Class of 2024 Rankings: Stock Risers Pt. 1

After featuring players who are new to the recently updated Class of 2024 Player Rankings, it is now time to analyze some players who have rose up in the ranks. Some players have moved up significantly, while others have moved up only a few, but are now in the top 10 or 20. The first addition of this article series will feature two forwards and one goaltender who are now in the top 10 after being moved up. Without further ado, let’s get started!

Sam Scheetz Sam Scheetz 5'9" | Forward Chaska | 2024 State MN | Forward | Chaska | Prep Hockey #7

As a sophomore, Sam Scheetz Sam Scheetz 5'9" | Forward Chaska | 2024 State MN was one of the leaders on a Chaska Hawk team that made a deep playoff run in Section 2AA. They were very close to breaking through and making their first state tournament appearance, but Bump and the Lakers proved to be too potent. Scheetz led the team in points with 40, which included 22 goals and 18 assists. Scheetz is the latest top player to come out of that very strong Chaska pipeline. It’s no surprise that he had a very successful 10th grade year, because as a Bantam, he was already on many people’s radar. He tallied 78 points as a second year Bantam on Chaska/Chanhassen in only 40 games. Looking ahead to next year, the Hawks will lose some seniors and possibly a non-returning defender, but with the wealthy youth system they have, it could be another interesting season for Chaska. In the fall, Scheetz will skate for SIT Investments of the Upper Midwest Elite League.

Mason McElroy Mason McElroy 5'10" | Goalie Benilde-St. Margaret's | 2024 State MN | Goaltender | Benilde-St. Margaret’s | Prep Hockey #9

Just like Chaska, the Red Knights of Benilde were another team that fell in their section championship game. They were also probably one of the younger teams in the state, with many of their leading scorers and starting goaltender, Mason McElroy Mason McElroy 5'10" | Goalie Benilde-St. Margaret's | 2024 State MN , being sophomores. McElroy played over a 1,000 minutes between the pipes and carried a 17-5 record, 1.77 GAA, and .925 SV%. He also blanked fives teams in the crease. The Red Knights were a very solid defensive team, as they had McElroy in net and a shutdown D-core. Even though Benilde wasn’t able to get over the hill against Edina in March, they will return many players and receive another golden opportunity to make it to Downtown St. Paul. Good luck scoring on this team in the next two years as McElroy is bound to only keep getting better and better. Team TDS of the Elite League will have McElroy as one of their goaltenders in the fall.

Jackson Nevers Jackson Nevers 6'0" | Forward Edina | 2024 State MN | Forward | Edina | Prep Hockey #10

Jackson Nevers Jackson Nevers 6'0" | Forward Edina | 2024 State MN will wear one of the “C”‘s for Edina as a junior in the 2022-23 season. Nevers already has two years under his belt playing for Head Coach Curt Giles and has totaled 30 points in his freshman and sophomore years. He tallied 13 goals and 10 assists as a sophomore, which included four points at the state tournament. The Hornets were the Consolation Champions in AA and won it after Nevers’ game-winning-goal in overtime to defeat Moorhead, 3-2. Edina always seems like they are battle tested come playoff time, because they always play the top teams and have much depth. Expect to see much of the same from the green and white this upcoming year. For Nevers, he will also be playing in the Elite League in the fall as a member of SIT Investments.