15 metro area boys hockey players to watch in 2023-24

Mahtomedi boys hockey coach Jeff Poeschl made a telling remark Saturday afternoon as players from the newly crowned Class 1A state champion Zephyrs exited the stage used for postgame interviews.

Poeschl watched his four players, who had endured a double-overtime win against Warroad, carefully descend the short flight of stairs and said, “That’s the mark of a champion. They have trouble getting down the stairs.”

Before the afterglow of a competitive and memorable state tournament fades, let’s take a look at the 15 players (nine forwards, four defensemen and two goaltenders) who will give their teams the best chance to reach the 2023-24 state tournament and walk down the postgame stairs.

A similar list of girls hockey players was released two weeks ago, with one key difference. Our title said “Minnesota” instead of “metro area” and those details matter. So with apologies to the talented outfielders like Mercury Bischoff of Grand Rapids-Greenway last week and Carson Pilgrim of Warroad this week, here is our too-early list that will surely change with player transfers and early departures.

AHEAD

Hagen Burrows, Sr., Minnetonka

Jack Christ, Sr., Chanhassen

Kamden Kaiser, Sr., Northfield

Mason Moe, sophomore, Eden Prairie

Jackson Nevers, Sr., Edina

Nolan Roed, Sr., White Bear Lake

Jackson Rudh, junior, Park of Cottage Grove

Cooper Simpson, Jr., Shakopee

Drew Stewart, Sr., Benilde-St. Margaret’s

DEFENSE ATTORNEYS

Owen Buesgens, Sr., Chanhassen

Joey Mugaas, Sr., Orono

Eddie Revenig, Sr., Edina

John Stout, Sr., Minnetonka

KEEPER

Charlie Brandt, Sr., Mahtomedi

Kam Hendrickson, Sr., Chanhassen