09
MARCH.2016 // MINNESOTAHOCKEYJOURNAL.COM
time
TufTe
'
s
THE SKY IS THE LIMIT FOR RILEY TUFTE. Or
maybe it seems that way because, at 6-foot-5, he's
a lot closer to the clouds than most of us. While the
Blaine High School senior stands taller than most of
his opponents, his silky hands and smooth skating
help make him an intriguing prospect for the upcoming
NHL Entry Draft.
The future UMD Bulldog is projected to be a first-
round selection, according to NHL Central Scouting.
Tufte has experienced lows, along with the highs. As
a youngster, he was diagnosed with Type I diabetes.
However, coping with diabetes hasn't deterred his
passion—or his performance—for the sport of hockey.
Tufte spoke with us about living with diabetes, what
it's like to have more than 1,000 Twitter followers
as a high schooler and growing up in the shadow of
another big Blaine standout, Nick Bjugstad.
By
MIKE
DOYLE
ALL EYES ARE ON
BLAINE BIG MAN
RILEY TUFTE,
WHO'S PROJECTED
TO BE A FIRST-
ROUND PICK IN
THIS YEAR'S NHL
ENTRY DRAFT
PHOTO
BY
KEVIN
WHITE
