Casey Mittelstadt is the high school boys' hockey national player of the year, USA Today announced Tuesday.
The Eden Prairie star and Gophers recruit earned the All-USA Player of the Year honor for the second straight year after closing out his prep career with a standout senior season. Mittelstadt scored 23 goals and had 49 assists while leading his team back to the state tournament for a chance at redemption.
Grand Rapids coach Trent Klatt, a former Gophers star and NHL forward who spent time with the North Stars, was named USA Today's national coach of the year. The Thunderhawks won the Class 2A state title for the program's first championship since 1980.
Mittelstadt and the Eagles lost in the Class 2A state semifinals to Klatt and Grand Rapids. Eden Prairie finished third, and Mittelstadt scored his 82nd and final high school goal in that consolation game.
JASON GONZALEZ
