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2024-25 ND High School Hockey


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2 hours ago, Johnny Five said:

The ultimate connundrum.  Send your kid away early and give up having them in the house as teenagers?  I mean sometimes I'd love to kick my kids outta the f'ing house...but then you send them to college and you wish they were around more often.

I think there's 3-4 families from Bismarck who sent their FR kids away before they even played a single HS game.  To me, that's nuts.  If a kid comes in and dominates HS hockey, now then you have something to consider for your SR season.  

We always hear about "playing up" and increasing the competition.  But then rewind back to mites, peewees, squirts and we teach kids and families to play where you have the puck on your stick more often.  Seems to be contradictory in itself.  

I'm glad Mattern made it.  I think that sends a fantastic message.  Play in ND, stay home with your friends and family, take advantage of off season programs and activites.  You don't need to leave to make it.  Trust me on that one, a good friend of mine from freaking Hallock has 2 boys playing for Augie that stayed start to finish...and their schedule isn't exactly murderer's row.

From my personal experience, the kids that "make it" could've made it from home.  Harper Bentz left Bismarck for Moorhead.  You could tell in Mites that kid was different.  Max Vig, you could tell from a young age he had something special.  And there's plenty of others.  

Honestly, there's a right and a wrong for each family and we've seen it work and seen it not work.  At the end of the day, everyone has to make a decision they feel is best for their family.  It's unfortunate that in this day and age with video and off season opportunities, the label still exists.

 

Good rundown on where things are.  You only get one shot at raising those kids, so I think that it's a good idea to have them stay home through high school.  It may set their development back a year or so, but I think that having them at home through high school is the greater good.  Just my $0.02.

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Avery Matt from CHS girls announces D1 commitment to Holy Cross.  Matt joins Brenna Curl (CHS to Maine - 24 grad) and Kenleigh Fischer (North and committed to St. Thomas - 26 grad) as girls who stayed home.  Hopefully that's another trend that continues for girls hockey as there is a lot of upcoming talent within the borders.  

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7 hours ago, gfhockey said:

Rather get 70 games in a year vs 28 

 

also many of those 70 games against top aa Minnesota competition 

gfhockey got that right. Most ND peewee and bantam teams have already played 10-15 games.

ND high school hockey is still 2 weeks away from even starting.

Big mistake in not starting AAA hockey in ND. The better kids that are leaving would be able to stay home and get the 70-80 game schedule.

That would let the next tier of kids to move up to play high school instead of quitting or playing Midget Gold.

 

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4 minutes ago, Speez said:

gfhockey got that right. Most ND peewee and bantam teams have already played 10-15 games.

ND high school hockey is still 2 weeks away from even starting.

Big mistake in not starting AAA hockey in ND. The better kids that are leaving would be able to stay home and get the 70-80 game schedule.

That would let the next tier of kids to move up to play high school instead of quitting or playing Midget Gold.

 

Not sure I agree on the ND based AAA...

I agree it should be allowed to happen, it's 'Merica you want to start a program and people want to pay to participate go ahead, freedom right!

But I think the argument that then can "stay home" is false.

They can stay home if it's in fargo.... for Fargo kids.... is what people mean when they say that. 

That doesn't help nor solve the ND High school vs AAA/Jr's issue.

Nor does it work to run the all year long Team ND model and just get together from all across the state and play on the weekends without practices, training and structure.

Unfortunately we are a victim of the reality of geography, participation, and preference of our athletes and administrators vs other sports.

The only hope is to make some improvements at the NDHSAA level for the best interest of the kids.

That's not going to happen.

 

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9 minutes ago, Frozen4sioux said:

Not sure I agree on the ND based AAA...

I agree it should be allowed to happen, it's 'Merica you want to start a program and people want to pay to participate go ahead, freedom right!

But I think the argument that then can "stay home" is false.

They can stay home if it's in fargo.... for Fargo kids.... is what people mean when they say that. 

That doesn't help nor solve the ND High school vs AAA/Jr's issue.

Nor does it work to run the all year long Team ND model and just get together from all across the state and play on the weekends without practices, training and structure.

Unfortunately we are a victim of the reality of geography, participation, and preference of our athletes and administrators vs other sports.

