For a player who has performed and produced at every level, Demetrios Koumontzis is ready for another challenge. 

Koumontzis, an Arizona native, packed his skates and sticks after his second season of Bantams in Edina and headed back to the Grand Canyon state to ply his trade for the U16 Phoenix Jr. Coyotes of the Tier I Elite Hockey League while committing to Arizona State. 

However, due to injury, Koumontzis elected to return to the one of the most storied high school hockey programs in the country to put a final shine on his prep career. 

“It wasn’t really doing much for me being there,” Koumontzis said. “I lost a year because I (injured) my back and then kind of had to reboot it,” he continued.

“I’m taking this year to develop and obviously Minnesota is the best place to do it.”

On the brightest stage for prep players in the nation, Koumontzis joins an already talent-laden lineup in Edina, which features at last count three players to have committed to play for the University of Minnesota. 

In addition to upping the level of competition, Koumontzis said that being closer to Green Bay, which owns his United States Hockey League rights, is an added bonus. 

The Gamblers drafted Koumontzis in the second round (31st overall) in the USHL Futures Draft, while the Everett Silvertips of the Western Hockey League selected the speedy center in the league’s Bantam Draft. 

Koumontzis said that he’s ready to help the Hornets win a state championship, and added that he can bring a perspective most Hornets haven’t had; not being the favorite. 

“Being underdogs in most games,” Koumontzis said with a grin after being asked what he brings to the table from his time in Phoenix. 

Playing in the Upper Midwest High School Elite League, Koumontzis has proven that he more than belongs among the players committed to schools with a higher profile than Arizona State, which was granted Division I status in 2014 and played its first varsity season in 2015-2016.

Through 12 Elite League games, Koumontzis stands above the Golden Gopher, Husky and Pioneer recruits with nine goals and a league-leading 25 points for Team Northeast.   

“I want to help build the program, (and) it seems like a (good) place to stay out of the winter,” Koumontzis said. 

For this winter at least, Koumontzis said he’ll relish the chance to drive to games rather than fly, and that he’s prepared for the spotlight that comes with an Edina sweater. 

“It’s definitely going to be a big step, but you gotta do it.”