Wings Tender Finalists For Reed Larson

Mar 4, 2013

MINNEAPOLIS – Let's Play Hockey newspaper announced today the 12 finalists for the Reed Larson Award, which will be presented to the top senior boys' high school hockey defenseman in Minnesota.

In alphabetical order, here are the 12 finalists for the 2013 Reed Larson Award (statistics through games of Feb. 27):

Finalist                               School                                       GP           G             A              TP           College commit
Jake Bischoff                     Grand Rapids                               18            7              15            22            Minnesota
Ryan Bittner                      Crookston                                    27            17            28            45
Tony Bretzman                  St. Thomas Academy                    27            5              20            25
Chris Forney                     Thief River Falls                             27            9              23            32
Matt Koch                          Hastings                                     26            6              17            23            Air Force
Meirs Moore                      Duluth East                                  27            18            29            47
Matt Nelson                       Edina                                          27            4              14            18            Princeton
Tanner Okeson                 Roseau                                         27            13            24            37
Parker Reno                      Edina                                          28            2              19            19            RPI
Jimmy Schuldt                   Minnetonka                                 27            5              23            28            St. Cloud State
Tommy Vannelli                 Minnetonka                                  27            10            25            35            Minnesota
Jake Zeleznikar                 Hermantown                                 27            11            34            45

The finalists have scored an average of nine goals and 22 assists this season for their respective teams. All 10 players have been bound to the textbooks for the past several years as they check in with a cumulative grade-point average of 3.46.

The winner of the inaugural Reed Larson Award will be announced on Tuesday, March 5. The award will be presented at the Class AA State Tournament Banquet on Wednesday, March 6 at the Roy Wilkins Auditorium.

In addition to on-ice talent, criteria for the Reed Larson Award include academics, community/extracurricular activities, citizenship and coachability.

— LPH —