August 27, 2008 01:27 am
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Like a lot of seniors, Tyler Bruggeman is getting ready for his final year of high school.
For him, though, school’s going to come a little sooner, and it’s going to be a lot different.
Today, Bruggeman is leaving Mankato for Fargo, N.D., where his plans will be to enroll at Fargo South High School, move in with a host family and then join his new hockey team, the Fargo Force of the United States Hockey League when it starts practicing next week.
After undergoing his second tryout of the summer last weekend, the now ex-Mankato West goaltender, was offered a roster spot on the expansion Junior A team. After some soul searching, Bruggeman decided the best thing for his hockey development was to leave the Scarlets and leave Mankato for the next six or seven months.
“It wasn’t easy,” Bruggeman said when reached while shopping for a team-required suit and other dress clothes Tuesday afternoon. “I have friends and family back here. But, developmentally, we talked about the ultimate goal, and this is just another step toward the college goal.”
Ken Essay, Mankato West’s hockey coach, said he considers Bruggeman one of the top five high school goaltenders in Minnesota. As a junior last year, Bruggeman backstopped the Scarlets’ run to the Class A state tournament by allowing 1.92 goals per game and stopping 92.7 percent of the shots he faced over 26 games.
While Bruggeman’s departure will be a blow to the Scarlets, Essay said he not only supported the decision but he encouraged it and would have done the same for his own son.
“This is a positive step for Tyler Bruggeman to try to achieve some of his personal goals,” Essay said. “He put himself in a situation to make the jump to the next level.”
Bruggeman, who will start school in Fargo on Thursday — five days before classes start in Mankato — isn’t just leaving behind his teammates, he’s also leaving his twin brother, Andrew, a Scarlets forward and this year’s captain.
That certainly didn’t make the decision any easier.
“I don’t want to leave him,” Tyler said. “I’d love to come back and stay and play for West, but ... that’s not the best decision. This was hard on both of us. ... He supports me fully; he just doesn’t know it yet.”
There will be some familiarity on the Fargo roster, however, as Corey Leivermann, who graduated from West and was drafted by the Force last spring, will be one of Bruggeman’s teammates.
Bruggeman’s not the only hockey player from south-central Minnesota who is forgoing his senior season to play junior hockey.
New Ulm defenseman Beau Burgau announced last month that he is leaving home to play for the Wenatchee (Wash.) Wild of the North American Hockey League, a junior league that also has teams in Owatonna and Albert Lea.
Both players said they plan on returning to their old high schools in the spring in order to graduate with their classes.
“I owe (Essay) and the whole West association a lot,” Bruggeman said. “I’m thankful for helping me and grooming me and making me the goalie I am today.”
Shane Frederick is a Free Press staff writer. Access his college hockey blog through mankatofreepresshockey.blogspot.com/
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