The influence of Minnesota hockey continues to be felt across the junior ranks, with 96 Minnesotans earning spots on United States Hockey League (USHL) rosters to start the season.
The NTDP leads the way with 14 Minnesotans on its roster, a remarkable number given the selective nature of the program. Right behind them are the Madison Capitols, who boast an astounding 11 Minnesota natives, including all three of their goaltenders. On the other end of the spectrum, Dubuque is the least represented club, carrying only a single Minnesotan.
While those numbers tell the story at the team level, the geographic spread within Minnesota is equally impressive. Traditional powerhouse communities like Wayzata, Minnetonka, Moorhead, Lakeville, Edina, Andover, and Maple Grove are the most heavily represented, yet there are players rostered from every corner of the state.
An asterisk appears next to a player’s name if they skated in Minnesota High School Hockey last season and still have the option to return (this includes tendered players such as Rooney and Conboy).
The sheer number of Minnesota players at the USHL level underscores the state’s continued strength in player development. With so many athletes competing at the highest junior level, it’s another reminder why Minnesota remains the “State of Hockey.”
Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (5)
| Henry Lechner | F | 2006-11-03 | Bloomington |
| *Carter Ernst | F | 2008-04-28 | Lakeville |
| Karson Young | D | 2006-05-25 | Cloquet |
| Hawke Huff | D | 2006-06-30 | Wayzata |
| *Mason Minor | D | 2007-09-02 | Wayzata |
Chicago Steel (2)
| *Nathan Chorlton | F | 2008-06-18 | Hastings |
| Ashton Schultz | F | 2006-10-03 | Excelsior |
Des Moines Buccaneers (9)
| Rhys Wallin | F | 2005-08-03 | Wayzata |
| Harper Searles | F | 2005-09-24 | Blaine |
| *Ryland Rooney | F | 2009-03-24 | Dellwood |
| Drew Roelofs | F | 2006-01-06 | Mound |
| *Riley Zupfer | F | 2008-12-17 | Woodbury |
| Reese Shaw | F | 2005-02-28 | Coon Rapids |
| Keaton Orrey | D | 2006-01-12 | Eagan |
| Henry Chmiel | D | 2008-02-29 | Woodbury |
| *Becker Wenkus | D | 2009-05-22 | Edina |
Dubuque Fighting Saints (1)
| Cooper Conway | F | 2005-06-08 | Andover |
Fargo Force (6)
#Moorhead High School
| *#Zac Zimmerman | F | 2008-05-03 | Fargo, ND |
| Brooks Cullen | F | 2006-09-13 | Moorhead |
| Boden Sampair | F | 2007-04-20 | Mahtomedi |
| Garrett Lindberg | D | 2007-03-08 | Moorhead |
| Graham Greeder | D | 2006-12-06 | Columbus |
| Dane Callaway | G | 2005-03-22 | Duluth |
Green Bay Gamblers (7)
| Gavin Katz | F | 2007-03-19 | Dellwood |
| Zach Wooten | F | 2006-02-21 | Apple Valley |
| *Gunnar Conboy | F | 2009-04-02 | Lakeville |
| Owen Buesgens | D | 2006-03-14 | Excelsior |
| Maceo Phillips | D | 2007-02-25 | Wayzata |
| *Jack Kultgen | D | 2007-10-11 | Shakopee |
| Sam Harris | D | 2006-11-13 | Stillwater |
Lincoln Stars (8)
| *KJ Sauer | F | 2007-10-24 | Andover |
| Kade Kohanski | F | 2005-06-02 | Hermantown |
| John Hirschfeld | F | 2006-07-06 | St. Cloud |
| Will Kortan | F | 2007-05-23 | Lakeville |
| *Nate Pederson | F | 2008-01-27 | Shakopee |
