Vote: Who should be SBLive's Minnesota High School Athlete of the Week? (1/16/2024)

Here are the candidates for the SBLive Minnesota High School Athlete of the Week for January 8-14

Read through the nominees and cast your vote. Voting will conclude Sunday at 11:59 p.m. and the winner will be announced Monday.

If you would like to make a nomination in a future week, please email athleteoftheweek@scorebooklive.com with “MNHSAW Nomination” in the subject line.

Editor’s Note: Our Athlete of the Week feature and corresponding poll is intended to be fun, and we do not set limits on how many times a fan can vote during the competition. However, we do not allow votes that are generated by script, macro or other automated means. Athletes that receive votes generated by script, macro or other automated means will be disqualified.

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Minnesota High School Athlete of the Week nominees

Landon Huber, Stillwater

The junior goalie has been on his A-game for Stillwater all year. He is fresh off a 26-save shutout against conference opponent East Ridge, marking his third win in three appearances between the pipes for the Ponies.

Blake Vanek, Stillwater

In the same game, Vanek was brilliant. Facing East Ridge in a big game for conference standings, the forward finished with three points on one goal and two assists, boasting an impressive 4 plus/minus on the night.

Boden Sampair, Hill-Murray

A hat trick in and of itself is an impressive feat, but Sampair did his team two better. The junior forward racked up five goals in a historic performance, pushing Hill-Murray to a 11-1 win over Simley.

Cooper Siegert, Shakopee

The sophomore forward is fresh off the best game of his varsity career. Sigetrt finished with five points on four goals and an assist, helping Shakopee cruise to a 10-0 win over Farmington. 

Fletcher Reinhard, Shakopee

Shakopee wasn’t just outstanding on the attack. Reinhard and the Saber defense were brilliant, allowing only 10 shots in three periods of play en route to an easy victory.

Rio Treharne, Eden Prairie

In a game in which the Eagles scored six points, Trenharne accounted for five of them. The junior forward put up two goals and three assists, helping the Eagles win 6-0 over STMA.

Isaiah Paulnock, Eden Prairie

The senior goalie had another lockdown performance against STMA. He saved 22 shots, earning his third shutout of the season and his second in a row, as he also blanked Benilde St. Margarets this past week. 

Murray Marvin-Cordes, Warroad

Marvin-Cordes took control of the Warriors’ big rivalry game over Hermantown. In a close, 4-1 bout, he scored two goals helping push his team to victory in a must-win game that likely featured two state-qualifying caliber teams. 

Ben Norris, Warroad

Another guy who played lights-out, Norris was a wall in the net, holding rival Hermantown to only one goal on 21 shots, putting his save percentage at .952 in the 4-1 win.

Steven Ranisate, Rock Ridge

Ranisate hasn’t played much yet this year, but his debut in the net this past week has been excellent. He locked in two wins, sported a save percentage north of .900 and kept Rock Ridge right in the thickets of postseason contention. 

Hagen Burrows, Minnetonka

It should be no surprise a Skipper or two would make the list this week, and Burrows was among the best of the best. The Denver-commit netted four assists in this past game against Duluth Denfeld, pushing his season total up to 18 on the year. 

Ashton Schultz, Minnetonka

Another Skipper who has been dominant of recent, Schultz has been dominant, netting seven points in his last three games versus high quality talent like Buffalo, Mahtomedi and Duluth East.

John Stout, Minnetonka

The third and final skipper to make this list, Stout may not get as much recognition as his offensive counterparts, but this defenseman has been unbelievable. The UMD commit has been outstanding, playing excellent defense as well as scoring five points in his last three games. 

Wyatt Hoepfl, River Falls

The hero of the night for the Wildcats, Hoepfl was clutch when it counted, netting the game winning goal for his team as he led them to a 3-2 overtime victory. 

Eli Farris, Albet Lea

Farris probably didn’t think his goal in the first period would be a game winner, but hockey has a funny way of working out sometimes. He was the lone scorer in his game versus Red Wing, steering his team to a 1-0 victory. 

Kyle Lappi, Rochester Century/John Marshall

Lappi and the Cougars have been on a tear lately, partially thanks to the goalie’s stellar play. Lappi blanked Rochester Mayo 5-0, and his team has been undefeated in its last four games.

Jayda Moyer, Albert Lea

Moyer has been on fire for Albert Lea all year, and earned a shutout against Red Wing in her last game. She is 7-2 on the year with an impressive .929 save percentage and four shutouts to boot. 

Lily Timmons, Stillwater

Timmons has been on fire as of late. The goalie has gone 3-1 as a starter in her last four games, which includes a recent shutout over conference-mate Mounds View/Irondale.

Ella Fowler, Lakeville South

The hero of the night, Fowler was the X-factor in her team’s most recent game against Rosemount, scoring the lone goal to lift her team to a 1-0 victory.

Claire Bronson, Lakeville South

Conversely, Claire Bronson was the unstoppable force that kept her team in the game in the first place. She saved 30 shots, shutting out Rosemount to get her team a narrow victory, Bronson’s 16th win of the season

Lizzy Hamel, Benilde-St. Margaret's

Hamel was brilliant in her most recent game against New Prague. The forwards scored five points on a hat trick and two assists, helping her team easily secure a 10-0 win.

Payton Rolli, Warroad

Facing a solid Fergus Falls team with their back against the wall, Rolli pushed her team past adversity, saving 15 of the 16 shots that came her way to earn the Warriors a 2-1 nailbiter victory.

Libby Moe, Edina

The do-it-all freshman defenseman was excellent in the Hornets’ most recent game versus Buffalo. She helped hold the Bison to only six shots on the night, scoring a goal herself to help secure the 7-0 lopsided win. 

Gale Van Dover, Princeton/Big Lake/Becker

Van Dover has been up for the challenge of protecting the net as of late, but her most recent performance against International Falls may be her best yet. She saved 23 of 24 shots, holding her opponent to only one goal in the 5-1 victory. 

Ayla Puppe, Northfield

Championing one of the best teams in the state, Puppe has been nothing short of spectacular this year. She put up five points on four goals and an assist in a win versus Owatonna, pushing her point total to a whopping 75 on the year.

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