Kevin Kurtt

The State of Hockey Players

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Last Updated on Thursday, 12 July 2012 17:31

By Kevin Kurtt
Let’s Play Hockey Editor

Pick up nearly any issue of Let’s Play Hockey and you’ll see various lists of Minnesotans in various levels of hockey.

Upon compiling those lists, it became incredibly clear the sheer volume of hockey players that Minnesota produces on an annual basis to numerous hockey leagues is staggering.

Without taking into account the thousands upon thousands of youth, high school, club and recreational hockey players that exist throughout the state, Minnesota develops an amazing number of elite hockey players.

From our calculations, there are 1,466 Minnesotans currently playing hockey at the pro, college and junior  level in North America and Europe.

The Minnesota Wild got it right – this state really is the State of Hockey. The impact that Minnesota has on hockey throughout the nation is staggering. One look at the numbers proves it.

For the current hockey season, 47 Minnesotans have played at least one game in the National Hockey League, while 42 have suited up in the American Hockey League. Another 59 have played in one of the other minor hockey leagues in North America, while 21 women are currently playing pro hockey, bringing the total number of Minnesota natives playing pro hockey in the U.S. and Canada to 169.

In addition, 64 Minnesotans have taken to the ice in one of the numerous professional hockey leagues in Europe, Asia and Australia.

College hockey leagues have seen 844 men and women from Minnesota suit up for their respective school, including 326 in Division I and 518 in Division III. The numerous junior hockey leagues in the U.S. and Canada boast 389 Minnesota natives on their rosters.

And the numbers will only continue to grow. At last summer’s NHL Entry Draft, 15 Minnesotans were selected by various NHL teams, including four picks in the first three rounds. The NHL Central Scouting Service’s midterm rankings for the 2012 Entry Draft list 20 more Minnesota natives who have a decent shot at hearing their name called this June.

This season alone, 96 players that call Minnesota home have made commitments to a Division I hockey program. That total will surely increase as the season progresses, and does not take into account the incredible number of Minnesotans that wind up playing hockey at a Division III institution.

On top of all of that, colleges and universities in the North Star State produce substantial number of non-Minnesotan professional hockey players. This season, 70 former Minnesota collegiate players have played pro hockey, including 12 in the NHL.

Finally, a good number of Minnesotans have won major pro and college hockey awards. At the top of the list are the 29 Minnesotans who have their name inscribed on the Stanley Cup (37 times). In the college ranks, seven Minnesota men have won the Hobey Baker Memorial Award, while one Minnesota woman received the Patty Kazmaier Award.

Sure, Canada will continue to be the major supplier of players to North America’s various hockey leagues, but Minnesota’s contribution to the sport has been immense. Not only is Minnesota the State of Hockey. It’s also the State of Hockey Players.

Check out the lists below of Minnesotans in hockey and let us know if we missed anybody be e-mailing us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

2011-12 Minnesota-Grown Pros

2011-12 Minnesota-Grown Collegians

2011-12 Minnesota-Grown College Commitments

2011-12 Minnesota-Grown Juniors

Minnesotans on the Stanley Cup/Minnesota-Grown Award Winners

Minnesota in Hockey: By the Numbers