It seems they've been tagging after each other their whole lives growing up in the suburbs of Minneapolis playing in the same Squirt Division at 8 years old, but Panthers prospects Kyle Rau and Nick Bjugstad wouldn't have it any other way.
While Rau has remained a squirt-like height of 5-foot-8 compared to Bjugstad's 6-6 frame, that hasn't prevented the feisty Eden Prairie legend from following in his pal's humongous footsteps.
A year after Bjugstad was crowned Minnesota's Mr. Hockey while playing for Blaine High, Rau earned the prestigious title in 2011. Rau capped his high school career with a diving goal in the third overtime to beat East Duluth for his team's second state Class 2A title in three seasons.