The only hope is to make some improvements at the NDHSAA level for the best interest of the kids.

That's not going to happen.

 

And that's why the better kids are leaving ND because as you say "That's not going to happen"

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56 minutes ago, Speez said:

ND high school hockey is still 2 weeks away from even starting.

 

39 minutes ago, Frozen4sioux said:

The only hope is to make some improvements at the NDHSAA level for the best interest of the kids.

That's not going to happen.

 

 

28 minutes ago, Speez said:

And that's why the better kids are leaving ND because as you say "That's not going to happen"

When the administrators look you in the eye or write about how they understand the issue but then unanimously vote to deny the recommendations of the hockey committee 16 YEARS in a row (only 16 cause that's just how far back one can see votes) 

That tells you everything you need to know about the GiveAShit factor NDHSAA has for kids who play hockey.

It's literally telling them to GTFO!

Add the ability for HS teams to go to a weekend tourney or showcase two more weekends now your up to 35 games and the chance to play some better competition, then keep the spring/fall Team ND stuff

Boom 50-60 games and more exposure through the season while staying at home.

Continue to grow the development of coaches and practice at the youth level through ADM and generation by generation, the culture will improve.

But for those in high school now it's too late.

 

 

 

and for the love of God let a kid come BACK from a AAA program.

Stop punishing kids who try to better or challenge themselves!

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Three former NDHS players were recently selected to play in the 2025 Winter World University Games from January 13-23 in Torino, Italy. 

* Jay Buchholz - Davies

* Dillon Kuntz - GFC

* Paige Ackerman - Minot

 

https://www.achahockey.org/23-players-named-to-2025-united-states-womens-national-university-team

https://www.achahockey.org/23-players-named-to-2025-united-states-mens-national-university-team

 

 

 

IMG_4310.jpg

IMG_4311.jpg

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I can’t argue that a longer season, more non-con games, and more games in general  wouldnt help keep more kids home. In my opinion more games need to happen so hopefully they can make it happen. But overall I don’t get all the doom and gloom chatter about ND boys high school hockey. Kids leaving early isn’t exclusive to just ND HS hockey…it’s happening everywhere. For the most part it’s a silly trend due to parents getting crazier and hockey turning into a money game. Kids leaving early doesn’t pan out the majority of the time, especially kids who leave early for something other than NAHL or higher…and very much especially for kids who leave way early and have no business doing so. 

 

Just to pull a few of you back away from the ledge, check out the list of kids who stayed in NDHSH THROUGH their Jr or even Sr year over the “recent” years and ended up playing D1. I even excluded some who played NDHSH for 2-3 years and left after SO year. Also, keep in mind ND only has 20 teams so it seems to be a pretty strong flow IMO given the low population. I’m sure I’ve missed a few…but it still doesn’t look so bad just letting your kid stay at home when you look at this list. If he’s good enough they’ll find him and he’ll get an opp in Juniors when he’s physically bigger and stronger and ready for it after high school. I’d imagine if we were able to compile the list of kids who left too early and ruined their chances it would be a LONGGG list. 

 

 

GFRR SR 2008 - Eric Meland - Princeton

GFRR SR 2008 - Alex Simonson - Omaha

GPR JR 2008 - Chad Demers - Air Force

GFC JR 2010 - Casey Purpur - N mich 

GFC JR 2010 - Paul Ladue - UND *NHL 

GFC SR 2011 - Johnny Simonson - UND

BC JR 2011 - Aaron Nelson - Mankato 

GFRR SR 2013 - Jon Lizzotte - SCSU *NHL

BC SR 2013 - Alex Rauhauser - Bowling G

GPR SR 2014 - Jade Miller - UMD 

BHS SR 2014 - Jared Spooner - Mankato 

GFC SR 2017 - Grant Nelson - N mich

BC JR 2018 - Kirkland Irey - bemidji 

GFRR SR 2018 - Mason Salquist - SCSU

GFC SR 2018- Kaleb Johnson - UND 

GFC SR 2019 - Cole Hanson- Maine 

FD JR 2019 - Cade Stibbe - ASU 

GFC SR 2020 - Will Howard - Augustana 

GFC SR 2020 - William Lawson-Body - Ak F

FSS SR 2021 - Zach Sandy - UMD 

Missing a few ????

