From State of Hockey to Frozen 4

Written by Jackson Bolin

For the first time since 2016, the Minnesota-based team is not playing for a national title in Frozen 4. However, Boston University, University of Michigan, University of Denver, and Boston University will all compete for college hockey's top prize inside the Xcel Energy Center in downtown St. Paul. Despite the absence of Minnesota schools this weekend, his state hockey roots run deep with his four teams. Minnesota has seven skaters and one staff member from Minnesota. So if you've been looking for some local angle this weekend, look no further.

Will Traeger – Mendota Heights, Minnesota

Will Traeger, 21, is 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs 172 pounds from Mendota Heights, Minn., but played U14, U16 and prep hockey for Shattuck St. Mary's. Traeger played one U18 prep season with SSM, posting a 23-25-48 record in 46 games, good enough to be drafted by the NAHL's Minnesota Wilderness. He went 6-19-25 in two seasons with the Wilderness. The next step in Traeger's hockey journey was with the NCDC's Jersey Hitmen. He had a great season with the Hitmen, posting 10 wins, 32 losses, and 42 draws in 46 games, including five goals in the playoffs. Traeger, a center, appeared in five games and scored one point during his freshman season at Boston College. He started eight games this season as a sophomore.

Emmett Marvin – Warroad, Minnesota

Boston University also has ties to Minnesota, with Emmett Marvin being the Eagles' dean of students. Marvin is from Warroad, Minnesota and played on his high school team. Marvin played for the national team for three years and scored seven goals. Marvin is a third-year student at the University of BC, graduating in 2025, studying communications and a minor in leadership and management. He has been working with the hockey team since 2021.

Josh Eernisse – Eastview, MN

Josh Arnisse is a sophomore forward at the University of Michigan, but his hockey career began in Minnesota. Ehrnisse played high school hockey at Eastview from 2017 to 2020, compiling a 39-27-66 record in three seasons. He chose to forego his senior season and play for the Tri-City Storm of the USHL. Ehrnisse played two seasons with the Storm, compiling a 10-14-24 record in 85 games. Elnice originally committed to play at the University of St. Thomas, where he played his freshman year. He scored 14 goals for the Tommies in the 2022-23 season before he transferred to Michigan. This season, Ehrnisse has played in all 40 games with a record of 8 wins, 6 losses, and 14 losses.

Garrett Sifsky – Andover, Minnesota

Garrett Sifsky, 21, is a freshman centerman at the University of Michigan, standing 5-foot-9 and weighing 174 pounds. He is a native of Andover, Minn., and played three seasons for the Huskies in high school. Szyvsky compiled a record of 52-46-98 in three seasons at Andover. He chose to forego his senior year and play for the Waterloo Blackhawks of the USHL. He played two seasons with the Blackhawks, serving as team captain for the second half. Szyvsky went 58-42 and scored 100 points in just over two years with the Blackhawks. In his freshman year, Szyvsky posted a 16-18-34 record in 40 games with the Wolverines.

Jackson Hulme – Eagan, Minnesota

Wow! So dirty! @SCTop10 pic.twitter.com/lk0y8PkU1N

— Michigan Hockey (@umichhockey) October 28, 2023

The Wolverines' third player from Minnesota is 6-foot, 170-pound 21-year-old Jackson Hulme. Hulme was drafted in the 2020 NHL third round by the Vegas Golden Knights. Hulme played high school hockey at St. Thomas Academy, where he played all four years. He had an impressive prep hockey career, going 46-58-104 in just 96 games. Hulme was drafted into the USHL by the Green Bay Gamblers, the team he spent two years with after high school. Hulme was even more successful, posting 35 wins, 47 losses, and 82 losses in 77 games with the Gamblers. Hulme's freshman season at the University of Michigan was in 2022-23, where he posted a 6-11-17 record with the Wolverines. Hulme is currently in his sophomore season, playing in nine games and recording three wins, five losses, and eight draws.

Tristan Broz – Bloomington, Minnesota

Denver features two skaters from the Hockey State, one of whom is Tristan Broz. Broz, 21, is 6-foot, 183 pounds and is in his junior year at the University of Denver. The Pittsburgh Penguins selected him in the second round of the 2021 NHL Draft. Broz got his break in high school when he played hockey for two of his seasons. He went 49-56-105 in just 50 games at the prep level, good enough to get the attention of the USHL. Broz was drafted by the Fargo Force and spent three seasons with Fargo, compiling a record of 34-56-90 in 108 games. The Bloomington native originally attended the University of Minnesota, where he played one season and compiled a 6-5-11 record in 36 games. Broz arrived in Colorado to play in Denver in 2022 and entered the transfer portal. Broz went 10-18-28 in 40 games with the Pioneers as a sophomore. He has a record of 15-24-39 this year, including a big goal in the Pioneers' quarterfinal game.

Jared Wright – Burnsville, Minnesota

Jared Wright, 21, is a 6-foot-3, 183-pound native of Burnsville, Minnesota, who is in his sophomore season at the University of Denver. Wright was selected by the Los Angeles Kings in the sixth round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. Wright played high school hockey at St. Thomas Academy and played three years with the Tommies. He played in 71 games at St. Thomas Academy with a record of 26-48-74 before playing in the USHL his senior season out of high school. Wright played one season with the Omaha Lancers, compiling a 15-19-34 record in 59 games. The next step was college hockey. During his freshman season, he appeared in 34 games and scored 12 points and was part of the Pioneers NCHC Regular Season Championship. He played in 42 games with Denver this season, posting a record of 14 wins, 10 losses, and 24 draws.

Jack Harvey – Stacy, Minnesota

The last team in the Frozen Four was Boston University, which defeated local team Minnesota in the quarterfinals. BU has a Minnesota native, Jack Harvey, on this year's team. Harvey, 21, is 5-foot-10 and weighs 176 pounds. He was selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the seventh round of the 2023 NHL Draft. Harvey played junior hockey at Gentry Academy, but did not play high school hockey, instead playing in the USHL. Harvey was selected by the Chicago Steel in the USHL Draft and played four seasons with the Steel, winning the Clark Cup in 2021. Harvey played in 174 games with the Steelers, posting a 75-65-140 record and was also a member of the U.S. U18 National Team. Harvey is nearing the end of his freshman season at Boston College, with a 7-8-15 record in 19 games with the Terriers.