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The State of Hockey Players

12/21/2018, 12:45pm CST
By Kevin Kurtt - Let's Play Hockey Editor

Over 2,200 Minnesota natives are playing hockey in the juniors, college and pros


Minnesota Duluth goaltender Hunter Shepard (Cohasset, Minn.) is just one of the over 2,000 Minnesota natives playing pro, college or junior hockey this season. Let’s Play Hockey photo by Mike Thill

Pick up nearly any issue of Let’s Play Hockey and you’ll see various lists of Minnesotans in different levels of hockey. 

Upon compiling those lists, it became incredibly clear the sheer volume of hockey players that Minnesota produces on an annual basis to numerous hockey leagues is staggering. 

Without taking into account the thousands upon thousands of youth, high school and recreational hockey players that exist throughout the state, Minnesota develops an amazing number of elite hockey players. 

From our calculations, there are 2,257 Minnesotans currently playing hockey at the pro, college and junior  level in North America and Europe. 

The Minnesota Wild got it right – this state really is the State of Hockey. The impact that Minnesota has on hockey throughout the nation is staggering. One look at the numbers proves it.

For the current hockey season, 46 Minnesotans have earned a roster spot in the National Hockey League, while 50 have suited up in the American Hockey League. Another 47 have played in one of the other minor hockey leagues in North America, while 61 Minnesotans have taken to the ice in one of the numerous professional hockey leagues in Europe and Asia. Certainly not to be overlooked are the 47 women currently playing professional hockey in North America or Europe, bringing the total number of Minnesota natives playing pro hockey to 251.

College hockey leagues have seen 1,524 men and women from Minnesota suit up for their respective school, including 356 in NCAA Division I, 574 in NCAA Division III and 585 in ACHA college club hockey. The numerous junior hockey leagues in the U.S. and Canada boast 482 Minnesota natives on their rosters. 

And the numbers will only continue to grow. At last summer’s NHL Entry Draft, 10 Minnesotans were selected by various NHL teams, including three picks in the first three rounds. The NHL Central Scouting Service’s current rankings for the 2019 Entry Draft list 20 more Minnesota natives who have a decent shot at hearing their name called next June. 

This season alone, 237 players that call Minnesota home have made commitments to a Division I hockey program. That total will surely increase as the season progresses, and does not take into account the incredible number of Minnesotans that wind up playing hockey at a Division III institution.

On top of all of that, colleges and universities in the North Star State produce a substantial number of non-Minnesotan professional hockey players. This season, over 100 former Minnesota collegiate players have played pro hockey.

Finally, a good number of Minnesotans have won major pro and college hockey awards. At the top of the list are the 34 Minnesotans who have their name inscribed on the Stanley Cup (45 times). In the college ranks, nine Minnesota men have won the Hobey Baker Memorial Award, one goalie has captured the Mike Richter Award and one Minnesota woman received the Patty Kazmaier Award.

Sure, Canada will continue to be the major supplier of players to North America’s various hockey leagues, but Minnesota’s contribution to the sport has been immense. Not only is Minnesota the State of Hockey, it’s also the State of Hockey Players. 

Check out the list of Minnesotans in hockey in the link above and let us know if we missed anybody by e-mailing  editor@letsplayhockey.com.


Minnesota Whitecaps defenseman Winny Brodt Brown (Roseville, Minn.) Photo: Susan McPherson


Minnesota Natives in Pro, College & Junior Hockey (2018-19 Season)

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Tag(s): State Of Hockey  News  College  Pro  Kevin Kurtt