Players to Watch in the Class A State Tournament (Part 1)
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New Ulm: Austin Uecker Austin Uecker 6'0" | Forward New Ulm | 2024 State MN Leading a New Ulm team that is a fresh face in the state tournament this year, Austin Uecker Austin Uecker 6'0" | Forward New Ulm…
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Continue ReadingNew Ulm: Austin Uecker Austin Uecker 6'0" | Forward New Ulm | 2024 State MN
Leading a New Ulm team that is a fresh face in the state tournament this year, Austin Uecker Austin Uecker 6'0" | Forward New Ulm | 2024 State MN is and has been a stud for New Ulm since his sophomore year. He’s put up over 200 career points across his three year career on varsity, including a whopping 79 points so far in his senior campaign, a number that’s tied for fifth in the state. To make matters even better, Uecker has really found his stride in the postseason. So far, he has scored 11 points through only three postseason games, and has been arguably the biggest part of New Ulm’s surprise state tournament run. Uecker and the Eagles have earned a ticket to the Xcel Energy Center, and in their first match against Warroad, the star senior will be looking for his 80th point on the season, and more importantly, a win.
Warroad: Carson Pilgrim Carson Pilgrim 5'9" | Forward Warroad | 2024 State MN
To no one’s surprise, Carson Pilgrim Carson Pilgrim 5'9" | Forward Warroad | 2024 State MN has been the star for Warroad all season, and if the Warriors want to have a fighting chance in the postseason, it will need to rely on its star senior. Pilgrim has been a staple in the Warroad hockey community for years now, and his excellent prep career has earned him a commitment to the University of North Dakota. So far, Pilgrim’s senior campaign has been as good as advertised. He has scored 63 points to the tune of 29 goals and 34 assists, and like most leaders of a team, has stepped up nicely this postseason. Throughout the section tournament, Pilgrim scored 11 points through three games, including a three goal, two assist performance in the first round against Park Rapids Area. The senior scorer has been unstoppable thus far, and will need to continue his dominance if Warroad wants to make a deep postseason run.
Northfield: Cayden Monson Cayden Monson 6'0" | Forward Northfield | 2024 State MN
If there’s anyone who had the clutch factor on this list, it was Cayden Monson Cayden Monson 6'0" | Forward Northfield | 2024 State MN . The Northfield product has been a juggernaut for his team so far this postseason, and his heroics will be very much needed in the state tournament for the Raiders. The playoffs have cemented Monson as an X-factor, as evidenced by his ability to step up and score points when fellow teammates Kamden Kaiser Kamden Kaiser 6'0" | Forward Northfield | 2024 State MN and Jake Geiger Jake Geiger 5'9" | Forward Northfield | 2024 State MN are being keyed in on. While Monson is usually the guy who rounds out the big three, he has been leading the charge in the playoffs against tough competition. Facing Dodge County with a trip to the state tournament on the line, Monson led the Raiders in scoring, notching a goal and an assist to help lift his team to a 4-1 win. Monson has stepped up nicely for Northfield this postseason, and will likely be the deciding factor in the Raiders upcoming game versus St. Cloud Cathedral.
St. Cloud Cathedral: John Hirschfeld
The most prominent postseason scorer of anyone on this list, John Hirschfeld has been on fire all year, and the playoffs have been no exception. The junior has been a assist machine so far this year, as 51 of his 75 points have come to the tune of passing the puck. Throughout the section tournament though, Hirschfeld has really come into his own as a goal scorer. In the first round of sections, the guy scored a goal and assisted four of his own. In the second round against River Lakes, Hirschfeld put up a hat trick and two assists en route to a 6-1 win. Finally, the junior capped off his impressive postseason with two assists over an excellent Monticello team. Hirschfeld is red-hot entering this year’s state tournament, and he will need to be scoring and passing the puck at his absolute best to help St. Cloud Cathedral topple Northfield.