Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/641682
MINNESOTAHOCKEYJOURNAL.COM // MARCH.2016 14 hard work the boys put in to achieve something so special. High school hockey is a true jewel. It's not to be taken for granted. "There's nothing like being at the X in March. The high school state tournament is king." These People Are Going Places The level of skill and talent is booming at the boys' and girls' high school levels. Cover boy Riley Tufte is being coveted by every NHL team as we inch closer and closer toward the draft. The dynamic Grace Zumwinkle is a must-see at Breck. Little Luverne in the southwest corner of the state features the top two scorers in the state. Jaxon Nelson eclipsed the 100-point total three games before the regular season ended and senior Makayla Sterrett tallied 72 points. Hibbing/Chisholm's Scott Perunovich was one of the top point producers in the state as a junior defenseman. Blake's Carly Bullock potted 42 goals while New Ulm's Brook Schugel added 40 of her own. Grab some popcorn and watch Eden Prairie's dynamic duo of Michael Graham and Casey Mittelstadt. They won't disappoint. There are honestly too many players to high- light. Ho-hum. Just another year in Minnesota high school hockey. MITCHELL MATTSON WILL BE ANOTHER EARLY SELECTION IN THE UPCOMING NHL ENTRY DRAFT. HE REFLECTED ON HIS HIGH SCHOOL EXPERIENCE IN THE PROUD HOCKEY TOWN. ON THE HIGH SCHOOL EXPERIENCE … "You don't get your high school years back. You've grown up with your buddies since you've been in elementary school and middle school and play hockey with them all that time. … I think high school hockey is a great thing for this state and this town. It obviously brings a lot of excitement and hoopla, and people seem to just love it." ON THE HOCKEY HUB CALLED GRAND RAPIDS … "This town, it has this amazing tradition and amazing following. Every night our rink is filled. It's filled with people who genuinely love hockey and who get the game, too, so that's kind of a cool thing that you don't see everywhere." ON CLOSING OUT HIS HIGH SCHOOL HOCKEY CAREER … "I think for Minnesota, hockey is the premier sport, and to me, coming back to stay in high school is a good thing. Everybody loves hockey so much and people help you out along the way—parents and friends of your parents— there are so many people to help you in the years coming up. I think giving back to the community that did that is a big thing for me. And to come back and play with your friends is something special that not a lot of kids get to do outside of Minnesota." Ain't it Grand? Give-and-Go with Grand Rapids Senior Star Mitchell Mattson