If someone were to give Northland Region's 2023-24 hockey season a title, it would probably be “The Year of the Goaltender.”
There have been so many great goaltenders in this area that it's hard to know where to start.
Duluth Marshall University freshman Keiynan Smith posted a .934 save percentage and 2.15 goals-against average, and Grand Rapids sophomore Carter Casey helped the Thunderhawks advance to the Class AA semifinals.
However, manager Grant Crafton faced a dilemma all season as he added three quality netminders to his roster. The Thunderhawks' first-year coach maintained a delicate balance throughout the season, helped by the good attitude of Casey and his juniors Ryder Miskovic and Ryan Carr.
North Shore's Zach Bentler posted a remarkable season of his own with a .910 save percentage, leading the Storm to their first winning season since 2016-17.
Even if there are additional goaltender spots on the 2024 team, those are just some of the area's standout goaltenders who won't be included on the All-Area team.
Hermantown's Dane Callaway earned one of the second-team spots after being outstanding all season in net for the Hawks and leading the team to its second Class A final appearance in the past three seasons.
Duluth Denfeld's Connor Doyle wasn't on the list to have an all-area season, but the senior was a standout after injuries curtailed Hunter's offensive output. With forward John Scott suffering an upper-body injury and a relentless barrage of shots, Doyle stood on his feet to keep Denfeld competitive, posting a .914 save percentage and 2.87 goals against average.
Still Proctor's AJ Reiertz, a Frank Brimsek Award finalist, emerged as the best player in an elite group and earned the 2024 All-Area Player of the Year award. Reiertz, who returned from knee surgery in late August, posted a .942 save percentage and 1.72 goals against average this season, helping the Rails win 19 games and reach the Section 7A semifinals at Amsoil Arena.
He wasn't the only goalie on the All-Area team this season — although it looked like he might be.
Reiertz's first team is joined by Hermantown's Will Esterbrooks and River Freeman and Duluth East's Thomas Gunderson.
In addition to Doyle and Callaway, the second team includes forward Kaz Carlson of Rock Ridge and Nate Gursky of Grand Rapids.
AJ Reiertz
Clint Austin / Duluth Media Group
proctor
senior goalkeeper
- The Rails netminder wowed his team all season, posting a .942 save percentage and 1.72 goals against average, and was a finalist for the Frank Brimsek Award, given to Minnesota's top senior goaltender.
- Reiertz returned from a knee injury in late summer and posted a 14-5 record, making 46 saves in a phenomenal performance against Hermantown in a 2-1 overtime loss to the Hawks.
- Reiertz's stellar play earned him the News Tribune's All-Area Player of the Year award, making him the first Proctor player to win the award since Aaron Slattengren in 2000 and the first goaltender to win the award since Cloquet in 2002. He is the first to do so since Esco Carlton's Josh Johnson.
Will Esterbrooks
contributed
Herman Town
senior defenseman
- The big, bruising defenseman set the tone for a stingy Hawks defense that often put goaltender Dane Callaway on “vacation” this season.
- More than just a “brick wall” in front of Hermantown's net, according to coach Pat Andrews, Esterbrooks finished third on the team with 35 points and earned All-Lake Superior Conference first-team selection.
bauer murphy
contributed
grand rapids
senior defenseman
- The ThunderHawks defenseman had 12 goals and 18 assists and was named to the All-Lake Superior Conference first team.
- Murphy also assisted on Nate Girsky's buzzer-beater in the quarterfinals to defeat White Bear Lake, perhaps the most talked about goal of the state boys hockey tournament.
river freeman
contributed
Herman Town
junior forward
- Freeman led the Hawks in goals (22) and assists (27) and was key to Hermantown's midseason offensive turnaround, leading the Hawks to a runner-up finish in the Class A tournament.
- The junior forward scored the winning goal in overtime in a heated game against Mahtomedi in the state quarterfinals.
thomas gunderson
contributed
duluth east
senior forward
- The Greyhounds forward led the team with 20 goals and 43 total points, keeping the East competitive while a young defensive unit found its footing.
- The senior scored two goals and scored five points in a win over Duluth Denfeld in the Section 7AA Tournament, the first postseason meeting between the cross-town rivals since 1994.
jake garsky
contributed
grand rapids
senior forward
- The senior led the ThunderHawks in assists (26) and tied for the lead in points (39), assisting on Seth Carlson's game-winning goal in the Section 7AA Championship game against Andover.
- Gursky, an All-Lake Superior Conference first-team selection, was key to Grand Rapids' advance to the Class AA semifinals.
conor doyle
contributed
Duluth Denfeld
senior goalkeeper
- Even though injuries decimated Hunter's offense, Doyle's outstanding play in net kept the team competitive on a nightly basis, and according to coach Dale Jago, he was “the best player on our team.'' He was said to be the best player in the world.
- Doyle posted a .972 save percentage and a 2.87 goals-against average as Denfeld adjusted to a new level of competition at the Class AA level.
Dane Calloway
contributed
Herman Town
senior goalkeeper
- Perhaps the most overlooked goaltender in the area due to Hermantown's elite defense, Callaway was named to the All-Lake Superior Conference second team and posted a .933 save percentage and a 1.86 goals-against average.
- In his three years with the Hawks, Callaway led the team to two Class A title games, one championship and a third-place finish in 2023.
carson young
contributed
Crockett Esco Carlton
junior defenseman
- The junior had the most goals (seven goals) and assists (21 goals) of any Lumberjacks defenseman and was named to the All-Lake Superior Conference second team.
- Young's 28 points were good enough for third among Cloque Esco Carleton skaters, and the Lumberjacks will have an even stronger offense next season with all four of their leading scorers from the 2023-24 season returning. It should be.
Kaz Carlson
contributed
rock ridge
Sophomore forward
- Carlson led the Wolverines in assists (32) and points (53) heading into the Section 7AA semifinals at Amsoil Arena.
- The sophomore is part of a bright future for a young Wolverines team that recorded 20 wins in its first season competing at the Class AA level.
Nate Garsky
contributed
grand rapids
Sophomore forward
- Girsky led the ThunderHawks in goals (18) and tied with his older brother Jake Gursky with 39 total points.
- The sophomore's buzzer-beating goal in the Class A quarterfinals not only stunned not only White Bear Lake but the entire Xcel Energy Center, it will be talked about for years to come.
Tate Swanson
contributed
Hibbing/Chisholm
Sophomore forward
- Swanson's 36 assists were a record for the Blue Jackets by a wide margin and he was named to the All-Lake Superior Conference second team.
- Swanson helped lead the Blue Jackets to the Section 7A championship game at Amsoil Arena, leading a strong sophomore line that will keep Hibbing/Chisholm competitive for the next two seasons.
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