Minnesota Scene: Hockey star Casey Mittelstadt decides to play for Eden Prairie his senior season

Casey Mittelstadt, the Eden Prairie hockey star and highly touted Gophers recruit, will return for his senior year of high school hockey.

He tweeted, "One more go at the dream with the boys I grew up with" on Tuesday afternoon and confirmed his decision with the Star Tribune.

Mittelstadt plans to play with Green Bay in the United States Hockey League before and after the high school season.

The center scored 33 goals and added 47 assists last season for Eden Prairie. He has played in two state tournaments, tallying 12 points in three games last March for the runner-up Eagles.

Jason Gonzalez

The Vikings signed rookie running back C.J. Ham. An undrafted rookie from Augustana, Ham participated in last weekend's rookie minicamp at Winter Park on a tryout basis.

The Duluth native rushed for 1,097 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2015, leading the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference in both categories. To make room for Ham on their 90-man roster, the Vikings waived safety John Lowdermilk.

First baseman Alex Wojciechowski of Minnesota Duluth was named the NSIC player of the year in baseball.

He rewrote the UMD record book while leading all of NCAA Division II in home runs (31), RBI (91), runs scored (78), slugging percentage (1.036), and total bases (201).

Bob Rients of the Bulldogs was named the coach of the year.

St. Cloud State teammates Sheldon Miks and shortstop Judd Davis were picked pitcher and freshman of the year, respectively. Junior pitcher Nick Hoffard of Northern State was named newcomer of the year.

Former Minneapolis resident Paula Lynn Obanana was named to the U.S. Olympic badminton team. Obanana, who lives and trains in California, will compete in women's doubles at the Rio Games with partner Eva Lee.