14 players to watch in the Section 1 boys hockey playoffs (2024)

The Section 1 tournament isn’t usually a bracket that draws the eyes of hockey fans around the state, but this year isn’t a usual year.

Five of the state’s top 10 scorers call Section 1 home, including four of the top seven goal scorers. Three of them — La Crescent-Hokah’s Wyatt Farrell and Noah Gillette, and Winona’s Teis Larsen — will be on the same sheet of ice in Thursday’s quarterfinal game at La Crescent Community Ice Arena.

Here is a look at the top players to watch — in alphabetical order — in the Section 1, Class 1A and Section 1, Class 2A playoffs, which begin this week:

Maya Giron / Post Bulletin file photo

• Wyatt Farrell, Sr., forward, La Crescent-Hokah: The senior sharpshooter leads the state in goals (48) and points (86) this season. He enters the postseason four goals away from tying the state’s all-time record for career goals of 196, set by Little Falls’ Ben Hanowski in 2009. Farrell has seven hat tricks and 14 multi-goal games for the third-seeded Lancers, who set a program record this season with 23 wins so far.

Maya Giron / Post Bulletin

• Gryff Funke, Sr., forward, Dodge County: The older half of Dodge County’s dynamic offensive duo, Funke is in his fourth season on the varsity and has a team-best 39 goals (seventh in the state) this winter, to go along with 67 points (ninth in the state). Funke is a threat to score from anywhere inside the offensive blue line, either with his shot or his ability to get to the net.

• Noah Gillette, Sr., forward, La Crescent-Hokah: The senior transfer from Onalaska is third in the state in goals (43) and fourth in points (78), but second on his own team in both categories, behind his linemate Wyatt Farrell. Gillette has given the Lancers a second threat to score from anywhere in the offensive zone. He opened the season with three hat tricks in the first six games, and he has six total this season.

• Kam Kaiser, Sr., forward, Northfield: He’s the third-leading scorer on the No. 1-seeded Raiders (48 points), but two-thirds of those points are from his team-leading 32 goals. Kaiser is absolutely lethal on the power play, where he has scored 14 of those goals. He enters the postseason with 102 career goals.

Post Bulletin file photo

• Teis Larsen, Sr., forward, Winona: The veteran forward has quietly worked his way into the conversation as one of the state’s best scorers this winter, entering the postseason with 42 goals (tied fourth-most in the state), 39 assists (fifth in the state) and 81 points (second in the state). Larsen has been absolutely dominant down the stretch, with three or more points in seven of the past nine games. That includes a six-point game against Mankato East and five-point games against Red Wing and Worthington.

Post Bulletin file photo

• Peyton Loeslie, Sr., forward, Lourdes: The four-year varsity forward has been a leader in all facets for the No. 5-seeded Eagles (9-16-0). Loeslie leads the Eagles in goals (17) and points (35). He’s heated up down the stretch, too, with five goals and eight points in the past five games.

• Brett Ludvigsen, Jr., forward, Dodge County: The younger half of the Wildcats’ dynamic duo, Ludvigsen leads the team in assists (44) and points (71). His assists total leads the entire state, while his points total ranks sixth. Ludvigsen quietly drew raves last fall for his performance in the Upper Midwest High School Elite League, where he recorded eight points in 19 games. A gifted shooter, Ludvigsen has two hat tricks and seven multi-goal games this season.

• Ledger Stadheim, Jr., goalie, Albert Lea: Though Stadheim brings a slightly sub-.500 record (9-10-1) into the postseason for the No. 4-seeded Tigers, he has been strong in net all season, with a .907 save percentage and three shutouts. The junior has allowed 14 total goals in his past 10 outings.

• Owen Beyer, Sr., forward, Owatonna: Beyer, the section’s leading scorer (31 goals, 56 points), has guided the Huskies to a 17-5-3 record and the No. 4 seed in the section. The veteran playmaker, who missed all of last season with an injury, has 44 career varsity goals and 83 points. He has at least one point in 24 of Owatonna’s 25 games this season and has scored a goal in 22 of 25 games. Nine of his 31 goals have come on specialty teams — seven on the power play and two short-handed.

• Connor Dahl, Sr., forward, Mayo: The veteran skater leads the No. 7-seeded Spartans in assists (10) and points (16). Seven of those points have come in the past nine games, including the Spartans’ lone goal in a 1-1 tie against Century/John Marshall — Mayo’s opponent in Thursday’s section quarterfinals — on Feb. 8.

Maya Giron / Post Bulletin

• Aiden Emerich, Sr., forward, Century/John Marshall: The standout forward nicknamed “Doc” is the heart and soul of the Panthers offense. He leads the team in goals (22) and assists (28) and points (50), and is even more of a leader off the ice. Emerich played for the Rochester Grizzlies prior to the high school season and likely will return when the No. 2-seeded Panthers’ season comes to a close. He has 15 multi-point games this season.

• Jackson Ernst, Jr., forward, Lakeville South: Ernst had a fantastic fall in the Upper Midwest High School Elite League, scoring 14 goals and 24 points in 19 games. The 6-foot, 180-pounder has carried that momentum through the high school season, leading the five-time defending section champion Cougars in goals (21), points (35) and power-play goals (6). Ernst isn’t hampered by the pressure of the playoffs, either. He set up teammate Will Kortan for the game-winning goal in last year’s section championship game, then set up Kortan again in the state quarterfinals for a goal that pulled South within 3-2 in a loss to Andover.

Maya Giron / Post Bulletin

• Brody Josselyn, Sr., defenseman, Century/John Marshall: One of the best two-way defensem*n in the Big Nine Conference, Josselyn has nine goals and 32 points this season. He’s a constant on both specialty teams, leading the Panthers in power-play assists (6) and short-handed goals (2). He has been a steady and reliable presence for three seasons, compiling 15 goals and 61 career points.

• Will Seymour, Sr., forward, New Prague: The Trojans’ senior captain is second in the section in scoring (51 points), including 21 goals. Seymour has at least one point in 22 of No. 3-seeded New Prague’s 25 games this year, though he has been held off the scoresheet for two consecutive games. He recorded his 100th career point on Jan. 11 and topped 125 career points with a hat trick in a 5-1 win at Waconia on Feb. 8.