WF SR 2025 - Bryce Mattern - ASU commit 

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33 minutes ago, Speez said:

"Missing a few????"

I sure hope so.

21 players in 16 years doesn't sound like a great accomplishment for ND hockey to me.

That’s just kids who have went D1 even after playing through high school in ND without leaving early. The point is that you don’t have to leave early to still obtain  good opportunities. 
 

Spare me about MN high school hockey and how many more go D1 from there when they have 21x the amount of players and teams…it’s probably a very similar amount that go D1 percentage wise. 

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23 minutes ago, Brim006 said:

That’s just kids who have went D1 even after playing through high school in ND without leaving early. The point is that you don’t have to leave early to still obtain  good opportunities. 
 

Spare me about MN high school hockey and how many more go D1 from there when they have 20x the amount of players and teams…and probably a very similar amount that go D1 percentage wise. 

I never mentioned MN hockey. I think it's ridiculous that ND tries to copy MN hockey for the reasons you mentioned. I'm a proponent of AAA hockey to afford the better players  the opportunity to play 80 games against better competition to improve their abilities to move up to a higher level without leaving home.

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On 11/16/2024 at 8:40 PM, Brim006 said:

 

I can’t argue that a longer season, more non-con games, and more games in general  wouldnt help keep more kids home. In my opinion more games need to happen so hopefully they can make it happen. But overall I don’t get all the doom and gloom chatter about ND boys high school hockey. Kids leaving early isn’t exclusive to just ND HS hockey…it’s happening everywhere. For the most part it’s a silly trend due to parents getting crazier and hockey turning into a money game. Kids leaving early doesn’t pan out the majority of the time, especially kids who leave early for something other than NAHL or higher…and very much especially for kids who leave way early and have no business doing so. 

 

Just to pull a few of you back away from the ledge, check out the list of kids who stayed in NDHSH THROUGH their Jr or even Sr year over the “recent” years and ended up playing D1. I even excluded some who played NDHSH for 2-3 years and left after SO year. Also, keep in mind ND only has 20 teams so it seems to be a pretty strong flow IMO given the low population. I’m sure I’ve missed a few…but it still doesn’t look so bad just letting your kid stay at home when you look at this list. If he’s good enough they’ll find him and he’ll get an opp in Juniors when he’s physically bigger and stronger and ready for it after high school. I’d imagine if we were able to compile the list of kids who left too early and ruined their chances it would be a LONGGG list. 

 

 

GFRR SR 2008 - Eric Meland - Princeton

GFRR SR 2008 - Alex Simonson - Omaha

GPR JR 2008 - Chad Demers - Air Force

GFC JR 2010 - Casey Purpur - N mich 

GFC JR 2010 - Paul Ladue - UND *NHL 

GFC SR 2011 - Johnny Simonson - UND

BC JR 2011 - Aaron Nelson - Mankato 

GFRR SR 2013 - Jon Lizzotte - SCSU *NHL

BC SR 2013 - Alex Rauhauser - Bowling G

GPR SR 2014 - Jade Miller - UMD 

BHS SR 2014 - Jared Spooner - Mankato 

GFC SR 2017 - Grant Nelson - N mich

BC JR 2018 - Kirkland Irey - bemidji 

GFRR SR 2018 - Mason Salquist - SCSU

GFC SR 2018- Kaleb Johnson - UND 

GFC SR 2019 - Cole Hanson- Maine 

FD JR 2019 - Cade Stibbe - ASU 

GFC SR 2020 - Will Howard - Augustana 

GFC SR 2020 - William Lawson-Body - Ak F

FSS SR 2021 - Zach Sandy - UMD 

Missing a few ????

WF SR 2025 - Bryce Mattern - ASU commit 

From just GF Central, missing

Kanta - Army

Holt - Maine

 Hodgson - Bentley

Grant Johnson - Northern Michigan

A few in the pipeline that will/may as well…

Coleman RR - UMass commit

Carter Sproule RR NAHL

Bydal RR NAHL

Dillon Kuntz GFC - UNLV (rumored to go D1 very soon).
 

Of all those names, I believe all stayed through senior year of high school except Bydal, who left after Jr year.

