MINNEAPOLIS — It roughly the same time as future Minnesota Gophers forward Connor Kurth was packing for Colorado, where he will be honored by USA Hockey at the national governing body’s Annual Congress next week, he learned of another honor coming his way from the United States Hockey League.
The USHL announced its all-league teams this week, with Kurth and future Gophers teammate Luke Mittelstadt making the list of the Tier I junior league’s best players.
Mittelstadt, a defenseman for the Madison Capitols, was named to the All-USHL first team after leading his team offensively this season as they marched all the way to the Clark Cup final. In 60 games for the Capitols, Mittelstadt posted 19 goals and 36 assists and was named the USHL’s defenseman of the week four times.
Originally from Eden Prairie, he will be following the lead of his older brother Casey, now with the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres, who played for the Gophers in Don Lucia’s final season as their head coach.
Kurth, who made his way to junior hockey after playing for Gentry Academy on the AAA level, was named to the All-USHL second team after leading the Dubuque Fighting Saints with 81 points in 62 games and contributing nearly half of the Saints’ power play offense.
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Honored by USA Hockey as their national junior hockey player of the year, Kurth also competed in the 2022 Bio-Steel All American Game and is slated to join the Gophers this fall.
The full list of those honored by the USHL is available on the league website.
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