Lake players dominate All-State boys hockey selections

The Associated Press All-State boys hockey team reflects the strength of the Lake Conference.

Senior forward Hagen Burrows of Minnetonka took top honors as AP’s Player of the Year for 2023-24. He is joined on the first team by Minnetonka senior defenseman John Stout and Edina senior forward Jackson Nevers. Other first-team selections are Warroad senior forward Carson Pilgrim, Orono senior defenseman Joey Mugaas and Chanhassen senior goalie Kam Hendrickson.

Although Wayzata does not have a first-team All-State selection, the Trojans landed two berths on the second team with senior forward Rhys Wallin and senior defenseman Hawke Huff. Hunter Bauer of Minnetonka earned the goalie spot on the second team. Chanhassen also landed two berths on the second team with senior forward Gavin Uhlenkamp and senior defenseman Owen Buesgens.

Wayzata head coach Pat O’Leary said, “Every team in the Lake Conference had Division I forwards and, in some cases, two or three Division I defensemen. The three best teams in the Lake [Minnetonka, Edina and Wayzata] were the best teams in the state along with Chanhassen.”

“Any time we played Minnetonka, Wayzata or Eden Prairie, we had to bring our A game,” Edina head coach Curt Giles said. “There wasn’t any margin for error.”

Looking at season statistics, it is easy to see why the Lake Conference has three first-team All-State selections.

Burrows led Minnetonka to a 25-1-2 record and had 57 points on 19 goals and 38 assists. He skated on an all-senior line along with Gavin Garry and Javon Moore.

Nevers led Edina’s top line, which included senior Bobby Cowan and sophomore Mason West. A four-year varsity player for the Hornets, Nevers had 52 points on 18 goals and 34 assists in his senior year. There was gold at the end of the season when Edina rallied to beat Chanhassen 2-1 for the state Class AA championship.

Minnetonka’s defense was anchored by Stout, who combined a myriad of offensive and defensive skills. In addition to taking control in Minnetonka’s end of the rink, Stout jumped into the offense with 30 points on six goals and 24 assists.

Bauer had a brilliant high school career with a two-year record of 30-1-2. His only loss came in the final game of his career - 2-1 against Chanhassen in the Section 2AA finals at Braemar Arena.

Wayzata’s second-team All-State players, Wallin and Huff, led Wayzata to a 23-3-2 record. Wallin recorded 46 points on 18 goals and 28 assists. Huff set the tone for a tough Trojan defense that led the Lake Conference in blocked shots. He scored three goals and took on a key role of blue-line playmaker with 19 assists.

All-State first team

Minnetonka senior forward Hagen Burrows, Edina senior forward Jackson Nevers, Warroad senior forward Carson Pilgrim, Minnetonka senior defenseman John Stout, Orono senior defenseman Joey Mugaas and Chanhassen senior goalie Kam Hendrickson.

All-State second team

Chanhassen senior forward Gavin Uhlenkamp, Roseau senior forward Noah Urness, LaCrescent-Hokah senior forward Wyatt Farrell, Wayzata senior forward Rhys Wallin, Wayzata senior defenseman Hawke Huff, Chanhassen senior defenseman Owen Buesgens and Minnetonka senior goalie Hunter Bauer.

All-Lake team

Minnetonka: Seniors Hunter Bauer, Hagen Burrows, Gavin Garry, Javon Moore and John Stout and junior Ashton Schultz.

Edina: Seniors Joey Bertram, Bobby Cowan, Barrett Dexheimer and Jackson Nevers and sophomores Sam Peckham and Casey Vandertop.

Wayzata: Seniors Cade De St. Hubert, Hawke Huff, Jake Mattson, Luke Miller and Rhys Wallin and junior Finn De St. Hubert.

Eden Prairie: Seniors Tate Bloch and Dylan Vornwald, junior Alex Hall and sophomore Mason Moe.

St. Michael-Albertville: Senior Reme Lobitz.

Buffalo: Seniors Eli Tiernan and Max Varner.

Honorable mention

Minnetonka: Seniors Luke Garry and Sam Scheetz and junior Danny Klaers.

Edina: Senior John Halverson, junior Robby Hoch and sophomore Mason West.

Wayzata: Seniors Brittan Alstead and Evan Turek and junior Carson Clark.

Eden Prairie: Seniors Isaiah Paulnock and Cole Saterdalen and junior Rio Treharne.

St. Michael-Albertville: Juniors Blake Couet and Jack Johnson and sophomore Tanner Esterberg.

Buffalo: Senior Grif Lind, junior Harvey Ylitalo and sophomore Evan Hinnenkamp.

Hopkins: Junior Weston Schenkelberg.