Class of 2024 Rankings: The Newcomers (Part 2)

When it comes to ranking 101 players across the state of Minnesota, it is inevitable that some new faces will make themselves known. Whether it was on the ice or in the final box score, all of these skaters made leaps and bounds to stand out and add to their game during the 2022-2023 season, and should be celebrated for it. There are guys we missed who finally got their flowers, breakout stars who forced their way onto the list, and even freshly minted varsity starters worth keeping an eye on. That being said, let’s dive into the second batch of new faces in the Class of 2024 rankings.

Luke Garry Luke Garry 5'8" | Forward Minnetonka | 2024 State MN , Forward, Minnetonka (Rank: 17)

The brother of fellow Minnetonka skater Gavin Garry Gavin Garry 6'0" | Forward Minnetonka | 2024 State MN , Luke is one heck of an athlete in his own right, and after having a breakout 2022-2023 campaign, he will be set to join his brother at the University of Saint Thomas, where the two have committed to play hockey together. Last season, Luke held his own on an absolutely stacked Minnetonka roster that featured a full line of D1 commits, putting up 25 points on 13 goals and 12 assists. He is admittedly a little undersized, but his speed, stick skills and smarts are all next level, and if he can score 25 points on the Skippers, he is certainly ready for college puck. Luke and Gavin Garry Gavin Garry 6'0" | Forward Minnetonka | 2024 State MN are the lone pair of brothers to make this list, and considering they both cracked the top 20, it is safe to say the Garry bros will be making a splash this upcoming winter.

Dane Callaway Dane Callaway 5'9" | Goalie Hermantown | 2024 State MN , Goalie, Hermantown (Rank: 19)

The second highest ranked goalie in the Class of 2024, Dane Callaway Dane Callaway 5'9" | Goalie Hermantown | 2024 State MN has been a dependable force for Hermantown across the last two seasons, becoming a highly-touted net protector in the process. During his sophomore and junior campaigns, Callaway has amassed a staggering 35 wins, 10 shutouts, and has never posted a save percentage below .920 in a season, all numbers that are among the best of the best for Minnesota goalies. All of this is even more impressive when considering Hermantown’s tough schedule, one in which it frequently plays some of the best teams in Class A. Even so, Callaway was a big part in the Hawks’ state championship in 2022 and their third place finish in 2023. Simply put, Callaway is experienced with both winning and shutting down opposing teams, making him one of the best returning goalies the state has to offer.

Bryer Hoffmann Bryer Hoffmann 5'8" | Goalie New Ulm | 2024 State MN , Goalie, New Ulm (Rank: 24)

Bryer Hoffmann Bryer Hoffmann 5'8" | Goalie New Ulm | 2024 State MN may not be as experienced as Callaway, but there is a reason he is ranked so high. In his first full season as the main guy between the pipes, Hoffmann flourished, posting incredible numbers that quickly propelled him into a skater opposing teams needed to game-plan for. His 20-4-1 record was tied for fifth best across the state in terms of wins, his 1.81 Goals Against Average was good for 11th, and his .923 save percentage was a top 20 metric that only further emphasized his skill. Hoffmann is one of the few returning goalies to pepper his name across all of the statistical leaderboards last season, and due to this sudden success, he should be a guy on every team’s radar this coming fall.

Jake Geiger Jake Geiger 5'9" | Forward Northfield | 2024 State MN , Forward, Northfield (Rank: 26)

A key piece on arguably the best big three in the state, Jake Geiger Jake Geiger 5'9" | Forward Northfield | 2024 State MN has the rare opportunity to take the ice once more with teammates Kamden Kaiser Kamden Kaiser 6'0" | Forward Northfield | 2024 State MN and Cayden Monson Cayden Monson 6'0" | Forward Northfield | 2024 State MN , a trio that is unlike any other. Together, the trio combined for 180 points on the dot last season, a figure that was unmatched by any other group of forwards. Geiger may have been the second option in this trio, but make no mistake, this guy would be the clear-cut star on 95 percent of programs across the state. He put up 58 points on 25 goals and 33 assists in 2022-2023, excellent numbers made even more impressive by all of the high scorers around him. Even when faced with stiff scoring competition, Geiger did not buckle, and his 33 assists actually indicate an unselfishness with the puck that coaches absolutely love to see. Geiger will be back on the ice with Kaiser and Monson this winter, and the three will be expected to reignite a Northfield attack that averaged over five goals per game last year.

Sam Troutwine Sam Troutwine 6'4" | Defense Rock Ridge | 2024 State MN , Defenseman, Rock Ridge (Rank: 33)

A hulking defenseman hailing out of Rock Ridge, Sam Troutwine Sam Troutwine 6'4" | Defense Rock Ridge | 2024 State MN is a stout, intimidating presence near the blue line that can hold down the fort with the best of them. Listed at 6-foot-4 and weighing north of 200 pounds, Troutwine is built like a Mack-truck, and he uses this size expertly on both ends of the ice. Defensively, he walls off smaller forwards without much effort, pinning them to the boards and forcing ill-advised passes that can lead to turnovers and scoring chances for his team. Offensively, Troutwine rips slapshots from the blue line, blitzes the net for rebound opportunities and finds the open man consistently, all attributes that helped him rack up 28 points on seven goals and 21 assists last season. Troutwine is one of the best returning skaters for the Wolverines, a team that is poised to lead the Iron Range for a second consecutive year.