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13 hours ago, ksixpack said:

From just GF Central, missing

Kanta - Army

Holt - Maine

 Hodgson - Bentley

Grant Johnson - Northern Michigan

A few in the pipeline that will/may as well…

Coleman RR - UMass commit

Carter Sproule RR NAHL

Bydal RR NAHL

Dillon Kuntz GFC - UNLV (rumored to go D1 very soon).
 

Of all those names, I believe all stayed through senior year of high school except Bydal, who left after Jr year.

Wow nice, thanks for sharing! I had Grant listed but missed all others. I’m assuming I’m missing several from WF and Fargo as well. 
 

I knew about Kuntz at UNLV, so it’ll be interesting to see what happens with that program! 

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2 hours ago, Brim006 said:

Wow nice, thanks for sharing! I had Grant listed but missed all others. I’m assuming I’m missing several from WF and Fargo as well. 
 

I knew about Kuntz at UNLV, so it’ll be interesting to see what happens with that program! 

I am sure there are others from around the state as well…Bob Gillian used to list ND high school hockey alumni and where they are playing now on his website but I don’t think he does that anymore. I wish he would, It was cool to follow their careers.

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From the new site www.highschoolhockeynd.com

2024-25 Boys State Pre-Season Coaches Poll
Team                                         PTS        1st Place           2023-24 Record
1-G.F. Central                         349               11                          22-4-0
2-G.F. Red River                     349                7                           21-6-0
3-Minot                                     307                 1                           17-9-1
4-W.F. Packers                        278                                              15-9-0
5-Fargo North                         267                 1                          20-7-0
6-Bismarck Century            258                                              20-7-0
7-Fargo South/Shanley      257                                             13-14-0
8-W.F. Sheyenne                    250                                             10-13-1
9-Fargo Davies                       237                                              7-17-0
10-Bismarck Legacy            230                                              18-7-1
11-Mandan                              160                                              11-11-0
12-Devils Lake                        159                                              8-15-1
13-Jamestown                       148                                              11-13-0
14-Dickinson                           135                                              16-10-0
15-Grafton/Park River         107                                               6-16-0
16-Williston                               93                                                8-14-1
17-Bottineau/Rugby              91                                                9-15-0
18-Bismarck High                   63                                                1-21-0
19-May-Port Area                    37                                                6-15-0
20-Hazen/Beulah                    31                                                6-16-0

2024-25 West Region Boys Pre-Season Coaches Poll

Team                              PTS         1st Place              2023-24 Record
1-Minot                            79                 7                               17-9-1
2-Bismarck Century   73                 3                               20-7-0
3-Bismarck Legacy     62                                                   18-7-1
4-Mandan                       54                                                   11-11-0
5-Jamestown                47                                                   11-13-0
6-Dickinson                   46                                                    16-10-0
7-Williston                      32                                                    8-14-1
8-Bottineau/Rugby     29                                                    9-15-0
9-Bismarck High          19                                                    1-21-0
10-Hazen/Beulah          9                                                     6-16-0

2024-25 East Region Boys Pre-Season Coaches Poll
Team                                           PTS         1st Place          2023-24 Record
1-Grand Forks Central           71                  7                           22-4-0
2-Grand Forks Red River       67                  3                          21-6-0
3-West Fargo Packers             53                                               15-9-0
4-West Fargo Sheyenne         43                                              10-13-1
5-Fargo North                            37                                               20-7-0
6-Fargo South/Shanley         35                                               13-14-0
7-Fargo Davies                          32                                                7-17-0
8-Devils Lake                             22                                                8-15-1
9-Grafton/Park River                9                                                 6-16-0
10-May-Port Area                    #10 Seed--Does not play Region Schedule

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WDA just flat out misses on Legacy and Mandan that's your battle for 2/3 right there.

Legacy could easily develop into a top 5 at state finish, they'll have 2 lines and pushing a 3rd by February, with some young talent.

If Mandan doesn't Mandan, they'll be back at state this year, they have enough depth.

4-7 roll the dice on who shows up on any given night.

EDC looks right where I'd say it is top 2, then WF solid 3, after that more murky until goalies establish themselves to see what's what.

Should be interesting to watch and definitely more parity this year, not as skilled as years past, by a long shot, but a good chance for some programs to get back to state.

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