SENIOR D LEAD THE CHARGE

Every year, there are many high-level defensemen that choose to compete in the Upper Midwest High School Elite League. Despite having the option to go and compete in junior hockey, many defenders decide to stay in high school and to play in Elite League, which provides them the opportunity to learn how to defend against some of the best athletes in the Midwest and also a chance for them to further sharpen their offensive skills as well.

“Elite League has been such a great fit for me because of the development I’ve gained. I get plenty of high-paced games before the high school season while working on specific skills that need to be improved. Playing with other kids my age from Minnesota has also been a ton of fun,” says Tate Hardacre, a senior defensemen from Minnetonka. Hardacre currently has the most points out of all d-men on his team this season with 11 points through 16 games and he plays an integral role on the MPLS ST. PAUL Magazine roster - who currently sit at second in the overall team standings. 

“I chose to play in Elite League because I plan on playing my senior year of high school. Our team has a goal of winning the state tournament,” says Hibbing/Chisholm’s Ethan Sundvall, who currently leads all defenders in scoring in 2025. Sundvall is also third in overall scoring for TDS Transportation with his 14 points in 11 games played. “Elite League has the top competition and allows me the chance to play against some of the kids I will be competing against this (high school) season.”

“I don’t think you can get the amount of exposure to junior, college and NHL scouts week in and week out in any other league. You’re able to showcase your skill every weekend in front of many scouts and against top-tier talent,” says Rogers defenseman Jayden Kurtz. Kurtz is a part of Team APX, who sit at the top of the standings in mid-October with 22 points.

“I chose to play in the Elite League because you get to strongly develop and get better as a player (while) playing against Minnesota's best kids,” he added. The defender from Rogers has 10 points through 15 contests so far. “Playing in the Elite League has been great. You get to play with other highly talented players from different High School teams that you wouldn’t be able to play with during the High School season.”

If you haven’t been out to a game yet in New Hope, there is still plenty of time to get in on all of the action. View a full schedule of the games here. 

Elite League Mission:

Hockey Development

The High School Elite League is a proven path to critical exposure.  Colleges, Junior leagues, and professional scouts attend every one of our games.  Players can expect to receive feedback from colleges, Junior Leagues, and professional scouts regarding their own progress. 

Personal Development

The league also provides something that is less tangible than achievement, but, we believe, equally critical. The player gets to experience high school, just like everybody his age. There is merit in these regular high school activities to balance out the dedication, determination, and sometimes even stressful pressures of hockey at this Elite level of hockey.