Minnesota girls hockey: Meet the top players in the 2023 state tournament
Photos: Minnetonka girls hockey crushes Holy Family, wins Section 2AA final
Orono girls hockey defeats Holy Angels to reach state tournament
Centennial/Spring Lake Park girls hockey upsets Maple Grove in Section 5AA final
The 2023 Minnesota girls high school hockey tournament begins on Wednesday, so we've complied a list of some the top players who have a chance at history with their teams.
These athletes will be included in a poll to vote on the top player heading into the tournament.
Vote now: Who is the top girls hockey player entering the 2023 state tournament?
There are many top players on the teams remaining, and this list is not intended to be comprehensive.
Class 1A
Kamryn Van Batavia, senior, Luverne
It's only right to start this list off with the regular season leading goal scorer. The Minnesota State commit has tailed 59 goals this season to help Luverne reach its fourth state tournament appearance in a row.
Talya Hendrickson, senior, Warroad
Warroad's first appearance on this list, but it is certainly not its last. Henderickson scored a hat-trick in the section final to get Warroad get back to the state tournament to defend its title.
Mika Cichosz, sophomore, Albert Lea
Albert Lea’s leading goal scorer with 30, Cichosz will need to step up on Wednesday if it wants to have any chance at pulling off the upset against the top seeded Warroad Warriors.
Annaliese Rader, senior, Mankato East
Rader comes into this state tournament with a 1.21 goals against average along with an impressive .945 save percentage. The Cougar goaltender did not allow a single goal throughout the section tournament.
McKenzie Keller, senior, Mankato East
Back to back entries for Mankato East, this time it's the forwards getting some love. Keller leads the Cougars in goals and assists, and she comes into this state tournament on a six-game point streak.
Maddie Hulter, senior, Fergus Falls
With 31 goals and 30 assists, the Otters' leader in points balanced style of play has helped Fergus Falls get back to the state tournament for the first time since 2019.
Rylee Bartz, senior, Warroad
Minnesota's leading point getter has amassed nearly 100 points this season as she looks to lead Warroad to its second state championship in a row.
Celia Dahl, senior, Orono
The backbone of Orono’s hockey team stands between the pipes. The senior goaltender posted a shutout in the section championship to punch the Spartans' ticket to the state tournament.
Photo by Jeff Lawler
Kate Stephens, senior, Warroad
That's four entries now for the Warriors, but it's four well deserved entries. The Warroad goaltender shut out Crookston in the section final to get Warroad to the state tournament.
Zoe Lopez, sophomore, Orono
The Spartans second entry on this list, Lopez leads the team in goals and assists and will look to help Orono get past the semifinals this year, something the Spartans failed to do last year.
Hannah Graves, junior, Proctor/Hermantown
Graves has amassed 35 points on the season for Proctor/Hermantown. Graves scored the game-winning goal for Proctor/Hermantown in the section final to help them reach the state tournament.
Class 2A
Ella Boerger, senior, Andover
The first entry from the defending Class 2A champions, Boerger leads the Huskies in points with 73. Boerger will look to help Andover capture its second state championship in as many years.
Cara Sajevic, senior, Gentry Academy
Gentry Academy's leading point getter has tallied an even 70 points on the year. The University of St. Thomas commit helped Gentry upset top seeded Hill-Murray with two goals in the span of 20 seconds.
Photo by Garrett Super
Sophie Stramel, sophomore, Rosemount
Though not one of the state top goals scored on the year, Stramel still deserves a mention on this list. The sophomore scored two goals in the section final including the game winner in double overtime to punch Rosemount's ticket to the Xcel Energy Center.
Addison Bowlby, junior, Lakeville North
The Panthers leading goal scorer comes into the state tournament on fire after putting up nine points in the section tournaments, including a six-goal game against Rochester-Mayo.
Grace Delmonico, senior, Gentry Academy
The second entry for Gentry Academy on this list, Delmonico has tallied over 60 points on the season to help Gentry Academy reach its third-straight tournament. Delmonico and Sajevic on the same line has been a problem for opposing teams this entire season, and it is part of the reason Gentry Academy only has two losses on its record.
Bria Holm, senior, Moorhead
Holm has scored over 20 goals on the seasons and is currently playing her best hockey as she amassed six points in the Spuds three section games. The senior captain will look to help Moorhead make some noise in this state tournament.
Kate Johnson, senior, Warroad
The third Warroad entry on this list, Johnson has tailed 88 points on the season to help Warroad reach the state tournament. The ridiculously stacked trio of Johnson, Bartz and Hendrickson is a nightmare matchup for all teams heading into this tournament
Ava Lindsay, senior, Minnetonka
The top point getter for the number one seed in the girls AA bracket scored a hat trick in the section quarterfinals to help the skipper get past New Prague. The gopher commit will look to help get her team back to the state championship.
Photo by Jeff Lawler
Lauren O’hara, senior, Centennial/Spring Lake Park
The Centennial/Spring Lake Park forward has far and away the most points for the Cougars. O’hara had three points in the section semifinal and will need to have a huge game if the Cougars want to upset Minnetonka in the opening round.
Ashlyn Hazlett, sophomore, Minnetonka
Layla Hemp, sophomore, Minnetonka
It's not often that you have two starting caliber goaltenders on your team. Both Hemp and Hazlett have allowed fewer than one goal per game for the skippers. In fourteen starts for Minnetonka, Hemp has a perfect 14-0 record. Hazlett on the other hand is allowing fewer goals per game than hemp. Both players deserve an entire on this list no matter who gets the start on Thursday.
Uma Corniea, senior, Edina
The first goaltender to appear on this list might just be the best. Corniea boasts the states best save percentage at .958 and will have momentum leading into the state tournament after shutting out Blake in the section championship
Courtney Stagman, senior, Andover
The goalie has an impressive 1.11 goals against average and has started every single minute of hockey Andover has played this year. Stagman will look to get her second state championship in as many years.
Hannah Halverson, junior, Edina
Rounding out this list is the leading point getter for the No. 3-seeded Edina Hornets. Halverson had three points in the section semifinals against Benilde-St Margaret's and will look to continue her momentum against Lakeville North on Thursday.
