Stars, Studs and Sleepers: Christmas Edition
In this article:
Christmas time tends to be the first benchmark point of a prep hockey season, and there have been many developments since the first puck dropped, from playoff pictures to stellar skaters. To no one’s surprise, dynasties like Minnetonka and Edina…
Access all of Prep Hockey
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingChristmas time tends to be the first benchmark point of a prep hockey season, and there have been many developments since the first puck dropped, from playoff pictures to stellar skaters. To no one’s surprise, dynasties like Minnetonka and Edina have been as dominant as ever, but some new faces like Rock Ridge and Rosemount have also been on the rise. However, today’s article will be diving into the athletes, so let’s take a look at some of the top skaters at this point in the season.
Star: Wyatt Farrell Wyatt Farrell 5'7" | Forward La Crescent | 2024 State MN , La Crescent-Hokah
Championing arguably the best attack in the state thus far, Wyatt Farrell Wyatt Farrell 5'7" | Forward La Crescent | 2024 State MN has jumped out to a level of production reserved for some of the best skaters to ever lace it up in Minnesota. The senior forward has been nothing short of unstoppable this season, and has yet to be held to under two points in any given game. Through only nine contests, Farrell has racked up a whopping 39 points on 19 goals and 20 assists, a number that currently leads the state by a country mile. Thanks in part to his breakneck pace of play on the offensive end, the Lancers have roared out to a 8-1 record, fueled by an attack that averages over seven-and-a-half goals per game. Farrell’s senior campaign is far from over, and if he keeps this up, the prep hockey record books might just be rewritten when the postseason is all said and done.
Star: Johnny Conlin Johnny Conlin 5'9" | Forward Mounds View | 2024 State MN , Mounds View
Johnny Conlin Johnny Conlin 5'9" | Forward Mounds View | 2024 State MN has been the go-to guy for Mounds View since his sophomore year, but even the Mustangs likely had no idea just how good this kid would end up being. He’s been a force on the offensive end for Mounds View, and currently leads his team with 19 points, 10 more than the next highest scorer on the Mustangs. To make this all the more impressive, Conlin has pulled it off in only six games on the ice. He’s put up four goals against rival school Irondale, notched a six-point hat trick against Suburban East opponent Roseville, and has scored in every single game he’s taken the ice. Conlin has continued to impress so far this season, and he’ll look to continue piling onto the Mustangs’ two game win streak as they host Cretin Derham-Hall tonight.
Stud: Hunter Bauer, Minnetonka
By no fault of his own, this guy’s pads have stayed eerily clean through six games, but when the puck does come his way, Hunter Bauer sure knows how to stop it. He’s faced 78 shots so far, about 13 a game on average, but his numbers are nothing short of excellent. His 6-0 record is tied for the top win percentage statewide, he’s shutout four teams, and his .936 save percentage goes to show he can extinguish the last remnants of hope any given team has going against a powerhouse like Minnetonka. Bauer has a clutch factor, and although he hasn’t had to use it very often this year, it still came in handy against Chanhassen. The Storm gave Minnetonka a fight like none other it had seen this year, taking the Skippers into overtime for the first time all season. With his team’s back against the wall in a high stakes game, Bauer was excellent, saving 21 of 23 shots en route to a 3-2 victory. He may not be the first name people mention when talking about Minnetonka’s dominance, but make no mistake, the Skippers could not do what they do without a guy like Bauer between the pipes.
Sleeper: Ryan Rothfork Ryan Rothfork 5'9" | Goalie Rock Ridge | 2024 State MN , Rock Ridge
I’ve caught wind of this guy through his impressive production for a Rock Ridge team I have been watching closely, but I was surprised to see there is almost no media coverage about Ryan Rothfork Ryan Rothfork 5'9" | Goalie Rock Ridge | 2024 State MN . Aside from one tweet showcasing an excellent pad save he made, Rothfork has been undercovered by many major outlets, a shame considering the level of consistency between the pipes he brings week in and week out. Through eight games so far this year, Rothfork has not missed a minute of action, and he has brought win after win to the table for the Wolverines, as evident by his 7-1 record in the net. On top of winning, Rothfork boasts a shutout, a 1.75 goals against average and a .932 save percentage, all numbers that put him in the upper echelon of goalies state-wide. If anyone deserves more attention for their excellent performance to open up the year, it is Rothfork, who has continued to impress in the net.