Rather than focus exclusively on the Minnesota Wild’s top prospects, we’re taking a look at the best players from across the State of Hockey every week.
From high school to the pros, check out our recap of all the week’s events in Minnesota hockey, as we check in with college players, prep standouts and State of Hockey alums.
Let’s take a look at this week’s three-star selection, along with other notes, in the latest edition of the State of Hockey Tracker.
FIRST STAR
Mikey Eyssimont, F, St. Cloud State (NCHC)
Eyssimont appeared in his 100th career game over the weekend, leading the Huskies to a two-game sweep of conference rival Nebraska Omaha. He scored the go-ahead goal in a 5-2 win Friday, then posted a career-high three points Saturday. The junior assisted on SCSU's first goal and scored their second in the first period, then assisted on the game-winner to help the Huskies to a 6-2 win. A fifth-round pick of the Los Angeles Kings in 2016, Eyssimont ranks second on the team in scoring with 28 points (11 goals, 17 assists) in 25 games, while the Huskies trail conference leader Denver by just three points.
SECOND STAR
Dmitry Sokolov, F, Barrie Colts (OHL)
Sokolov's stock has soared since the Sudbury Wolves traded their star scorer to the Colts on Jan. 10. He has 21 points in 11 games since the deal, including eight multi-point games and three multi-goal games. A point per game player throughout his Wolves career, Sokolov has nearly doubled his output. He scored his 30th goal of the season over the weekend, and now has 59 points in 46 games. A seventh-round pick of the Wild in 2016, the 19-year-old was once slated to go in the first round before concerns about his conditioning reportedly tanked his draft stock. Now on pace for his best OHL season yet, Sokolov may yet prove his critics wrong.
THIRD STAR
Louie Belpedio, D, Miami (NCHC)
Belpedio had back-to-back multi-point games over the weekend, helping the RedHawks to a split with Western Michigan. The senior captain scored his first goal since Jan. 12 and added an assist Friday to help Miami to a 4-2 win, then registered a pair of assists Saturday in a 3-2 loss. Belpedio has two points in each of his last three games, and ranks third in the nation (and second in the NCHC) amongst defensemen with 26 points (9 goals, 17 assists) in 26 games.
AROUND THE RINK
-- Sam Anas' (Wild, undrafted) AHL breakout continues. He's up to 37 points in 41 games after scoring a goal and adding an assist in the Wild's 8-0 win over the Bakersfield Condors.
-- Jordan Greenway (Wild, 2nd round, 2015) is off to Pyeongchang to represent the United States. He scored Friday in Boston University's win over UMass, then had an assist Monday in the Terriers' double overtime win over Harvard in the semifinals of the Beanpot Tournament.
-- Jake Jaremko is having quite the freshman season at Minnesota State. He had two goals and two assists to lead the Mavericks to a sweep of Alaska Anchorage over the weekend. The rookie ranks second in the nation amongst freshmen with 29 points (10 goals, 19 assists) in 28 games.