| Jackson Rudh | F | 2006-12-11 | Cottage Grove |
| *Casey Vandertop | F | 2008-04-21 | Edina |
| Drew Nelson | D | 2006-01-09 | Duluth |
Madison Capitols (11)
| *Tyden Bergeson | F | 2007-06-21 | Moorhead |
| Max Rider | F | 2007-06-21 | St. Louis Park |
| *Caleb Pittsley | F | 2007-11-16 | Edina |
| Gavin Uhlenkamp | F | 2006-03-27 | Chanhassen |
| Jackson Nevers | F | 2005-07-27 | Edina |
| Will Dosan | F | 2006-08-03 | Bloomington |
| Nolen Geerdes | D | 2007-04-30 | Rogers |
| John Stout | D | 2006-04-20 | Minnetonka |
| *Cash Cruitt | G | 2008-05-28 | Andover |
| Caleb Heil | G | 2006-06-19 | Victoria |
| Brady Krey | G | 2007-07-29 | Albertville |
Muskegon Lumberjacks (6)
| Drew Stewart | F | 2005-11-03 | Minnetonka |
| Jack Christ | F | 2005-12-22 | Chaska |
| *Nathaniel Celski | D | 2008-03-10 | Vadnais Heights |
| Danny Klaers | D | 2007-04-01 | Wayzata |
| Barrett Dexheimer | D | 2006-05-30 | Edina |
| Nick Koering | D | 2007-01-12 | Eden Prairie |
Omaha Lancers (6)
| Dakotah Bailey | F | 2008-03-13 | Stillwater |
| Jack Stanius | F | 2007-05-16 | White Bear Lake |
| Caden Lee | F | 2005-09-30 | Chaska |
| Brady Arneson | F | 2005-02-11 | Red Wing |
| Owen Smith | D | 2006-02-24 | Maple Grove |
| Finn De St. Hubert | D | 2007-07-14 | Hopkins |
Sioux City Musketeers (6)
| Gavin Garry | F | 2005-10-13 | Minnetonka |
| Luke Garry | F | 2005-06-07 | Minnetonka |
| *Max Anderson | F | 2007-06-17 | Hugo |
| Dallas Vieau | F | 2006-03-20 | Duluth |
| Mason Stenger | D | 2006-03-05 | Maplewood |
| Bjorn Bronas | G | 2007-02-25 | Sartell |
Sioux Falls Stampede (2)
| Brent Solomon | F | 2007-01-02 | Champlin |
| Ryder Betzold | F | 2007-03-31 | Farmington |
Tri-City Storm (7)
| Carson Pilgrim | F | 2006-02-20 | Warroad |
| Mason Jenson | F | 2007-03-10 | Rogers |
| *Luca Jarvis | F | 2008-11-15 | Stillwater |
| Ashton Dahms | F | 2005-02-13 | Lakeville |
| Bode Laylin | D | 2007-11-17 | St. Michael |
| Maxwell Dessner | D | 2009-04-26 | Eden Prairie |
| Luka Rohloff | D | 2006-10-06 | Grand Rapids |
USA Hockey NTDP (14)
| Wyatt Cullen | F | 2008-09-08 | Moorhead |
| Sammy Nelson | F | 2008-09-19 | Maple Grove |
| Michael Berchild | F | 2008-02-16 | Excelsior |
| Parker Trottier | F | 2008-02-13 | Edina |
| Victor Plante | F | 2008-03-10 | Hermantown |
| Nolan Fitzhenry | F | 2009-02-10 | Andover |
| Freddie Schneider | F | 2009-02-16 | Edina |
| AJ Francisco | D | 2008-01-10 | Hermantown |
| Logan Lutner | D | 2008-02-21 | Maple Grove |
| Easton Johnson | D | 2009-07-30 | Luverne |
| Beck Thoreson | D | 2009-12-30 | Moorhead |
| Carson Scott | D | 2009-04-02 | Dayton |
| Benjamin Geiger | D | 2009-01-21 | Northfield |
| Luke Carrithers | G | 2008-01-11 | Maple Grove |
Waterloo Black Hawks (4)
| *Caz Carlson | F | 2007-12-10 | Virginia |
| Rio Treharne | F | 2007-02-05 | Minneapolis |
| Brock Schultz | F | 2005-07-10 | East Grand Forks |
| Ryan Whiterabbit | D | 2006-05-15 | Mahtomedi |
Youngstown Phantoms (3)
| Cooper Simpson | F | 2007-02-05 | Shakopee |
| Malachi McKinnon | F | 2007-01-18 | Forest Lake |
| Jayden Veney | D | 2005-08-02 | Rochester |