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BHS: 2018 Player of the Year Nominees

By Tony Scott, 02/26/18, 4:45PM CST

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Moorhead's Carter Randklev among five finalists

With High Honor


2017 and 2018 YHH HS Player of the Year Casey Mittelstadt

Each year our five high school staff members collectively see over 300 games. During our travels throughout the state, we see so many outstanding athletes with so many great stories. Our criteria each year for our finalists is quite simple. Is the best player on his team, how big of an impact did he make to his team and how well did the team perform?

Casey Mittelstadt made our job easy in 2016 and 2017. As easy as it was to choose Casey, it will be equally difficult to choose a winner in 2018. Each of our finalists has been a treat to see and each has a great shot of winning the award heading into the homestretch of the award's race. 

Here are a few players that caught our eye but didn't quite garner the "unanimous" status with our five writers.

Honorable Mention: Bobby Brink, Minnetonka - Ray Christy, St. Thomas Academy - Owen Gallatin, White Bear Lake - Ben Garrity, Rosemount - George Grannis, Duluth Marshall - Gabe Holum, Grand Rapids - Jack Jensen, Eden Prairie -  Lucas McGregor, Centennial - Jack Perbix, Elk River - Tyler Watkins, Hermantown

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


George Grannis, Duluth Marshall

Matt Gleason


Matt Gleason, Cretin-Derham Hall

School: Cretin-Derham Hall
Year: Sophomore
Position: Forward
Stats: 28 goals, 22 assists - 50 points
Scouts Say: "High motor, plays the game at a very high speed..."
Future Plans: Uncommitted 

Despite being only a sophomore at Cretin-Derham Hall, Matt Gleason checks the box for our award with a thick Sharpie® marker.

Was his team any good (check, number five team in the state)?

Did he have an impact on the team (check, led team in scoring)? 

How good would team be without him?

Gleason is an attractive nuisance on the ice.  He apparently has many flaws, he's not tall (okay, its out there). Some say he's not the prettiest skater and he doesn't own great hands or a blistering shot. Opposing coaches see and hear these things, much like a little kid who sees a "no trespassing" sign that enters anyway. 

But before they know it, these same coaches find their team losing (Raiders went 20-3-2) and usually this small, uncommitted kid is winning races, battles and inking the scoresheet. 

Carter Randklev


Carter Randklev, Moorhead

School: Moorhead
Year: Senior
Position: Forward
Stats: 24 goals, 17assists - 41 points
Scouts Say: "Great hands, pinpoint shooter...always seems to be in the right place at right time."
Future Plans: University of North Dakota, 2019

Carter Randklev is a highly entertaining player to watch. He's the player on the ice who dazzles with his moves, and he can also beat goalies with a deft scoring touch. His grace on the ice has helped Moorhead to a record of 18-7 during the 2017-2018 regular season. 

Another player who's doesn't top out at six feet, Randklev has made it a habit of making larger players look silly with his ability to move around them, and never backs down from an opponent, no matter the size. 

Seven times during the 2017-2018 season, Randklev has scored the game-winning goal for the Spuds, a testament to his penchant for rising to the occasion in significant moments. Randklev totaled seven goals and 14 points during Moorhead's run to the Class AA state tournament runner-up finish.

If the case for Randklev needs any more votes of confidence, the University of North Dakota makes few mistakes when recruiting. 

Jake Seitz


Jake Seitz, Virginia

Team: Virginia-Mountain Iron-Buhl
Position: Forward
Year: Senior
Stats: 30 goals, 35 assists - 65 points
Scouts Say: "Natural center who passes the puck really well, not afraid of the greasy areas..."
Future Plans: Uncommitted

YHH saw Jake Seitz or the first time in the Fall of 2014 playing with Blake McLaughlin and Tyler Watkins in the Bantam Elite League. He had great hands and had a very creative and unselfish game. Since then, he's added a few weapons to his repertoire, propelling him to a quality high school career. In four seasons Seitz has had 152 points (76 goals, 76 assists) for the Blue Devils.

Virginia had a great season this season, going 15-9-1 including wins over Alexandria, Bloomington Jefferson, Grand Rapids, Greenway and St. Cloud Cathedral. The most wins by the programs since 2010, the year they went to St. Paul for the state tournament. If they can make their way through section play this year, odds are very good that Jake Seitz will be the center of attention.

Sammy Walker


Sammy Walker, Edina

School: Edina
Position: Forward
Year: Senior
Stats: 28 goals, 30 assists - 58 points
Scouts Say: "Great athlete, the smartest guy on the ice at all times..."
Awards: Mr. Hockey Finalist
Future Plans: University of Minnesota, 2018 

Walker is already in a unique position, as a high school senior who's already been drafted the National Hockey League's Tampa Bay Lightning. 

A four-year contributor the Edina varsity, Walker has improved with every passing season, adding wrinkles to his game as he matures throughout the season. In addition to his obvious speed and skills, Walker backchecks with abandon, and plays the anticipation game better than most players.

The Hornets skated to a 23-2 record during the regular season, giving Walker a personal record fo 77-18-5 in his four regular seasons at the varsity level.  

As if playing and producing through a gauntlet of opponents in the Lake Conference isn't enough, Walker finished among the highest-scorers if the Upper Midwest High School Elite League. Against some of the best high school players in the state, region, and country. 

Walker posted 16 goals and 25 assists for 41 points during the league's regular season, and finished the playoffs with three goals and seven points. Both point totals ranked second in the league. 

As the best player on the state's best team, Walker is a natural candidate for the Player of the Year award.

Garrett Worth


Garrett Worth, Duluth East

School: Duluth East
Position: Forward
Year: Senior
Stats: 38 goals, 19 assists - 57 points
Scouts Say: "great athlete, smart player with the kind of skill that translates well to the next level..."
Awards: Mr. Hockey Finalist
Future Plans: Uncommitted

A four-year veteran of the Greyhound varsity, Worth has been the driving force behind one of the most talented forward lines in the state.

Along with fellow senior Ian Mageau and junior Ryder Donovan, Worth centers the “WMD” line, a group that’s totaled 167 points on the season.

Individually, Worth is one of the most productive in the program’s storied history. He is believed to be the only Greyhound to record five goals in one game, a feat he accomplished in a 10-3 win over Roseau earlier this season.

The Greyhounds advanced to the Class AA State Tournament in Worth’s freshman season, and another trip to St. Paul would be another jewel in the Duluth East crown.

 

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