Grand Forks Herald's Top 12 players to watch in area high school boys hockey in 2023-24
Nov. 24—GRAND FORKS — East Grand Forks Senior High and Warroad both enter the boys hockey season with high expectations and Minnesota Section 8A clashes between the two should be entertaining.
The high-end talent on both rosters is reflected in the Herald's Top 12 players to watch in the coverage area for the 2023-24 season.
Both the Green Wave and the Warriors had three players selected to the watch list.
East Grand Forks defenders Cole Bies and Grady Magner made the list, along with teammate Brock Schultz, who has returned to East Grand Forks this winter after playing in the USHL this fall.
Warroad also received a big name back in high school hockey as UND commit Carson Pilgrim lands on the watch list, along with teammates Murray Marvin-Cordes and Ryan Lund.
Grand Forks Red River landed Grant Gardner and Mason Ray on the list, while Central's Mack Blue is also on the list.
The players are listed in alphabetical order.
Max Arlt, Thief River Falls: The senior was an all-Minnesota Section 8A third team forward last year after scoring 22 goals and adding 26 assists.
Mack Blue, GF Central: As a sophomore, Blue was fifth on the Knights in scoring with six goals and six assists last season.
Cole Bies, EGF Senior High: The junior defender was an all-Minnesota Section 8A second team pick last season after scoring seven goals and adding 10 assists as a sophomore.
Grant Gardner, GF Red River: The senior forward scored 13 goals and had 34 assists as a junior.
Gavin Jensen, Roseau: The senior scored 13 goals and dished out 39 assists as a junior last season.
Ryan Lund, Warroad: The 6-foot-3 defender, who played with the Fargo Force after last high school season, had 47 points with 18 goals last year and was an all-Minnesota Section 8A first team pick.
Grady Magner, EGF Senior High: The senior was East Grand Forks' leading scorer at the blue line last season with 10 goals and nine assists, leading to all-Minnesota Section 8A second team honors.
Murray Marvin-Cordes, Warroad: The senior emerged last season with 25 goals and 53 points for the Warriors, who finished runner-up in the Minnesota Class A state playoffs.
Carson Pilgrim, Warroad: The UND hockey commit had 52 goals and 92 points last year. Pilgrim has experience with the U.S. National U17 team and Tri-City Storm in the USHL.
Mason Ray, GF Red River: The 6-foot, 220-pound senior defenseman was an all-EDC pick last season. He had six goals and 16 assists as the leading scorer for the Riders on the blue line.
Brock Schultz, EGF Senior High: After spending time with the Waterloo Black Hawks of the USHL this fall, Schultz has returned to East Grand Forks, where he scored 21 goals and 42 points last season as a junior.
Noah Urness, Roseau: The St. Cloud State signee scored 45 goals and 86 points last season. He spent 18 games with the Cranbrook Bucks of the BCHL and scored 11 goals and had three assists before returning to Roseau.
