The allegation became public knowledge in May after Hockey Canada settled a lawsuit with a woman who said she was sexually assaulted by eight Canadian Hockey League players, including members of the 2018 World Junior team, in London, Ont., in June 2018.
Jens Richards was a standout for two seasons with the Northstar Christian Academy team in Alexandria, then for two seasons with the Austin Bruins. On Friday, he accomplished another goal by committing to play Division I college hockey at the University of Vermont.
Zach Wiese carried on the Rochester Grizzlies' tradition of strong goaltending in the 2021-22 season, leading the franchise to its first-ever Fraser Cup championship, as postseason champions of the North American 3 Hockey League. Now he's made more franchise history, becoming the first Grizzlies player to commit to a Division I college. And it's not just any D1 program. It's the home-state University of Minnesota.
Rochester native Mike Aikens has guided the Anchorage Wolverines to the North American Hockey League's Robertson Cup, the league's final four tournament, in the franchise's first year of existence. He's done it with some names familiar to southeastern Minnesota hockey fans: Albert Lea's Campbell Cichosz, a Minnesota State commit, and former Rochester Grizzlies Collin Pederson (an Owatonna native) and Shane Soderwall.
Laurila, a 15-year-old defenseman, is one of seven Minnesota-born players to make the roster but he's also the rare bantam player who has made the leap to the national development team.
The Austin Bruins took a two-goal lead into the third period of an NAHL playoff game Friday night, against a team that they had beaten eight out of 12 times this year. The Bruins lost that lead and Game 1 of the best-of-5 series against Aberdeen.
Former Rochester Mayo and Shattuck St. Mary's standout hockey player Maddox Fleming is excelling with the USHL's Sioux Falls Stampede this spring. The Notre Dame commit could also be selected in July's NHL Draft.
Tyler Haskins is nearly a point-per-game player for the Madison Capitols in the USHL this season. The Rochester native and University of Michigan commit hopes to hear his name called in the NHL Draft in July.
