Take a Guess at the Best: Points
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The point is, quite literally, the ultimate goal of playing hockey. A point on the stat sheet means a one on the scoreboard, and as we all know, whoever gets more of those wins the game. Points are also a…
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Continue ReadingThe point is, quite literally, the ultimate goal of playing hockey. A point on the stat sheet means a one on the scoreboard, and as we all know, whoever gets more of those wins the game. Points are also a more comprehensive statistic in terms of a player’s value to a team. Sure, any superstar can hog the puck and score goals all day, but what about the guys who can both spread the puck around and take charge of their team when needed? In this list, I’ll be taking my best collective guess at who the top goal scorers in 2023-2024 will be. Let’s get into it.
Number One: Carson Pilgrim Carson Pilgrim 5'9" | Forward Warroad | 2024 State MN , Warroad
Believe it or not, Carson Pilgrim Carson Pilgrim 5'9" | Forward Warroad | 2024 State MN is back for another top five appearance on a guess the best list. At this point, it’s to be expected. So far, I got this guy projected as my number one goal scorer, a top five assist leader, and the top point getter heading into the 2023-2024 season. Seriously, he is that good. Pilgrim’s name was etched into just about every offensive leaderboard this last season, and with many of the athletes above him now graduated, he is poised to take the points crown back to Warroad. He had 92 points last year, good for fourth in the state and a spot right behind fellow teammate Jayson Shaugabay, A.K.A the Mr. Hockey award recipient in 2023. Now that Shaugabay is heading to Duluth to kick off his collegiate career with the Bulldogs, it will be Pilgrim left to pick up the slack and score even more for Warroad. A state title narrowly eluded the Warriors last year, but if Pilgrim can run back a 90+ point season for his senior campaign, odds are his team will at least have a chance to secure the state title.
Number Two: Noah Urness, Roseau
Primarily a goal scorer who is also not afraid to sling the puck around, Noah Urness is slated to be my second points leader behind Pilgrim, and should be a fun athlete to watch heading into this winter. A Roseau product with one year left in a Ram uniform, he has spent the last two seasons racking up points and garnering statewide interest along the way. As a sophomore, he put up 59 points, then exploded onto the scene his junior campaign with 86, good enough to put him in the top 10 best scorers of any class. Urness led Roseau to a 17-10-1 season last year, and his squad will be bringing back the majority of their top guys from 2022-2023. With Urness entering his final season supported by plenty of returning talent to back him, Roseau seems poised to have one of their best seasons in years, and will look to finally secure a Section 8AA championship. Two of the last three years, the Rams have fallen in the Section championship game to Moorhead, and a potential postseason revenge match would certainly be a game for the ages.
Number Three: Louie Wehmann Louie Wehmann 6'2" | Forward Providence Academy | 2024 State MN , Providence Academy
The 10th place finisher in points scored this past season, Louie Wehmann Louie Wehmann 6'2" | Forward Providence Academy | 2024 State MN was a well balanced offensive weapon who could hurt opponents with both his passing and scoring abilities. In 2022-2023, he had 81 points off of 44 goals and 37 assists, running the Lion offense with deadly precision. Commanding an offense that scores nearly five goals per game is a daunting task, but Wehmann is more than familiar with how things work over at Providence. The rising senior already has nearly 100 games of varsity experience, unheard of for just about any prep hockey player. His 6-foot-2, 200+ pound frame helps him barrel his way through smaller defensemen, reaching the net through a combination of physicality and finesse. Wehmann will have one more year to don a Lion uniform, and considering the upward trend his varsity career has been on since it started so many years ago, this could very well be his best season yet. I expect him to take a few strides forward and finish third in points for the state.
Number Four: Gavin Girdler, Red Falls
Another athlete whose name has spanned across multiple lists and leaderboards, Gavin Girdler is slotted to be my fourth best overall scorer in the state, leading the charge for the Class of 2025 in the process. The 87 points he scored last season was good enough for a crowded tie for fifth place that was shared with two other skaters, one of them coincidentally being his brother. With his older brother now graduated though, it will be up to Gavin to step into the role of both star and leader for his team, a tall order for any younger guy. The 5-foot-11, 170 pounder will likely be a little taller, a little faster, and a little stronger heading into his junior season, a scary thought for defenders that already had trouble keeping up with him. Nonetheless, this guy probably has one of the highest upsides of any potential point leader on this list. He may be listed at fourth right now, but Girdler could breakout in 2023-2024, even by the lofty standards he has already set for himself. Definitely a player to watch once the winter season kicks off.
Number Five: Austin Uecker Austin Uecker 6'0" | Forward New Ulm | 2024 State MN , New Ulm
A 21-4-1 season with a 5.25 average of goals per game are two indicators of a solid team, and Austin Uecker Austin Uecker 6'0" | Forward New Ulm | 2024 State MN was the key piece on this stacked New Ulm squad. The rising senior had a 68 point season with 27 goals and 41 assists, making him a pass first perimeter player that got all of his teammates in on the action. The 5-foot-11, 155 pounder uses his lean frame and quick thinking on the ice to keep pressure on the opponent’s defensive zone and pepper their goalie with shots, in turn creating an offense where everyone gets their cuts at the puck in. Because of this gung-ho style of play, New Ulm had eight skaters crack double digit goals on the year, showing that their offense truly does keep everyone involved. Kaden Larson, Uecker’s first mate and second leading scorer on the team, is back for another year, and the Eagles are returning their third best scorer as well. If this coming winter is anything like last season, expect New Ulm to have another monstrous year on the offensive end.