Minnesota Hockey Journal

M A R C H 2 0 2 5 | M H J ON L I N E . C O M 25 b y D R E W H E R R O N WHY MINNESOTA STARS STAY FOR THEIR SENIOR SEASON Top: Champlin Park's Brent Solomon. Middle: St. Cloud Cathedral's John Hirschfeld. Bottom left: Dodge County's Brett Ludvigsen. Bottom right: Warroad's Taven James. little more time to mature physically, be a lead- er and mentor, have more time with the puck on their stick, and one last chance to play with bud- dies in front of family, friends, and classmates. It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience that con- tinues to be the biggest draw for Minnesota high school hockey players every winter. Minnesota Hockey talked to four 2025 Mr. Hockey candidates from across the state, asking them why they opted to play their senior year of high school for their school and community as players with next-level options. There are a lot of common threads as to why they see their best path of development through the Minnesota State High School League, not least of which is trust in the tradition. So far, 22 of the Minnesotans who have played in the NHL this year played high school hockey through their senior year of high school, and all 18 PWHL players from Minnesota played high school hockey through their senior year. JOHN HIRSCHFELD, St. Cloud Cathedral For John Hirschfeld, the decision where to play his senior season wasn't easy, especially after finding success this fall with 14 games in the USHL for Lincoln. But the opportunity to help Cathedral defend its Class 1A State Championship, and perhaps work his way into Mr. Hockey Award consideration became too special to pass up. "I liked Lincoln a lot; it was super fun, the crowds were big, and after games you are signing autographs, and there are a ton of fans who were so supportive," says Hirschfeld, who is committed to Vermont. "But Minnesota High School Hockey is special. At the MAC (in St. Cloud), all my friends are there, my parents and family, and the community is there. It's something special, and it only happens once." Not just the atmosphere, Hirschfeld adds, but also the opportunity to grow and develop factored into his decision. "I like playing with the puck on my stick and being comfortable to give it up to get it back," Hirschfeld says. "Playing at Cathedral allows me to continue to learn to play the game the right way and to be a leader. That's important in development, too." BRENT SOLOMON, Champlin Park The Upper Midwest Elite League's leading scorer and University of Wisconsin commit is a Champlin Park Rebel, through and through. For the strong and fast two-way forward with an exceptional shot, it came down to loyalty and relationships. Where he would spend his senior season was something that didn't weigh much on Solomon. "I've played with these guys my entire life, and leaving my senior season is not something I would be interested in," he says. "I've always felt that this season, with this group, it is going to be special, so let's make a run at State." Wearing a Rebels jersey carries its weight, too. Solomon, as a youth association player, used to sit and watch hockey school games at the Ice Forum and wished he could step into the action. Now he's the role model. "One of the biggest reasons I had to come back was to play in front of the younger kids," Solomon says. "I am really going to miss it when it's over. The sense of community with the Mites and other association players who come out to support you, give you fist bumps as you run out onto the ice…it's pretty special." A IT'S AN AMAZING COMMUNITY HERE FOR HOCKEY, AND I WANT TO BE A PART OF IT. TO REPRESENT THAT (WARROAD) LOGO EVERY DAY, WHAT IT MEANS AND WHAT IT REPRESENTS ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY, IT'S AMAZING. IT SHOWS WHAT WE ARE ALL ABOUT." – Taven James Warroad

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