Feature Story
From the state tournament to the USHL
By
Jon Garver
For many in the state of Minnesota, the most anticipated time of year is a four-day stretch in
early March, when 16 of the state’s best teams converge on the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul for the chance to hoist a state championship trophy. The
Minnesota State High School Hockey Tournament, going strong since the 1940’s,
annually sets records for attendance and is one of the premier amateur sporting
events in the nation.
Throughout the country, former high
school players from the state of Minnesota routinely check in during this time, seeing which schools
will have the honor of taking home the state’s holy grail of hockey. The USHL
is one of these places, featuring a healthy number of players who at one time
played high school hockey in the state – there are more players from Minnesota in the USHL than any other state. A few of these players
know the thrill of playing in the state tournament, and fewer still can call
themselves state champions.
Waterloo’s Nick Larson (not to be confused with the former
Hill-Murray standout of the same name that played with the Omaha Lancers last
season) is one of those players. The Apple Valley native is a rookie with the Black Hawks and one of those
aforementioned former state champions. Larson was a member of the St. Thomas Academy team that claimed the Class A
title in 2006. Looking back, the experience was obviously at the top of his
career highlight reel.
“It was amazing being able to play in
front of my family and friends. The state tournament was the best experience of
my life,” Larson said. “I accomplished with my teammates a dream of all hockey
players from Minnesota. It’s great to be able to say, ‘We won it all.’”
Larson and his Cadets teammates returned
to the tournament last season, but were unable to accomplish the repeat,
falling in the semifinals to Duluth Marshall. Chosen by Waterloo in the 2006 USHL Futures Draft, Larson punched his ticket to
the USHL when he finished 2006-07 with 50 points in 31 games.
As a rookie in Waterloo, Larson has appeared in 47 of 50 games to date, scoring 13
goals and 23 points. He was chosen to represent the United States at the World Junior A Challenge in
Trail, British Columbia in November, and participated in the 2008 USHL
Prospects/All-Star Game in January. It appears that the USHL agrees with
Larson.
“I really like how great the talent is.
The league has helped me become a better player. It has also helped me to grow
up a little because I am away from my family,” Larson said.
Larson has yet to make a selection for
his college hockey days, but there’s little doubt that his career is only just
beginning. When the NHL released their mid-term rankings for the 2008 draft, Larson
was one of 24 USHL players who made the list. He was ranked 53rd among North American
skaters, meaning he could be an early round pick when draft day arrives in
June.
“It was a great feeling to see my name on
the list with a bunch of other great players. It showed me that my hard work is
paying off and that I should keep working hard,” Larson said.
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