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Hockey Stars Finding Spring Success

By Minnesota Hockey, 05/22/15, 12:30PM CDT

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Six of Minnesota’s top high school hockey players are also succeeding in spring sports.

Whether it is being too small or too slow, certain players have always had to face people doubting their ability to achieve success because of their physical traits or skills.  A great example of that is the NHL’s Eastern Conference Final, which is currently showcasing four players who went undrafted but have become NHL All-Stars. The Rangers’ Martin St. Louis will likely be a first ballot hall of famer and 24 year old Tyler Johnson was leading the NHL playoffs in goals (12) and points (18) when this article was written.

While there will always be players who are overlooked for various reasons, today’s culture in youth sports has also created a criticism that all athletes will likely face.  That challenge goes something like this:

You can’t play more than one sport! You’ll never be good enough to succeed at both in high school much less make it to college in one of them. You would be so much better off specializing now so you can spend all of your time training for (insert sport here).

It’s tempting advice too. After all, it seems to make sense on the surface.  If I spend more time playing hockey, I should improve even faster than if I was also playing baseball.

The problem with that reasoning is sport science has shown playing multiple sports is actually more beneficial for players’ long term development. The advantages of cross-training combined with reduced rates of burnout and overuse injuries far outweigh the potential benefits of playing year round.

So today, we recognize a group of athletes who have fended off the pressure to specialize and are witnessing a few of their rewards. While these individuals are only a small percentage of the hockey players who are chasing birdies, aces and bounce shots this spring, we hope they serve as a reminder to all that it can and should be done.

Ethan Johnson – Thief River Falls

It was just over a month ago that Johnson helped a team loaded with Minnesota’s top junior players win the 2015 Boys’ CCM National Invitational Tournament (NIT). This past week Johnson, who helped his hometown Prowlers to the 2014 Boys State Tennis Team Tournament, participated in the Section 8A Boys Singles Tennis Tournament where he made it to the Section final before falling to his East Grand Forks rival, Zach Straw.

Paige Sorensen – Wayzata

If you’re looking to challenge your athleticism, try not only playing multiple sports but different positions in multiple sports. As a defenseman with good offensive instincts, Sorensen committed to Merrimack to play Division I hockey in December, but in lacrosse, she plays entirely different role for her team, taking position between the pipes as a goaltender. Sorensen has played a key role in keeping the Trojans competitive in a tough conference that includes three of the top eight teams in the state.

Luke Seper – Lakeville North

Over the past year and a half, Seper finished 2nd in the 2014 Boys State Hockey Tournament, made it to the semifinals of the 2014 Boys State Lacrosse Tournament and capped off an undefeated season with a 2015 Boys State Hockey Championship this March.  With Lakeville North’s only losses this lacrosse season coming against top 10 ranked teams and an undefeated record against Section 1 opponents, Seper could finish his high school career with four straight state tournament appearances.

Aaron Leafgren – Simley

After competing in the 2015 Ted Brill Great 8 Festival, Leafgren traded in his hockey stick for golf clubs in hopes of making a repeat appearance in the Boys State Golf Tournament this spring. The Simley senior has spent most of the season ranked in the Top 100 of all Minnesota high school golfers and will soon compete in the Section 3AAA Tournament for a chance to make it back to the state tournament.

Angie Heppelmann – Eden Prairie

With an 11-1 record and ranked #2 in Minnesota for girls’ lacrosse, Heppelmann is looking to cap her amateur career by helping the Eagles claim a Girls State Lacrosse Championship. If successful, she will have won state titles in three different sports. The 2015 Minnesota Girls Hockey Coaches Association All-State honoree has already claimed youth titles in hockey (2010 Minnesota Hockey 12U A Champion) and soccer.

Trevor Selk – East Grand Forks

As East Grand Forks’ MVP for football this past fall, a winner of back-to-back Boys Class A State Hockey Championships and an avid baseball player, Selk completely bucks the specialization trend by playing and having success in three high school sports. Selk’s Green Wave baseball team has only lost three games to teams from Minnesota this spring and will look to make a run in the Section 8AA tournament starting this week.

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