News

By Kevin Kurtt
Let’s Play Hockey Editor

Last November, thousands of athletes in numerous sports signed their name to a National Letter of Intent (NLI), fulfilling a dream of earning a scholarship to play Division I or II college athletics. That dream has become a reality for countless hockey players over the years in Minnesota, and this season is no different.

As of Jan. 17, 195 Minnesotans (110 boys, 85 girls) have capped their recruiting process and have verbally or officially become scholarship college student-athletes. Among those 195 are 120 current high school hockey players (39 boys, 81 girls) who will continue their career at the Division I level. Hundreds more will play college hockey at one of the nation’s many Division III institutions. The numbers will only grow as the hockey season wears on with more commitments to come in the spring and summer.

In addition to the 39 high school boys’ hockey players who will play college hockey, 65 other Minnesotans bound for college are currently playing their hockey on one of the many junior teams across North America. The United States Hockey League (USHL) and North American Hockey League (NAHL) are home to 53 and seven future college hockey players from Minnesota, respectively. Another six Minnesota natives with Division I college commitments are currently playing for the U.S. National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor, Mich.

On the girls’ side, 81 of the 85 Minnesota-based players set for college are playing high school hockey this season, including seven at Shattuck-St. Mary’s in Faribault, Minn. The remaining two are playing for the MN Revolution in North St. Paul, Minn., and Northwood School in Lake Placid, N.Y.

Since the start of the 2010-11 season, 896 Minnesota natives (528 men, 368 women) have played college hockey at the Division I level.

But what Minnesota high schools are producing the most Division I hockey players? Perhaps not surprisingly, it’s Edina that has advanced the most players to college hockey’s top level. Between 2010 and today, the Hornets boast 48 Division I players – 29 men and 19 women. 

Following the Hornets are Benilde-St. Margaret’s (38 total DI players), Hill-Murray (34), Shattuck-St. Mary’s (33), Minnetonka (32) and Eden Prairie (31). The complete list is below.

It should come as no surprise that Minnesota’s hockey players are getting noticed by college scouts with the multitude of exposure opportunities available.

Prior to the high school season, the Upper Midwest High School Elite League  has been an invaluable resource for both players and scouts alike. The Elite League provided exposure to nearly all of the 110 Minnesota natives who have committed to a Division I institution. 

Once the Minnesota high school season rolls around, the exposure continues as numerous regular season games are broadcast both on TV and the Internet. And, of course, come February and March, the Minnesota State High School Hockey Tournaments provide yet another chance for players to be seen, both live at the Xcel Energy Center and across the state via TV.

After the high school season, the Ted Brill Great 8 All-Star Hockey Festival gives Minnesota’s top graduating seniors another chance to impress the scouts. For over 30 years, the Great 8 has grown and expanded over the years to include eight teams and 136 players today. Following the Great 8, 20 players are invited to represent Minnesota at the eight-team CCM Minnesota High School Hockey National Invitational Tournament.

Yet another exposure opportunity exists with the CCM Minnesota Hockey High Performance Programs that are designed to identify and develop the top 15-, 16-, 17- and 18-year-old hockey players in Minnesota. The top players at each level are then provided national exposure at the USA Hockey National Festival Camps.

As seen on the next page, the exposure opportunities have paid off for the 195 Minnesota natives who have committed to a men’s or women’s NCAA Division I hockey program. Playing college hockey is a dream of countless players in the State of Hockey. For over 300 players each season, that dream became reality.

Top-producing MInnesota High Schools to Divsion I Hockey (2010-17) * Top 50

Top-Producing Minnesota High Schools to Division I Hockey (2010-17) * By Enrollment
100-499 Students

500-999 Students 

1000-1999 Students 

2000+ Students