Kuhlman, Michaud, and Pionk Make 54 Player Minnesota High Performance Hockey Cuts

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Apr 17, 2012

Kerry Rodd-NSO

Previously known as Minnesota Selects, the Minnesota High Performance Hockey Series was played this past weekend in Plymouth, Minnesota with four players from the Cloquet-Esko-Carlton hockey program participating along with three local players from Section 5A.

Karson Kuhlman, Justin Ketola, Westin Michaud and Drew Dincau all played on the Section 7A/7AA boys team which finished as the runner-up in the three game tournament to Section 6A/AA. The four were chosen from a group of 320 to participate in the series.

In their opening game Kuhlman led the team with a two-goal and one assist performance as Section 7A/AA downed Section 1A/AA 9-1. Ketola finished with 12 saves on 13 shots.

Game two saw Michaud pick up two assists and Ketola make 13 saves en-route to a 4-3 win over Section 5A/AA.

On Sunday the 7A/AA team lost 5-3 to Section 6A/AA 5-3, but Kuhlman drew a penalty in the game and then scored on a penalty shot as Ketola made 12 of 14 saves.

Neil Pionk and Chris Benson of Hermantown along with Jeremy Lopez of Proctor played on the Section 5A/AA team and helped the Section 5A to a 2-1 record. Pionk scored two goals and picked up an assist; Lopez added a goal and an assist while Benson tallied two assists.

The 8 teams that played in the tournament were pared down to 54 players and three teams which play April 20-22 at the Plymouth Ice Center. Two of the games will be within their age-group and the third game will be a crossover game with 16’s playing 17’s.

Making the cut to 54 players were Kuhlman and Michaud from CEC, who will be joined by Pionk of Hermantown, who will be representing Section 5A.

Eventually from that number, only 20-25 players will be invited back to play in New York state in the National Select 16/17 camps operated by USA Hockey.

Kerry Rodd can be reached at kerry@northlandsportsonline.com