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Diamonds of the ice, part two: The best players in the history of the boys' hockey state tournament

By DAVID LA VAQUE and LOREN NELSON, Star Tribune staff writers, 03/05/19, 6:15AM CST

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From Roseau to Rochester, the Star Tribune's top performers, No. 50 through 26, when it mattered most.

Salute to 75 years of state tournament excellence

When we left off Monday, No. 51 on the list of top state performers was Grand Rapids defenseman Bill Baker.

No. 50? Read on.

By the time the puck drops Wednesday morning at Xcel Energy Center, all of the Star Tribune’s Top 75 players in boys’ hockey state tournament history will be disclosed heading into the sport’s diamond anniversary tournament.

After reading here about the middle 25 -- No. 50 through 26 -- look for the top 25 on Tuesday evening here on the Hockey Hub.

How we arrived at and ranked our 75: A review of tournament record holders, annual team champions and individual scoring leaders, plus conversations with long-tenured boys’ hockey coaches.

State tournament participation was a must. So apologies to a few greats unable to crack this list.

Not that their omission made the job easier. State tournaments back to 1945, full of great hockey players and performances, made whittling names tough. Our list, with photos mostly found in the Star Tribune archives, is certain to enlighten and possibly enrage you.

OK, back to the countdown:


























Next up: The top 25

The countdown continues Tuesday evening when the top 25 state tournament performers will be released on the Hockey Hub.

In case you missed it: Read about players No. 75 through No. 51 in the Star Tribune's ranking of top state tournament performers.

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