Preseason Conference Player of the Year: The Iron Range
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Every year, sports writers speculate on which athletes will come out on top when the season is all over, and I am no exception to this rule. While there is no way to predict any of these accolades with 100 percent certainty, it’s always fun to try. Besides, pieces like this also let me highlight some of the best players in the state, which is always a treat. Similar to the comprehensive goalie guide, this series will cover each and every conference in the state, with each winner being entered for the statewide player of the year poll that will cap off this set of articles. Now that all of the necessary exposition is aside, let’s take a look at who is up for the Preseason Conference Player of the Year in the Iron Range.
The Case for Ryan Rothfork Ryan Rothfork 5'9" | Goalie Rock Ridge | 2024 State MN (Rock Ridge)
Ryan Rothfork Ryan Rothfork 5'9" | Goalie Rock Ridge | 2024 State MN is a name that has come up multiple times during my tenure as a Prep Hockey writer, and for good reason. The 5-foot-9, 145 pound goalie won’t jump out on paper in terms of measurables, but his stats are an entirely different story. Arguably one of the best goalies in the state, much less the Iron Range, Rothfork is coming off a season in which he posted a .932 save percentage, good for ninth place across all goalies last year. On top of this, the guy could win games, as his 12-5-1 record in the net was a big reason the Wolverines went as far as they did in the postseason last year. The cherry on top of Rothfork’s stats is the fact he only allowed 1.81 goals per game last year, a feat that not many goalies can ever say they accomplished, no matter the level. Rothfork still has one more year to play for Rock Ridge, and after earning All-Conference honors as a junior, it is safe to say he is on plenty of coach’s radars for this coming fall.
The Case for Sam Troutwine Sam Troutwine 6'4" | Defense Rock Ridge | 2024 State MN (Rock Ridge)
Sam Troutwine Sam Troutwine 6'4" | Defense Rock Ridge | 2024 State MN has next level size that helped earn him first team All-Conference honors as a junior. The 6-foot-4, 210 pounder is a bruising defenseman who punishes attacks with his combination of size and skill. On the defensive end, Troutwine keeps skaters in front of him, dolling out hits and poking away pucks whenever there is the slightest bit of an opening. However, he is far from a one trick pony, and his offensive capabilities are just as good, if not better than his defensive prowess. Troutwine racked up 28 points from seven goals and 21 assists, numbers that indicate a constant presence past the blue line when his team was on the attack. Troutwine put on a show in 2022-2023, and was a big part of Rock Ridge’s Conference Title run. The Wolverines just wouldn’t be the same without him on the ice, and because of this, Troutwine is one of my nominees to be among the best skaters in the Iron Range.
The Case for Derek Gibeau (Greenway)
Similar to Rothfork, Derek Gibeau is a rising senior goalie who earned All-Conference accolades thanks to his high level of play between the pipes. As a junior last season, Gibeau posted a 6-11 record to go with a .884 save percentage and 4.24 Goals Against Average. These numbers become much better when they are recontextualized with Greenway’s struggling offense, a unit that couldn’t crack two goals per game last season (They finished averaging 1.96). To put it bluntly, Gibeau was under constant duress throughout all of last season, yet he was able to put up respectable numbers despite the opposing attack spending nearly all game in his zone. Greenway is graduating their top five scorers, meaning Gibeau might be in for another shot-filled season, but this guy has proven time and time again he is a dependable force in the net for this team, and should be recognized for his hard work.
The Case for Cooper Crandall (International Falls)
The youngest player on this list, Cooper Crandall earned All-Iron Range honors as an underclassman, posting a memorable sophomore year that saw him amassing 26 points from 12 goals and 14 assists, a balanced number that indicates versatility on the ice. He can score, he can dish the puck, and he can skate with top tier speed for a varsity athlete. The 5-foot-7, 155 pounder is both strong and fast on the ice, a combo that he can partially thank his football career for, as the guy also plays running back and safety on the gridiron for International Falls. Crandall is a natural athlete that has two more years to up his game on the ice, and as a result, he’s one of my picks to be a top notch Iron Range skater once the 2023-2024 season gets going.
The Case for Jake Stadler (North Shore)
The Storm faced their fair share of rough waters during the 2022-2023 season, but through it all, Jake Stadler was a dependable forward who led the team in goals, assists, and by default, points too. Wherever the puck was, Stadler always seemed to be either right by it or flying towards it, and this type of skater can lift an entire team up on his own. Simply put, the Storm were a better unit when Stadler was playing at a high level, as he scored 19 points across the six wins the team picked up last season. Stadler had a great 2022-2023 season that saw him land on the Iron Range’s All-Conference team, and with his help, North Shore could be poised for a bounce back year.
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