Casey Mittelstadt returned to the USHL with a statement last weekend tallying six points and plus-two rating in three games for the Green Bay Gamblers. On Monday he was named the league's Player of the Week.
The forward from Eden Prairie scored two goals and had an assist in his first game back with the team since Nov. 12 and just a week after his Minnesota high school hockey state championship dreams were spoiled in the semifinals.
Eden Prairie also lost in the 2016 Class 2A state title game to Wayzata. This loss motivated Mittelstadt to return for his final year of high school hockey and a chance at redemption. The Eagles were the 2017 tournament's top seed, but fell to eventual champion Grand Rapids 3-2 in the semifinals.
Eden Prairie finished in third place and Mittelstadt won Minnesota's Mr. Hockey award.
It appears, though, the Gophers recruit and projected first-round NHL draft pick has moved on from the high school heartache.
In his second game back in the USHL on Saturday, Mittelstadt had two more assists and added another Sunday to help Green Bay complete the weekend sweep against Cedar Rapids and Madison.
He has at least one point in his last 10 USHL games and tallied 19 points (seven goals, 12 assists) during this stretch dating back to Oct. 22.
Mittelstadt finished his final high school season with 23 goals and 49 assists. He was limited to one goal, four assists in the section playoffs and one goal, two assists (including the third-place game) in the state tournament. He totaled 21 points in the postseason as a junior with five goals, seven assists in the state tournament.
Highlights from Mittelstadt's standout return to the USHL:
