Jaxon Nelson, Luverne
The 6-4, 220-pound center can be credited with putting Luverne, in Minnesota’s southwest corner, on the state’s hockey map. He is seventh in state history in scoring, logging 155 goals and 135 assists from 2013-16. He played for five years at Minnesota, earning Team MVP honors after his final season.
Jaxon Nelson was a budding star for Luverne in 2016. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)Aaron Ness, Roseau
A skilled 5-10, 170-pound defenseman who won the Mr. Hockey Award in 2008, Ness played three seasons for the Gophers — before playing in the NHL with the New York Islanders, Washington Capitals and Arizona Coyotes. He also played with Team USA in the 2022 Winter Olympics.
Matt Niskanen, Virginia
A solid fundamental defenseman, Niskanen led Virginia to its first state tournament appearance in 2005. He went on to play college at Minnesota Duluth and professionally for Dallas, Pittsburgh, Washington and Philadelphia over a 14-year NHL career. He is now the head hockey coach at Rock Ridge High School
T.J. Oshie, Warroad
Fast and aggressive on the ice, Oshie is considered one of the greatest specialists in hockey history. Oshie played on two state championship teams for Warroad before spending three seasons at North Dakota, eventually embarking on a professional career with the St. Louis Blues and Washington Capitals. He played on the U.S. Olympic team in 2014.
Warroad’s T.J. Oshie battles for a loose puck in against St. Thomas Academy in 2004. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)Jack Peart, Grand Rapids
The 6-0, 190-pound defenseman was not only the Reed Larson Award winner as the state’s best defenseman, but also the 2021 Mr. Hockey winner. He played collegiately at St. Cloud State and was a second-round draft pick of the Wild in 2021.
Avery Peterson, Grand Rapids
A tall and rangy forward, he tallied 86 goals and 117 assists in his high school career en route to the 2014 Mr. Hockey award. Played collegiately at Nebraska-Omaha before finishing at UMD.