Finding the Goalie of the Year is a tall task. Our YHH staff saw over 500 games this year and we polled over 30 coaches at all three levels to come to a consensus on these final 12.  Our criteria is simple...was this player the best player on the team, did the player win games they didn't deserve, and possibly the most difficult is - did YHH ever see the Goalie play?

We saw a lot of goalies. Some big, some small...some quick, some tall. We saw shootout heroics, we saw two goalies dual to a 0-0 draw, and we even saw two goalies dual for six overtimes in the Bantam state tourney!

Unfortunately, like year's past we never saw a goalie stand on his head or her ear.

Disclaimer: This list is simply a list of who we saw and played out of this world when we saw them. Some we see more than others.

Brody Mathews, Hermantown - a great competitor that stared down number one Osseo Maple Grove in a shootout and won. Had tendency to make big saves when it mattered.

Mason McElroy, STMA - lead the Knights to a 30 win season including a nice 2-0-2 record in the Squirtacular. One coach in Blaine said of McElroy, "that STMA goalie was amazing."

Josh Middleton, St. Louis Park - played all 32 games for the Orioles stopping everything that came his way. Had a 2.25 goals against average and three overtime wins and two shootout wins. One district 3 coach said, "it's hard to believe he was Squirt."

Isaiah Paulnock, Eden Prairie - we see a lot of goalies in a season...many we know of in advance. Isaiah Paulnock made us notice right away in the EP tourney in December and continued to shine in the Squirtacular.

Uma Corniea, Edina - fun to watch a player with so much talent - she takes over a game using her ability and a very high compete level. Helped lead her team to a 31 game winning streak and a state runner-up finish.

Ethan Dahlmeir, Lakeville South - won tourney MVP honors at The Founders Cup in Rochester helping the Cougars to the championship there and a berth in the state tournament in Blaine. Has great balance and takes great angles that takes away the first and second chances for opponents.

Ben Dardis, Mahtomedi - one of the toughest goalies to score on in the state...Dardis is a triplet and sometimes plays like there are three of him in the net, robbing teams of goals on a regular basis. Played in a rare 0-0 tie game with GOTY finalist Ethan Dahlmeir (November 21, 2016).

Damian Vandanacker, Johnson Como North St. Paul - its safe to say that JCNSP wouldn't have won the state title without Vandanacker...his clutch wins over Warroad (he had 32 saves), Osseo Maple Grove (4-0 shutout in a game that was very even) and then the win over Edina to capture the state championship may have been his best. A great talent who seems to attack the puck when in his crease. 

Brandon Benson, Blaine - Brandon won a six overtime thriller in Marshall to cement his spot on this list of top goalies. The win over EP was not his only great performance of the year as the Bengals grabbed fourth place in state.

Parker Slotsve, Osseo Maple Grove - on a number of occasions this year, we'd hear whispers about Parker Slotsve and how well he had performed for OMG. At the Moose Goheen, he helped the Leafbirds to second place and then with battery-mate Cooper Olson grabbed a spot in the state tourney out of the hardest region in Anoka. 

Tyler Steffens, White Bear Lake - Steffens had a break out season this year for White Bear, helping the Bears to their second ever Bantam A or AA state title. Steffens is blessed with quick hands and great lateral movement, skills that gave opposing shooter fits all year long.

Cody Ticen, Lakeville South - Ticen had a great season for the Cougars, helping them to a West region championship in Cottage Grove. He has great instincts and a compete level that catches the eye of any hockey fan. One Bantam coach said of Ticen after the season, "he's as good of a goalie that I've seen in the last five years."