Going Places: Minnesotans Having Big Seasons

Minnesota’s community-based model continues to produce elite Division I and NHL talent, but there are a lot of very talented Minnesotans having career years in other leagues.

“Minnesota produces a lot of NHL players, but the amount of kids that go on to play Division-III and professional hockey in Europe and across the globe is a testament to Minnesota Hockey's development model,” said Mike MacMillan, USA Hockey’s National Coach-in-Chief. “It's important for us to remember that if you're not a draft pick or you're not getting Division-I offers, if you keep working hard and continue developing the right way, hockey can still take you to some amazing places and give you lifelong experiences.”

There’s a whole world of hockey out there, and Minnesotans are getting in on the action. We took a look at some of the Minnesotans having exceptional seasons in Division III and pro hockey abroad.

AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE (AHL)

Jonny Brodzinski
Hometown: Blaine
Team: Ontario Reign

Former Blaine star and St. Cloud State Husky is among the league leaders in goals this season, potting 24 through 54 games. Brodzinski is a Los Angeles Kings prospect.

Zane McIntyre
Hometown: Thief River Falls
Team: Providence Bruins

Thief River Falls native and former North Dakota star is having a monster season in net for the Providence Bruins. He leads the league with a .931 save percentage and is tied for the league lead with a 2.03 goals-against average. McIntyre made his NHL debut this season for the Boston Bruins.

SWEDISH HOCKEY LEAGUE

Jack Connolly
Hometown: Duluth
Team: Rögle

The 2012 Hobey Baker award winner for the UMD Bulldogs put together another solid season in the top-flight Swedish Hockey League, scoring 4 goals and 24 assists for Rögle BK.

KONTINENTAL HOCKEY LEAGUE (KHL)

Brandon Bochenski
Hometown: Blaine
Team: Barys Astana

Bochenski finished 11th in KHL scoring this past regular season with 53 points (17 goals, 36 assists) for Barys. The Blaine native has tallied 40 or more points in seven-consecutive seasons for Barys Astana.

Jeff Taffe
Hometown: Hastings
Team: Bratislava

Hastings native and former Gopher Jeff Taffe finished among the league leaders in scoring with 42 points in 58 games for Bratislava Slovan. The 1999 Mr. Hockey award winner is playing in his 15th season of pro hockey.

Dan Sexton
Hometown: Apple Valley
Team: Neftekhimik (KHL)

Former Apple Valley standout Dan Sexton nearly produced a point per game for Neftekhimik. His 50 points is an all-time high in his seven-year professional hockey career.

MINNESOTA INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE (Men's DIVISION III/MIAC)

Thomas Williams
Hometown: Alexandria
Team: St. Thomas

Williams earned MIAC Men’s Hockey Player of the Year honors after posting 24 points and a plus-7 rating as a senior for the conference champion Tommies.

Corbin Chapman
Hometown: Burnsville
Team: Augsburg

The senior captain scored two goals – including the game-winner with 5:45 left in regulation – in the MIAC playoff title game to propel Augsburg to its second-straight tournament championship. He tallied 11 goals and 14 assists on the year.

Nate Flynn
Hometown: Hastings
Team: Augsburg

Flynn earned all-conference honors with a 29-point campaign for the Augsburg Auggies. The former captain of the Hastings Raiders tied for second in the league in scoring.

Mitch Hall
Hometown: St. Cloud
Team: Hamline

The sophomore from St. Cloud tied for second in league scoring as a defenseman. Hall led the MIAC with 23 assists.

MINNESOTA INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE (Women'S DIVISION III/MIAC)

Kathryn Larson
Hometown: Shoreview (Mounds View)
Team: University of St. Thomas

The former Mounds View star was named MIAC Women’s Hockey Player of the Year for the second year season in a row. She led the league in goals (18), assists (19) and points (37). She is a finalist for the Laura Hurd Award, given to the AHCA Women’s Ice Hockey College Division Player of the Year.

Darby Dodds
Hometown: Byron (Dodge County)
Team: Hamline University

Former Dodge County standout Darby Dodds scored 16 goals and 25 points in 26 games for Hamline this year. Dodds was named to the All-MIAC First Team.

Bre Simon
Hometown: Elk River
Team: Hamline University

Simon led Hamline in goals with 17 and was named All-MIAC First Team as a freshman.

Kaitlyn Klein
Hometown: Plymouth
Team: Gustavus

Klein is a remarkable story. After breaking her neck in December 2015, some thought she would never walk again. The Plymouth native and former Wayzata Trojan is now one of the leading scorers for Gustavus, who will play in the Final Four of the NCAA Division III Tournament this weekend.

Elli Marvin
Hometown: Shoreview (Mounds View)
Team: Saint Benedict

Senior forward Elli Marvin produced at more than a point per game clip for Saint Benedict. She earned All-MIAC First Team honors for the second season in a row.

Rebecca Sonnek
Hometown: Edina
Team: Augsburg

The junior from Edina was thrust into the starting role this season and thrived with a .944 save percentage and a 1.31 goals-against.

WISCONSIN INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS CONFERENCE (Division III/WIAC)

MEN

Patrick Moore
Hometown: Grand Rapids
Team: Wisconsin-Eau Claire

Grand Rapids native Patrick Moore broke the 40-point marker with 17 goals and 23 assists in 28 games for the Blugolds this season. It was a career high for the senior.

WOMEN

Dani Sibley
Hometown: Monticello
Team: Wisconsin-River Falls

Former North Wright County star and Monticello native Dani Sibley led all of Division III women’s hockey with 65 points (27 goals, 38 assists). She is a finalist for the Laura Hurd Award, given to the AHCA Women’s Ice Hockey College Division Player of the Year.

WOMEN

Carly Moran
Hometown: Winona
Team: Wisconsin-River Falls

The junior from Winona tallied 51 points through 29 games for the Falcons, including 7 game-winning goals en route to a WIAC championship.

Angie Hall
Hometown: White Bear Lake
Team: Wisconsin-River Falls

Junior netminder from White Bear Lake registered a 21-3-0 record for the Falcons and posted a 1.15 goals-against average and .930 save percentage, both among the best in the nation.

DEUTSCHE EISHOCKEY LIGA (DEL)

Drew LeBlanc
Hometown: Hermantown
Team: Augsburg

The former St. Cloud State Husky and 2013 Hobey Baker award winner posted 11 goals and 23 assists for 34 points in 49 games for the Augsburg Panthers.

Rob Bordson
Hometown: Duluth
Team: Fischtown

Duluth native and UMD alum Rob Bordson scored 38 points in 45 games for the Fischtown Pinguins in the top professional league in Germany.

Kurt Davis
Hometown: Plymouth
Team: Düsseldorfer EG

Former Wayzata and Minnesota State standout Kurt Davis was the top-scoring defenseman for Düsseldorfer this season, tallying 6 goals and 17 assists.

NATIONAL WOMEN’S HOCKEY LEAGUE

Gigi Marvin
Hometown: Warroad
Team: Boston Pride

Two-time Olympian Gigi Marvin led all NWHL defensemen in scoring with 4 goals and 10 assists through 16 games this regular season.

Corinne Buie
Hometown: Edina
Team: Buffalo Beauts

Buie tied for seventh in the NWHL in goals with 9. The former Providence College standout and all-state Edina alum helped the Boston Pride capture the Isobel Cup last season (2016).