Preseason Conference Player of the Year: The Tri-Metro
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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. That being said, let’s take a look at who I think the top skaters in the Tri-Metro will be throughout the 2023-2024 year.
The Case for Mike Shroat Mike Shroat 6'1" | Goalie Minneapolis | 2024 State MN (Minneapolis)
If you’re looking for a guy to blank an opposing team’s attack, look no further than Minneapolis’ shutout specialist, Mike Shroat Mike Shroat 6'1" | Goalie Minneapolis | 2024 State MN . Through only 20 starts last season, Shroat posted a whopping eight shutouts, stonewalling opponents in nearly half of his appearances in the net. This figure led the conference by a wide margin, and this type of perfect play earns Shroat a spot at the table for this award. Even better than his shutouts though is the fact that Shroat can still win games for his team. He posted a 13-5-1 record for Minneapolis, allowed under two goals per game, and his .909 save percentage is just another above average statistic that makes Shroat one of the top returning goalies in the state this winter. He struggled at times with consistency, having a few rough outings against the likes of Duluth Denfeld and Orono, but if Shroat can iron out these minute problems in his game, the sky is the limit for this guy.
The Case for Alex Sabev Alex Sabev 6'0" | Goalie Irondale | 2024 State MN (Irondale)
The returning Tri-Metro Conference Goalie of the Year, Alex Sabev Alex Sabev 6'0" | Goalie Irondale | 2024 State MN brings a bevy of both experience and skill to the Irondale goal posts this upcoming season. Through 26 games for the Knights, Sabev put up a .917 save percentage and two shutouts on his way to earning first team All-Conference honors and his aforementioned Tri-Metro Goalie of the Year Award. Not many net protectors can earn accolades like that sporting a 8-15-2 record between the pipes, but Sabev was under an unprecedented amount of duress when he was manning the net for his team. He faced over 1,150 shots through just 26 starts, which averages out to around 45 shots a game coming his way. Despite the added pressure of this though, Sabev shined statistically, and played 25 of his 26 starts all the way until the final horn. Simply put, Sabev is a highly skilled workhorse that has been an asset to this Knight program, and as such, is on my list for the Tri-Metro’s top returners set to have excellent 2023-2024 seasons.
The Case for Henry Lechner (Holy Angels)
Henry Lechner’s case for Conference Player of the Year can be summarized quite succinctly: The guy scored 75 points throughout the 2022-2023 season, good for 14th in the state. However, this already stellar stat line becomes more impressive when noting Lechner did it as a sophomore. His 75 points from 31 goals and 44 assists placed him at second in the state among sophomores on varsity, and he will hold the fifth highest single season scorecard of any varsity returner this fall, only being behind the likes of top notch, older Division 1 commits like Warroad’s Carson Pilgrim Carson Pilgrim 5'9" | Forward Warroad | 2024 State MN . Lechner is among the top skaters in his class, and at 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, he also brings formidable size to the Forward position that few varsity skaters can match. Odds are, he will be even better now that he’s entering his junior campaign, and this is one of many reasons why I have him in the running to be one of the Tri-Metro’s finest offensive weapons for a second consecutive year.
The Case for Cole Cheeseman (Holy Angels)
Insanely cool name aside, Cole Cheeseman likely has the highest breakout potential of any skater on this list. The guy had an unbelievable freshman campaign, becoming one of the top options for the Holy Angels in a year where many kids his age are still toiling in Bantams. Cheeseman was the third highest scorer on a team with an incredible attack, and he seemed to understand his role perfectly. His 48 points came from a well balanced 20 goals and 28 assists, and he showcased vision and athleticism light years beyond skaters his age. The 5-foot-7, 155 pounder will only get stronger, faster, and more skilled on the ice as he ages, which should frankly terrify his fellow Tri-Metro opponents. Cheeseman will be entering his sophomore year already among the best in the Conference, and with three more years to get better acclimated to varsity hockey, his potential seems almost limitless.
The Case for Luke Marsalek (Holy Angels)
Clearly, the Holy Angels are going to be a problem for the Tri-Metro this upcoming season, as they are bringing back a slew of their top players from last year’s roster, among them goalie Luke Marsalek. The rising junior is coming off an excellent campaign in which he led the conference in wins with an 18-7 record between the pipes, tied for second in shutouts with two, and placed third in save percentage with a .900 mark, all numbers that would rank him higher in a conference that wasn’t so loaded with top tier goalies. The 6-foot-3, 180 pounder has great size, is adept at positioning himself in the best place possible to block pucks, and is surprisingly acrobatic for his size, all attributes that helped him place ninth statewide for wins among goalies. Despite all of this, Marsalek was snubbed from any All-Conference accolades, something he will likely use as fuel for this upcoming season. In a conference with shutout specialists and ironman-esque warriors in the net, don’t count out the guy who can consistently put a W on the board.
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