy on the ice at all times..."
Future Plans: University of Minnesota, 2018 

Choosing one of the big three at Grand Rapids wasn't easy, honorable mentions Micah Miller and Gavin Hain both bring a dimension to the game that is fun to watch. Blake McLaughlin is a terrific talent that is not your typical player. He's not big, but he can hit hit you like he's big. Has terrific skill - dangerous feet and hands that do a number on defenders. But his greatest strength is his ability to know three steps ahead of the play what will happen next. 

During our interview, he showed how smart and confident he was...he stared at the questions for 10 seconds, stood in front of the camera like he was born to be there...eerily similar to his game on the ice.

School: Ben Meyers
Position: Forward
Stats: 46 goals, 53 assists - 99 points
Scouts Say: "great skater, has a game built for the next level
Future Plans: University of Maine, Fall 2018
Awards: Mr. Hockey Finalist

Have seen Meyers extensively since his PeeWee A days for the Tigers. Is a carbon copy from those days...very fast, great puck handler and dynamic scorer. Had nearly 100 points this year for the Tigers this year as they rolled to a 21-3-1 record, losing only to No. 2AA Holy Family and No. 1A Hermantown. Meyers has great explosiveness and a very high hockey IQ. He will leave Delano as the school's all time scoring leader.

Playing with Delano greats like Brian Halonen and John Keranen this year, the trio has a great opportunity to lead the Tigers to their first ever state tournament appearance.

School: Eden Prairie
Position: Forward
Stats: GAA - 21 goals, 43 assists - 64 points
Scouts Say: "Should be a top 10 pick in June...best asset scoring in tight spaces, hard to coach or teach what he has..."
Future Plans: University of Minnesota, Fall 2017
Awards: 2014 YHH Bantam Player of the Year, 2016 USA Today HIgh School Player of the Year, 2016 YHH Player of the Year

There is no denying that Casey Mittelstadt is a special talent that comes around Minnesota every ten years. The much deserved winner last year and front runner this year, Mittelstadt can do things that very few in the world can do. He can explode past you, shoot the puck past you and worse yet - he can stick handle past you and put on the internet for good. In short, when he's on the ice...it sucks to be you.

School: Hermantown
Position: Forward
Stats: 27 goals, 36 assists - 63 points
Scouts Say: "...never has an off night, if he doesn't score he's making an impact in all three zones..."
Future Plans: Bloomington (USHL - 2017-18) and MN State - Mankato (2018) 
Awards: Mr. Hockey Finalist

We see a lot of hockey players in the course of a year. Most really like the game and it shows in their body language. Not sure how to describe what Ryan Sandelin's body language is like, other than on fire. You know, the 10 fire emoji kind of passion. He's going so hard and wanting to win so bad, you can see it in his body, his eyes and his sweat. This year, that passion was easy to spot as the Hawks ran off 23 straight wins after starting the season 0-1-1.