HighSchoolHockeyForums.com

The Hub is doing an interesting series on the "top 100 MN high school hockey players," with some good interviews and information on star players, some of which I've heard of, some of which were long before my time. There's not a whole lot to argue about yet, since we don't know who will be placed higher up on the list, but it's obviously a pretty subjective study. So I figured I'd start a thread where we can discuss their work over there, and maybe offer our own opinions on some of the players they bring up.

The list is already flawed.

Why, because there haven't been any Pioneers yet?

karl(east) wrote:Why, because there haven't been any Pioneers yet?

That and Herb Brooks is #100.

(Should give him several bumps up)

Boy if only some of those amped up AAA parents would read Jack McCartan's story.

As a partial aside, he made the all-conference team as a junior and senior, I believe. Here's the conference standings and team records from the 52-53 season, and it's obvious that his team was dreadful. Look at all the goals they allowed DESPITE his presence in the nets! How bad did that team have to be for their goalie to still make the all-conference team?

http://sports.spps.org/archives/hstand1953.html

PuckU126 wrote:

karl(east) wrote:Why, because there haven't been any Pioneers yet?

That and Herb Brooks is #100.

(Should give him several bumps up)

Yeah, it's interesting that they take post-HS playing career into account, but not coaching. If they did, he and Willard Ikola would probably be guaranteed top 5. (Though Ikola may still be somewhere up near the top.)

I'm curious to see where the player I plugged winds up, and also to see how far they let Dave Spehar go despite his less than remarkable post-HS career. And I'm also curious about more recent players--Leddy, McDonough, and Rau are the three I've seen with my own eyes that I'd put very high on this list.

The no-players-who-left-early requirement is probably a good one since it weeds out players whose reputation exceeds their actual HS achievements, though there probably are a handful of players who made enough of an impact before leaving early to at least be considered for this list. (Patrick Finnegan, the East defenseman/sometimes forward in the mid-90s, comes to mind for his three fine seasons before bolting for the OHL.)

As far as HS, my top 3 would be Housley, Broten and Spehar

Make that a top 4, add Antonovich

You need to make it top 5, and add Boucha

TTpuckster wrote:You need to make it top 5, and add Boucha

You are correct!

mulefarm wrote:

TTpuckster wrote:You need to make it top 5, and add Boucha

You are correct!

Agreed. But have to add Mayasich at the sixth.

Which is why these lists are hard (but fun) to do ....

Props to the Hub for taking on such a task! Comparing generations is an unthinkable task. To be at 85 (or so) and already used Ross, Abram, Rothstein and Woods, is going to make it real challenging for an old timer to break into the top 50. Yes, you'll have Sheehy, Boucha, Antonovich and Mayasich, but some pretty high caliber players are already slotted.

mulefarm wrote:As far as HS, my top 3 would be Housley, Broten and Spehar

Which Broten?

Kyle rau will be remembered as top ten of all time.

Really love the articles and I do not think a guy can go wrong on putting that great list together. I especially enjoyed to article on John Rothstein.

PanthersIn2011 wrote:

mulefarm wrote:

TTpuckster wrote:You need to make it top 5, and add Boucha

You are correct!

Agreed. But have to add Mayasich at the sixth.

Which is why these lists are hard (but fun) to do ....

Have to go with my father on this one. He and I have attended the Tourney since I was in 6th grade... 1974...
Earliest Tourney I watched on TV was Boucha's era...

Boucha was awesome. Housley was very good. Broten was also very good, but had a pretty good cast around him also. Antonivich was amazing for his small size and Greenway did not have a lot of depth.

In talking to Dad over the years of my watching, playing, and watching High School hockey, he still stands by Mayasich as the best player he has ever seen.

DmanDad1980 wrote:

PanthersIn2011 wrote:

mulefarm wrote: You are correct!

Agreed. But have to add Mayasich at the sixth.

Which is why these lists are hard (but fun) to do ....

Have to go with my father on this one. He and I have attended the Tourney since I was in 6th grade... 1974...
Earliest Tourney I watched on TV was Boucha's era...

Boucha was awesome. Housley was very good. Broten was also very good, but had a pretty good cast around him also. Antonivich was amazing for his small size and Greenway did not have a lot of depth.

In talking to Dad over the years of my watching, playing, and watching High School hockey, he still stands by Mayasich as the best player he has ever seen.

If they use as part of the criteria how a player was when compared to other players of his time, then 8Mayasich has to be top three. Most likely #1.

Lee

east hockey wrote:If they use as part of the criteria how a player was when compared to other players of his time, then 8Mayasich has to be top three. Most likely #1.

Lee

Agreed, he dominated like no other in his era. Then again, the depth back then was very weak compared to today. Not unlike any other sport when comparing "the olden days" to the modern era.

Oldtimehockeyguy23 wrote:Kyle rau will be remembered as top ten of all time.

ehh, im not so sure about that one

Personally I don't think Kyle Rau should be top 10 or even top 20. I think he should be some where around 25. Yes, he had a fantastic overtime winning goal for the State Championship but that doesn't make him better than all the others...

MNpuckfanatic77 wrote:Personally I don't think Kyle Rau should be top 10 or even top 20. I think he should be some where around 25. Yes, he had a fantastic overtime winning goal for the State Championship but that doesn't make him better than all the others...

MNpuckfanatic77,

He has suited up for three varsity seasons.
Has won 2 state championships
Led team in points all three years (52, 81, & 81) 214 total
Leads Eden Prairie HS in all-time points
All-State Junior and Senior year
AP Player of the Year
Mr. Hockey
Minnesota Gophers Commit
3rd Round Draft Pick by Florida Panthers


This is a list of a handful of things he has accomplished in HS alone. He will be top 12 guaranteed.

The Best in the Bizz3 wrote:

MNpuckfanatic77 wrote:Personally I don't think Kyle Rau should be top 10 or even top 20. I think he should be some where around 25. Yes, he had a fantastic overtime winning goal for the State Championship but that doesn't make him better than all the others...

MNpuckfanatic77,

He has suited up for three varsity seasons.
Has won 2 state championships
Led team in points all three years (52, 81, & 81) 214 total
Leads Eden Prairie HS in all-time points
All-State Junior and Senior year
AP Player of the Year
Mr. Hockey

Minnesota Gophers Commit
3rd Round Draft Pick by Florida Panthers


This is a list of a handful of things he has accomplished in HS alone. He will be top 12 guaranteed.

Yes I agree, he is a great hockey player, but there are many great high school hockey players who have played in the state of Minnesota so how can you even compare? One of the main reason he will be ranked so high also has to do with the fact that hes the most recent "great" player so right now hes getting the most hype. Also, Eden Prairie has never really been anything close to a dynasty so leading points is a great accomplishment, but not like there were many past competitors for that position besides Nick Leddy.

He has suited up for three varsity seasons - so have others
Has won 2 state championships - ok
Led team in points all three years (52, 81, & 81) 214 total - ok
Leads Eden Prairie HS in all-time points - irreleveant, its EP hockey
All-State Junior and Senior year - ok
AP Player of the Year - ok
Mr. Hockey - ok
Minnesota Gophers Commit - so what?
3rd Round Draft Pick by Florida Panthers - so what?

The Best in the Bizz3 wrote:

He will be top 12 guaranteed.

Great player yes...I would guess between 30th-40th .

The drama of Kyle Rau..

Just wait until Hanowski and Benik...............