Hoffmann selected for Elite Eight tourney

NEW ULM -- New Ulm High's Jamie Hoffman has been selected to play in the Elite Eight Hockey Tournament March 22-24 at Wachota Arena in South St. Paul. Hoffmann becomes only the second player to be chosen from New Ulm High. Dave Sellner was selected as an alternate and played due to an injury of another player.

There are 18 players from each section picked, according to Eagles coach Tom Macho.

"All of the selected players have to be seniors -- in some cases they are picked but they not want to participate for whatever reason," he said. "Both A and double-A picks are combined so this is quite an honor for Jamie.

"When we go down the line of players that I have coached, Jamie is probably in the top five," said Macho."Because of a program being more organized over the years, he is probably the best hockey player that we have put out."

Macho listed Scott Macho, Ben Dier and Dayton Larson as recent players that the program has produced.

Macho said Hoffmann's size (6-foot-2) and strength is an asset.

"Jamie is not only big and strong, but he is also fast," he said. "His hands remind me of Terry Steinbach (New Ulm High's career points leader). They both have sweet hands and that comes in with the baseball that they both play."

Macho said statistics-wise Hoffmann is also in the top five. "But Terry Steinbach played varsity hockey for four years -- as did Aaron Allen -- and that is the difference."

Macho said this is a nice reward for Hoffmann, who has worked hard to get where he is in hockey. And especially since Hoffmann was sidelined with mononucleosis just prior to the start of the postseason.

"When we were at Gustavus, we coaches went around to all the coaches that we could find and told them, 'Wait a minute. He isn't playing now because of the mono, but let's not forget what Jamie did for the whole year.'"

Macho said after the Eagles' 2-1 double-overtime loss to Rochester Lourdes, he told Jamie this was not his last hockey game.

"I told him just as the game ended that he had a chance to be selected (for the Elite Eight). And thank goodness that he did get selected because it would have been a pretty sudden end to a great high school career," Macho said.

Macho said Hoffmann has been contacted for playing both hockey and baseball by every MIAC school. Hoffmann is also an outstanding shortstop for the Eagles and may well become the first-ever athlete at NUHS to be picked to play in the Elite Eight in hockey and the Lion's All-Star Baseball Game.

Macho said Hoffmann has been contacted by Minnesota State, Mankato and Bemidji State for baseball and hockey. Macho added Minnesota State, Mankato coaches were at the Eagles' game against Rochester Lourdes.

Hoffmann said he received a phone call telling him that he had been selected.

"I was really happy to be chosen," he said. "Especially because I had to sit out the end of hockey because of the mono. We will play three games with the eight sections playing each other."

Hoffmann said he is gradually getting over the mono. "My spleen is still enlarged but I am not as tired anymore. ... I am not skating yet, but I will be ready to go."

Right after the Elite Eight, Hoffmann will exchange his hockey stick for a baseball glove and bat. Hoffmann said he hasn't decided yet which sport he will play in college, or if he will attempt to play both.

"I will just wait and see what happens," he said.

EAGLES MAKE ALL-SOUTH CENTRAL CONFERENCE: Hoffmann, along with Brent Clyne, Corey Schnobrich, Chris Reinarts, Josh Jacobs and Gary Wurtzberger were named to the All-South Central Conference hockey team with Kyle Marti garnering honorable mention honors.

Both Reinarts and Marti are juniors.

Four members of the New Ulm High girls hockey team -- Jenny Nevln, Ashley Dietz, Jocelyn Janni and Danelle Bode -- were named All-SCC while Nikki Williams, Angie Seifert and Liz Bode were named honorable mention.

Nevln, an outstanding goalie along with Dietz, Janni, Danelle Bode, Liz Bode and Angie Seifert will all be back next year.

CHARGERS READY FOR ST. JAMES: Minnesota Valley Lutheran coach Craig Morgan said the Chargers will be ready when they meet St. James at 6 p.m. Monday night at Minnesota State, Mankato for the Section 2-2A, West Subsection title.

"They are a well-coached team that does a lot of things well," said Morgan. "Tyler Kaus controls the team and makes a lot of things happen. They go to the basket and ... are a solid fundamental team."

Morgan watched the two-point St. James' win over St. Peter and was impressed with the team's composure. ''They are a very poised, very patient team."

Morgan said the Chargers will be taller than the Saints and that MVL will also have an advantage in Morgan commented his team "is focused for this game. We are playing double-A schools, but we know that we can compete. This team's personality is that of a team being loose. ... They know when to step up their game."

ALL-JOURNAL PICKS: Boys basketball coaches are reminded to get their nominations for the All-Journal area team in as soon as possible. Coaches should include season and career stats, comments on each nomination and awards won, etc. You can fax them to (507) 359-7362.