Thursday, March 14, 2013

Minnesota Mr. Hockey to Make USHL Debut

Press Release

 After a prolific high school hockey career in Minnesota, Grant Besse will make the big jump to the USHL this weekend when he suits up for the Omaha Lancers.

Besse was recently named Minnesota Mr. Hockey after concluding a senior season in which he scored 76 points (48g, 28a) in just 28 games for Benilde-St. Margaret’s.  It added to the list of honors the 18-year-old has received this season.  He made history last season when he led his team to the Minnesota AA state championship by scoring all five goals in the 5-1 title game.  Three of his goals were shorthanded and it pushed his season total to 52 goals.

The Plymouth, Minnesota native was selected by the Muskegon Lumberjacks in the fourth round (59th overall) of the 2010 USHL Futures Draft but was acquired by the Omaha Lancers earlier this season via a trade.  Besse has earned noticed from NHL scouts as he was listed at 124th among North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting midterm rankings in January.  He is scheduled to begin his college career next season at the University of Wisconsin.

Besse joins another high school standout on the Lancers this weekend as Jake Bischoff returns to the team.  Bischoff has played 13 games with the Lancers over the past two seasons and was also a finalist for the Mr. Hockey award alongside Besse.  Bischoff, a defenseman, was selected by the New York Islanders in the seventh round (185th overall) of the 2012 NHL Draft. 

The Omaha Lancers host the Green Bay Gamblers on Friday, March 15th at the Ralston Arena.

 (Nathan can be reached at nathanfournier@mainehockeyjournal.com)

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