A look at Minnesota Hockey stories and other tidbits from the past week.
-I went down to Shattuck St. Mary’s on Sunday to scout the Minnesota Blades and Shattuck St Mary’s U16 teams. The Blades won the contest 5-4 with my game puck going to Totino-Grace center Oliver Moore. It was a great team effort by the Blades with Moore leading the way. Moore, who originally plays on the U15 team (1/22/2005), was the best player on the ice on Sunday, in a game that was loaded with talent.
-I was informed by Jon Edwards, The Communications Manager for the USDP, that Chaz Lucius has been out of the lineup due to a lower body injury. Lucius (Grant, MN) is a consensus top 10 pick for the 2021 NHL Draft.
– Kyle Kukkonen’s performance in the Elite league has proven that he’s showing no ill effects from his broken leg that ended his 19-20 season. Kukkonen has taken center stage in the state and there has been a lot of buzz about his rising draft stock. Like Lucius, Kukkonen is eligible for the 2021 NHL Draft.
–Wild signed Ian McCoshen to a one-year, two-way deal. The former 2nd round pick, who played his youth hockey in Hudson, WI, has played in 60 NHL games. With the depth chart full in Minnesota look for McCoshen to play in Iowa.
-There is talk that there could be a modified bubble next season in the NHL and there is still no certainty to an AHL season. So, players like McCoshen could be out of luck.
-Hunter Miska signed a two-year contact with the Colorado Avalanche. Details were not disclosed, but I am guessing it’s a two-way deal. The former North Branch HS/UMD goaltender played very well in the AHL last season with a 2.48 GAA and a .924 SV%.
-Hunter’s dad, Todd Miska, is a legendary goalie mask painter and creative designer.
-EA NHL21 was released last week: The highest ranked Minnesotan is Blake Wheeler (88) of the Jets. The highest ranked Wild player is defenseman Ryan Suter (87). Connor McDavid is the highest ranked player in the game at 95.