Mason West will suit up as quarterback for Edina High School one last time this fall before shifting his focus entirely to hockey in the 2025–26 season.
“I’ll play football in the fall and then head to Fargo,” West told NHL.com, referring to his upcoming stint with the Fargo Force of the United States Hockey League (USHL). “Playing football as a senior with my friends was really important to me. I’ve always set goals for the year—to win both a state hockey championship and a football championship. I haven’t done it in football yet, and I want to stay loyal to my team because they need me.”
West, a 6-foot-6, 215-pound right-shot center, has excelled in both sports at Edina for the past three years. As a junior on the hockey team, he led in goals (27) and shots on goal (44), tied for most game-winning goals (five), and was second in points (50) in 31 games.
He is ranked No. 27 on NHL Central Scouting’s final list of North American skaters eligible for the 2025 NHL Draft.
In football, West threw for 2,592 yards, 37 touchdowns, and only four interceptions last season, completing 178 of 244 passes. His passer rating stood at 139.9.
West expects to leave for Fargo in December after completing the football season.
“Fargo gave me a real sense of what a hockey path looks like,” West said. “There’s nothing like that in football. I realized how much I can grow if I focus on one sport.”
Since joining Fargo on March 14, he recorded nine points (one goal, eight assists) in 10 games. West has yet to commit to a college but has narrowed his options to Michigan State and Boston College. He’s scheduled for 27 NHL team interviews at the scouting combine.
“I think my best asset is my shot,” he said. “When I get it off quickly, it’s really strong. I also have good awareness and vision across the ice—whether it’s the breakout, neutral, or offensive zone. I like making smart passes and anticipating plays.”
Spence Excited to Start at Michigan
Malcolm Spence, a top NHL prospect, will begin his college career at the University of Michigan in the 2025–26 season.
Spence tallied 73 points (32 goals, 41 assists) in 65 games for Erie in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) this season. He tied for second in goals and ranked third in both assists and overall points. He committed to Michigan on May 12.
“I had a lot of great experiences in Erie, but Michigan is the next step,” said Spence. “I know what my game needs to succeed, and Michigan fits that path.”
The 18-year-old left wing, who served as an alternate captain in Erie for the past two seasons, is ranked No. 17 on NHL Central Scouting’s final list. He added nine points (four goals, five assists) in nine playoff games.
Spence noted that Michigan had 30 players in the NHL in the 2024–25 season, the most of any college. Boston College followed with 26.
“Michigan offers a strong development plan. The day-to-day routine there is really attractive,” Spence said. “If you want to be the best, you have to train with the best.”
Cole Reschny Commits to North Dakota
Cole Reschny, ranked No. 25 among North American skaters, has committed to play for the University of North Dakota.
Reschny led the Victoria Royals (WHL) with 92 points (26 goals, 66 assists) in 62 games this season and added 25 points (nine goals, 16 assists) in 11 playoff games. He also contributed eight points in five games for Canada’s gold medal-winning team at the 2025 IIHF U18 World Championship.
“Victoria gave me the best two years of my life,” Reschny said. “But when I visited North Dakota, met the coaches, and saw the facilities, I knew it was the right fit for me. I believe they’ll help prepare me for the NHL.”
Victoria teammate Keaton Verhoeff, a top 2026 NHL Draft prospect, also committed to North Dakota. The 16-year-old defenseman had 45 points in 63 regular-season games and added 10 points in 11 playoff appearances.
“I think we’re going to be living together, which is pretty sweet,” said Reschny. “He’s not just a great player but a great person. Being around like-minded teammates helps drive success.”
Mrtka Shares Ice With a Legend
Czech defenseman Radim Mrtka had a standout debut with Seattle in the WHL this season but said his highlight came earlier—facing Jaromir Jagr in Czechia’s top league.
“It was just five minutes, but it was incredible,” said Mrtka. “It’s almost impossible to take the puck from him. His puck protection is unbelievable. As a Czech player, playing against Jagr was a dream.”
Jagr, 53, still plays for Kladno, the Czech team he owns. His legendary NHL career spanned 24 seasons with nine teams, ranking second all-time in points behind Wayne Gretzky.
Mrtka, who turns 18 on Monday, is 6-foot-6 and 207 pounds. He joined Seattle in March and finished the season with 35 points, including 32 assists in 43 games.
“I didn’t get to talk to Jagr, but we shook hands after the game,” Mrtka said. “At the start of the season he was injured, but just seeing him on the bench was like seeing a god. It was unbelievable.”
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