January 1, 2022, marked the first day that hockey-playing high school sophomores could be contacted by NCAA programs, kicking off the recruiting process for numerous young players. 

From now until they sign their National Letter of Intent, college hockey programs will make their pitches for why these players should come to State U to ply their trade. 

As usual, Minnesota high school hockey is a hotbed for talent, and there are dozens of players who are sure to be contacted by these programs. 

Below are capsules on five highlighted players, plus another 10 that should be on college hockey's radar. 

Tanner Bruneder 

Bruender is in his first season of high school hockey after a decorated youth career in the Chaska/Chanhassen association after moving to Minnesota from the Portland, Oregon, area. Last year, Bruender was selected in the fifth round of the Western Hockey League U.S. Prospects Draft by his hometown Portland Winterhawks. 

This season, Bruender has played various roles for the Chaska varsity, using his tireless motor and sizeable physical frame to bully opposing players off the puck. Especially effective on the penalty kill, Bruender is tied for second among all Hawks with six goals, including a recent hat trick against Lakeville North on Dec. 30.

Ryan Lund 

The son of former St. Cloud State defenseman Tom Lund, Ryan Lund has emerged as a puck-moving, blueline-bomb-launching defender for the Warriors.

Lund evokes generic scout-speak terms like "rangy" and "toolsy" with his play, long reach, and tree-branch arms and legs. He has scored three goals and seven points in his first varsity season for the Warriors and showed well during this fall's Upper Midwest High School Elite League. During the fall, he recorded 10 points in 22 games for the UMHSEL's Sanford Power. 

Lund could be classified as a raw prospect, but his rawness is moldable and filled with potential. 

Jackson Nevers 

A Swiss-army knife with soft hands and good vision, Nevers is currently tied for second in scoring for the Hornets with 10 points in 10 games this season, his second at the varsity level. 

The son of former Major League Baseball pitcher Tom Nevers and brother of current Minnesota Golden Gopher Mason Nevers, Jackson blossomed as a first-year Bantam, adding wrinkles to his game with each viewing. He spent his ninth-grade season with the Edina varsity, a rarity at the prep power, tallying seven points during the 2020-2021 campaign. 

Nevers posted seven goals and 14 points in 21 games during the Upper Midwest High School Elite League season. 

Harper Searles 

Now in his second season of varsity hockey with Centennial, the sophomore has already eclipsed last season's point total of 11 in 10 games. Through nine games of the 2021-2022 season, Searles is second among Cougars in goals (7) and tied for the team's lead in points (20).

Searles' shot has always been a strong point, but he's added new levels of toughness and passing to his game. Searles recorded three goals and 12 points in 19 UMHSEL games and tallied a goal and two assists in five games at last summer's USA Hockey National Select 16 camp. 

Will Skahan 

A West Coast transplant who moved to Woodbury as a youth player, Skahan has won at every level since arriving in Minnesota. 

He opted for Shattuck-St. Mary's for his 14-Under season, and played a critical role in helping the Sabres win a national championship in 2020. He notched 10 goals and 47 points in 47 games for the Sabres that season. 

Skahan transferred to St. Thomas Academy this fall and has immediately become a contributing member of the Cadets' four-man rotation, totaling four goals and nine points in 11 games. 

Listed at 6-foot-4, 200 pounds, Skahan still has room to fill out and has the resources to do so. Skahan's father, Sean, is the strength and conditioning coach for the Minnesota Wild. 

With his size and speed, Skahan fits the mold of the modern defenseman, and should have his pick of collegiate programs.