Nearly two dozen hockey players whose youth careers took them through the State of Hockey — from playing in the state tournaments to time on the youth circuit — took the next step in their hockey careers last week,

The Minnesota Wild selected five players during the 2025 NHL Draft on Saturday, including two defensemen and three forwards. Minnesota acquired a fourth-round pick (Lirim Amidovski) and defenseman Cha

Kipkie, the Wild’s final pick, was drafted by Arizona previously, at No. 160 in 2023, but had two strong seasons since with the Victoria Royals (WHL). As a 6-3 left-shot defenseman, Kipkie is the kind of player Brackett said the Wild felt comfortable taking a later pick on. — Joe Smith