Merit Based Exposure

(Photos by Brianna Burnham of 734 Visuals / available for purchase here)

The Upper Midwest High School Elite League is proud to have five current Division I committed athletes throughout its six Minnesotan rosters. Over the past few weeks, three Elite League skaters have announced their college commitments and it can be assumed that even more will be coming over the next two months. 

Here are some of the reasons why these high-level athletes decided to stay and play high school hockey and to skate in the Elite League instead of leaving to pursue other opportunities in junior hockey. 

“Talking with my teammates and coaches here at Rogers, we know we are going to have another special group and being a leader of the team and community is something I’ve been wanting to be since being a mite … the Elite League gave me the chance to be home for part of my senior year and prepare for the high school season,” says Rogers senior Brock Cheslock, who recently committed to Augustana. “After this past season at Rogers and being the first group to punch a ticket to the ‘X’ (the Xcel Energy Center, now recently renamed Grand Casino Arena) was super special. But getting to the ‘X’ and winning a state championship are two different things. I wanted another shot at the title.”

“I decided to stay my senior year for the opportunity to win a state championship with the friends I have grown up with. As a kid, playing for the Hornets was always my dream, and I don’t think I could ever pass it up.” adds Edina senior defensemen Sam Peckham, who is committed to Cornell. “I also decided to stay back because of the extra year of development at Edina/Elite League before entering junior hockey. I am extremely excited to play junior and college hockey, but playing for the Hornets and attending EHS is something I’ll never get back.”

Ethan Sturgis, a senior forward at Minnetonka who is committed to Dartmouth, says that “I decided to stay because I wanted to play one more year of hockey with my hometown buddies. My hope is to be holding the state championship trophy at the 'X'."

Two of the five committed athletes are juniors competing in the Elite League this season in Spencer Anderson of Thief River Falls and Max Cullen of Moorhead. 

“I decided to play in Elite League because I feel it’s the best place for me to keep developing and growing as a player. I also wanted to play high school hockey again because I really enjoy representing my hometown and playing with my buddies,” said Anderson, who recently committed to Miami (OH), after leading the Prowlers in scoring in 2024-25. 

“The combination of Elite League and HS hockey is awesome for development. You get to play over 50 games and get to live in your home town. After winning the state championship last year, and having that experience, we want to try to do it again,” said Spuds forward Max Cullen, who committed to Minnesota Duluth in September. 

Clearly, these athletes feel strongly about their decisions to stay home and play high school hockey while sharpening their skills in the Elite League. 

You can catch these skaters over the next few weeks at the New Hope Ice Arena with the full 2025 Elite League schedule here before their high school season starts this winter.