Did you know that boys ice hockey is the most popular HS sport in the State of Minnesota. Through cooperative team arrangements 256 schools field sanctioned varsity teams competing in the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL). Our version of March madness began in 1945 with a single eight team tournament that took place every year through the year 1991, now the tournament consists of sixteen teams competing in two classes A and AA.

Did you know that The Minnesota State High School Hockey Tournament is currently the largest state sports tournament in the United States in terms of viewing and attendance, beating both the Texas and Florida's State High School Football Tournament and the Indiana State High School Basketball Tournament.

Did you know that the attendance has been strong throughout the years with 22 tournaments eclipsing the 100,000+ barrier and in 2004 a record setting total of 120,114 (both classes). In the 2006 State Tournament, the average attendance per game in the championship brackets was 18,000 people.

Did you know that there have been 216 NHL players born in the State of Minnesota. http://www.hockey-reference.com/friv/birthplaces.cgi?country=US&province=&state=MN

Did you know that two tiny towns in Minnesota likely generate the best hockey success per capita of any town in the United States.

Roseau, MN

Population: 2,879

has three indoor ice rinks

has seven state titles

NHL players from Roseau, MN

Earl Anderson

Mike Baumgartner

Neal Broten

Aaron Broten

Paul Broten

Dustin Byfuglien

Bryan Erickson

Aaron Ness

Dale Smedsmo

Dustin Byfuglien is the most notable contemporary NHL player to emerge from Roseau, but the Broten family is probably the most famous – particularly Neal. Neal Broten was significant contributor to the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” team, scored 923 points in 1,099 NHL games and had his number retired by the Dallas Stars.

Warroad, MN

Population: 1,722

has two indoor ice rinks

has five state titles

NHL players from Warroad, MN

Henry Boucha

Dave Christian

Al Hangleben

T.J. Oshie

Much like Roseau, Warroad has a “Miracle on Ice” connection in Dave Christian, who scored 773 points in his 1,009-game NHL career. The most noteworthy modern Warroad product is TJ Oshie.

Did you know that HS hockey could be......

Kyle Rau scored the winning OT goal had 70 pts in 25 games as a Senior for Eden Prarie. Rau was picked in the 2011 draft by the Florida Panthers and is currently a Freshman at the University of Minnesota where he currently has 31pts in 30 games.

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