Preseason Conference Player of the Year: The Big South
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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. Today, the Big South Conference and its top skaters will be under the spotlight.
The Case for Bryer Hoffmann Bryer Hoffmann 5'8" | Goalie New Ulm | 2024 State MN (New Ulm)
New Ulm’s returning goalie and one of the top net protectors in the state, Bryer Hoffmann Bryer Hoffmann 5'8" | Goalie New Ulm | 2024 State MN has carved out a name for himself after having a breakout 2022-2023 campaign that saw him put up a slew of unprecedented single season statistics. The 5-foot-8, 170 pounder doesn’t fit the typical goalie mold, but Hoffmann can win games and protect the net at a very high level, two attributes much more important then size. The guy is coming off a season in which he posted a 20-4-1 record (fifth best in the state), allowed only 1.81 goals per game (11th), and accumulated a .923 Save Percentage (19th). It wouldn’t take a sleuth to find Hoffmann’s name on the state leaderboards, as it seems to be near the top of every major statistical category for goalies. Hoffmann has one more year in an Eagle uniform, and it should be another good one. The team is bringing back the majority of their key pieces from last season, all of whom should be set to improve after an offseason of training. Hoffmann and this New Ulm squad made it to the Section Finals last season, and if this guy puts on the type of performance many are expecting, the Eagles could make it to the Xcel Energy Center for the first time since the 2018-2019 season.
The Case for Austin Uecker Austin Uecker 6'0" | Forward New Ulm | 2024 State MN (New Ulm)
Austin Uecker Austin Uecker 6'0" | Forward New Ulm | 2024 State MN of New Ulm has the supporting cast necessary to put on a season that could eclipse the already stratospheric numbers he put up on the offensive end last year. In 2022-2023, Uecker led the Eagles with 68 points that came from 27 goals and 41 assists. His points and assists both cracked the top 20 of any skater statewide, and with many of these top ranked guys now graduated, Uecker is set to be one of the state’s premier offensive weapons once the upcoming season kicks off. The 5-foot-11, 155 pounder will be supported by Kaden Larson and Bryer Lang, among others. Larson and Lang were the second and third highest scorers on last season’s team, respectively, and should be great outlets for Uecker due to both of them playing with a goal first mentality. Together, these three should once again be one of the most dangerous attacks in Class A, and considering Uecker led the charge last season, he has my vote to finish among the best of the best in the Big South.
The Case for Patrick Kroski Patrick Kroski 6'1" | Forward Luverne | 2024 State MN (Luverne)
This conference is chalked full of top notch varsity scorers, yet Patrick Kroski Patrick Kroski 6'1" | Forward Luverne | 2024 State MN stands out even amidst a crowded and talented field. The rising senior led all Luverne skaters last year with 68 points, but most of these came off assists, as 47 were from Kroski choosing to find the open man instead of taking it himself. He seems to thrive when he has talented skaters around him, and fortunately for both Kroski and Luverne, this team is not short on talent. Kroski also possesses good size, instincts, and stick skills. The 6-foot-1, 165 pounder is long and lithe on the ice, and when this is paired with good vision and passing, makes him, and by extension, the rest of his offense a threat. Guys like this who can lift an entire attack up on their own only come around once every few years for prep teams, and this Luverne coaching staff should be spending this offseason figuring out how to best keep Kroski in the center of the action.
The Case for Tyler Arends Tyler Arends Goalie Luverne | 2024 State MN (Luverne)
Luverne’s reliable and experienced veteran in the net, Tyler Arends Tyler Arends Goalie Luverne | 2024 State MN is one of my picks to break out this year thanks to his unbelievable durability, which has given him experience far beyond any other goalie in his conference. For the last 56 games and two years, Arends hasn’t missed a start in the net, a streak that would likely lead the state if anyone kept track of consecutive games played. Clearly, Arends is an ironman in his own right, the Cal Ripken of Minnesota Hockey, and this toughness has clearly paid off in both the stats and wins column. Arends is coming off a year in which he won 21 games, which ranked him at fourth in the state and one spot ahead of fellow preseason player of the year nominee Bryer Hoffmann Bryer Hoffmann 5'8" | Goalie New Ulm | 2024 State MN . On top of this, Arends added a 2.49 Goals Against Average, .904 Save Percentage, and three shutouts to his already impressive resume. The years of experience Arends has racked up from his ironman streak seem to be serving him well, and odds are, we might just see the best version of this guy for his fast approaching senior campaign.
The Case for Blaik Bork (Luverne)
Blaik Bork may be overshadowed by his team’s top notch Forwards that are led by Patrick Kroski Patrick Kroski 6'1" | Forward Luverne | 2024 State MN and Owen Sudenga Owen Sudenga Forward Luverne | 2024 State MN , but make no mistake, this kid can do some damage in the opposing zone. The Defenseman earned an All Conference Honorable Mention selection as a sophomore, and should only continue to improve as he gets older. Bork’s numbers on the offensive end were more akin to a Forward than a Defenseman, as the kid racked up 38 points from 10 goals and 28 assists, a point total that was over double what the next highest skater on the defensive end for Luverne could put up. Bork has capabilities on the attack far beyond his years, and as a result, should be poised for a big season when working in tandem with his high flying forwards.
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