To Stay Or To Go: The Choice Facing Minnesota's Best High School Hockey Players
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (WCCO) – Minnesota's preeminent sporting event – the boys hockey tournament – gets started with sectionals next week.
But nearly two dozen of the state's best players won't be playing in it, choosing to leave high school early for what they believe are better leagues. Others say they're better off staying.
It's the biggest issue facing high school hockey in Minnesota, and the biggest decision players have to make.
A year after winning a state title with Edina, Ryan Zuhlsdorf is four and a half hours from home – a junior at Sioux City East.
"It was really tough at first," Zuhlsdorf said. "I was the new kid in school."
The 17-year-old future Gophers player is on his way to American History class this morning, his last class of the day because hockey starts at noon.
"We figure it out so we get enough credits in the year for school, so it works out just fine," Zuhlsdorf said. "I decided to do my Spanish in the summer so it'd be easier for me in the school day."
Today's history lesson happens to be on boomtowns -- places where hopeful people would flock with the dream of a better future.
Rather fitting.
Last year, a record 41 kids from Minnesota left their high school teams early, most for the United States Hockey League.
"I thought if I stayed at high school, I'd play more of a dominant role," Zuhlsdorf said. "But I wanted to challenge myself and develop as a player more."
Zuhlsdorf plays for the Sioux City Musketeers.
"For me, the USHL is the premier league to develop into a college hockey player," Sioux City coach Jay Varaday said.
Since the league goes up to 20 years old, it's bigger, stronger, and older competition than high school. Since they don't get paid, they retain their amateur status for college.
"There's a lot more video," Zuhlsdorf said. "Systems. Structure's a big deal here. Games are more physical, fast."
The teams hire host families to house their players, kind of like a foreign exchange student.
Zuhlsdorf lives with Claudia and Mike Ratkiewicz, who've hosted nearly two dozen players in the last dozen years including a pair – Sam Gagne and Max Pacioretty – now in the NHL.
"We've always tried to put them at ease," Claudia Ratkiewicz said, "and let them know that the minute they step in our door, they're like our family."
The idea's to mirror like back home as much as possible.
"I love Claudi and Mike," Zuhlsdorf said. "They're awesome."
But it's not life back home. It is a sacrifice.
"It was hard," he said. "Very hard leaving. Very hard leaving that behind."
So while Zuhlsdorf knows not everyone back home is thrilled with his decision to do this, he wants them to understand it.
"I honestly think they have no idea what it's like," he said.
"Really proud of him," said his mother, Paula Zuhlsdorf. "I think he's chosen a hard route. You just have to be really committed."
His father, Bob Zuhlsdorf, says he supported his son's decision "100 percent."
"And he was ready for it," Bob Zuhlsdorf said.
But is it necessary? Leaving your family, friends, teammates -- basically, your whole life – behind, for a new team, a new town, basically a new life? Many in Minnesota would answer that question with a resounding no.
"They need to look at the facts, and the facts are, it's OK to stay," said Mike MacMillan, the executive director of the Minnesota Hockey Coaches Association, which sensing the trend a few years ago, started a marketing campaign aimed at convincing the state's elite players to stay.
"You go to a high school hockey game, it's very good hockey," MacMillan said. "There's scouts everywhere."
The MCHA points to guys like Kyle Rau, Justin Kloos and Jonny Brodzinski in college, Nick Leddy, Matt Niskanen, TJ Oshie and more in the pros, all who finished high school hockey instead of jumping early to juniors and are doing quite well. Of the 33 Minnesotans on opening day NHL rosters this season, 22 finished high school hockey.
"More than half stayed in pure high school," MacMillan said. "So to draw the parallel, staying or leaving, it doesn't really matter."
MacMillan believes the marketing program is working. After last year's record 41 early departures, the number dropped to 23 this year -- consistent with the average the last five.
Four and a half hours southwest, Zuhlsdorf says leaving high school has worked out well for him. He is having a great season in Sioux City, and was named to the All Star Game.
"I think definitely I would have developed if I stayed at high school," he said. "But I think I would have developed even more if I came here."
He's well aware of what he's left behind.
"I definitely miss my friends and family," he said.
But he also knows what he's looking forward to.
"I'll be the best player I can be if I come here," he said.
