David La Vaque has covered all but one state hockey tournament game since 2009 and has worked as a Star Tribune high school sports reporter since 2004. His favorite tournament experiences include cheering for alma mater St. Paul Johnson in 1991 and staying for most of the Apple Valley/Duluth East marathon semifinal game in 1996. Loren Nelson has covered every state tournament since 2009 as the national media editor for Sport Ngin. He attended many, many other Tourney games as a high schooler from the far northern reaches of Minnesota making the annual pilgrimage south to the old St. Paul Civic Center in the 1980s.
Our final installment of the daily all-tourney team in a 2017 state tournament that will be remembered as one of the greatest in the rich tradition of the nation's best high school event (take that, Texas football championships).
FORWARDS
Gavin Hain | Junior | Grand Rapids
The North Dakota recruit’s hat trick helped the Thunderhawks race to a 4-0 lead and will be remembered among the great performances in state title game history.
Carter Randklev | Junior | Moorhead
Spuds’ 5-7 dynamo scored another big goal to give him three in the tournament. He also up a goal with a gorgeous pass while putting the state on notice that he’ll at least be in the discussion for next year’s Mr. Hockey.
Tyler Watkins | Junior | Hermantown
Potential hat trick goal was waived off at the most inopportune of times (in double overtime while he and his teammates were deep into celebration mode), but his two goals and high energy were crucial for the Hawks.
DEFENSEMEN
Dylan Samberg | Senior | Hermantown
Massive defenseman (6-3, 195 pounds) produced a monumental goal, scoring with 20 seconds left in double overtime to vault the Hawks to their second straight Class 1A championship. Championship-winner came on the Minnesota-Duluth commit’s 10th shot.
Charlie Voller | Senior | Monticello/Annandale/Maple Lake
Doubled as a wrecking ball, dishing out a stunning nine hits on the Hawks. Also had two assists and three blocked shots.
GOALTENDER
Zach Stejskal | Junior | Grand Rapids
After splitting time in the regular season, clearly established his bonafides with yet another solid playoff performance in the most pressurized of circumstances. Wasn’t tested a lot, but stopped 24 shots to beat the sniping Spuds.