Class of 2024 Rankings: The Stock Risers (Part 1)

The Class of 2024 Prep Hockey rankings are live, and that means a deep dive into the class is in order. There are 101 players ranked this year, up from the 75 who made it last year, meaning there is plenty to get into regarding new faces, improved players, and everything in between. That being said, let’s take a look at some guys who returned the rankings with a new and improved play style.

Carson Pilgrim Carson Pilgrim 5'9" | Forward Warroad | 2024 State MN , Forward, Warroad (New Rank: 1)

The primary stock riser on this list, Carson Pilgrim Carson Pilgrim 5'9" | Forward Warroad | 2024 State MN made the leap to number one thanks to his historic season in which he and Jayson Shaguabay anchored arguably the most dangerous offense in the state. Pilgrim put up 92 points last year on 52 goals and 40 assists, both numbers near the top of the state leaderboards. He is lightning-fast on the ice, possesses stick skills polished to a near-perfect degree, and has hockey smarts that span far beyond his years. Pilgrim has already committed to North Dakota to play collegiate hockey, and his senior year has high expectations he is set to meet barring anything unexpected. In my humble opinion, Pilgrim is the most complete player in the Class of 2024, and he should only continue to dominate in the prep sphere if he stays healthy.

Kai Weigel Kai Weigel 5'9" | Goalie Moorhead | 2024 State MN , Goalie, Moorhead (New Rank: 20)

Another skater who leapfrogged 10-15 guys in the rankings, Kai Weigel Kai Weigel 5'9" | Goalie Moorhead | 2024 State MN has earned his new spot thanks to an incredible 2022-2023 season for the Spuds, one in which he posted career highs in both save percentage and shutouts, all while winning 19 games for his squad. Weigel’s .930 save percentage was good for 10th statewide and third among any returning starters, and the five teams he blanked included top tier squads like Roseau, Sartell, and even reigning Class AA Runner-Up Edina. Weigel’s resume is second to none among Class of 2024 Goalies, and considering he has won 39 games over his last two seasons between the pipes, it’s safe say Moorhead is in good hands this winter.

Kamden Kaiser Kamden Kaiser 6'0" | Forward Northfield | 2024 State MN , Forward, Northfield (New Rank: 21)

Kamden Kaiser Kamden Kaiser 6'0" | Forward Northfield | 2024 State MN captained Northfield to one of its best seasons in a while, and as a result, went up nearly a dozen spots in this year’s rankings. Flanked by fellow forwards Jake Geiger Jake Geiger 5'9" | Forward Northfield | 2024 State MN and Cayden Monson Cayden Monson 6'0" | Forward Northfield | 2024 State MN , Kaiser racked up 66 points on 40 goals and 26 assists, becoming a menace to opposing defenses in the process. If a team leaves Kaiser open, he will punish them for it, using his 6-foot, 200 pound frame to bully his way to the goalie and bury the puck in the back of the net. Conversely, if a defense wants to crash down on Kaiser, he can sling the puck out to Monson or Geiger, who are both talented skaters in their own right and can score at the drop of a hat. Together, these three compliment each other near perfectly, and with Kaiser spearheading the charge, Northfield’s attack is among the best the state has to offer.

Johnny Conlin Johnny Conlin 5'9" | Forward Mounds View | 2024 State MN , Forward, Mounds View (New Rank: 25)

Buried in the mid to late 30’s in our last installment of rankings, Johnny Conlin Johnny Conlin 5'9" | Forward Mounds View | 2024 State MN made a significant jump thanks to his incredible 2022-2023 campaign for the Mustangs. Conlin put up 61 points on 25 goals and 36 assists, meaning dang near the entire Mustang offense ran through this guy. The 5-foot-9, 165 pounder has a great shot, can lead an attack instinctively, and has years of experience on varsity that have helped him become a leader in the locker room. The Mustangs haven’t had a winning season since 2016-2017, but with Conlin, they have inched closer and closer to breaking out of this slump, and could very will post a breakout campaign this upcoming winter with the talent they have.

Patrick Kroski Patrick Kroski 6'1" | Forward Luverne | 2024 State MN , Forward, Luverne (New Rank: 27)

Luverne’s leading scorer who saw a significant trend upward in his ranking, Patrick Kroski Patrick Kroski 6'1" | Forward Luverne | 2024 State MN earned his rank due to a combination of leadership and on ice talent that helped propel his team to a successful season, one in which the team won 21 games, its best single-season performance in years. With a supporting cast that included three guys who put up 40 points or more, Kroski was the top dog among Luverne’s top-notch attack, leading the team with 68 points on 21 goals and 47 assists. A pass-first player leading an attack this loaded is an asset to have, and Kroski was a big reason the team went 21-8-1 and qualified for the state tournament. Luverne is keeping the majority of its attack intact, including Kroski, meaning the guy should be in a good spot to keep piling on the points and helping his team win some games.