Hoffmann finishes career on top of points leaderboard

NEW ULM -- New Ulm High School boys' hockey has a new career scoring leader.

Braxten Hoffmann scored 29 goals and added 35 assists this season to run his career points total to 181 and break Terry Steinbach's career mark of 177 set in 1980.

Both Steinbach and Hoffmann started as freshmen on the varsity for the Eagles.

"I did not really expect it," he said. "When I got told that I had did it [broke the career point total] it felt pretty good. I put in a lot of hard work and I have something to show for it.

"Nearing the end of this season I knew that I was close to it but no one really knew who had the [career] record."

And if you look under the hood of Hoffmann you find a player whose hockey motor does not quit and is driven by some good blood lines.

Hoffmann's cousins Jamie and Tiffany Hoffmann both played hockey at New Ulm High School. Jamie finished his career with the Eagles with 65 goals and 67 assists for 132 points and was offered a college hockey scholarship to Colorado College. He was also drafted in the eighth round of the National Hockey League draft by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2003.

Tiffany was a top scorer for the Eagles girls' hockey team and cousin Ethan Kraus ended up with 150 career points for New Ulm High School.

Hoffmann said that he was influenced by Jamie as a player.

"When I was younger I always looked up to Jamie. He was a great athlete and I wanted to be someone like him."

And Hoffmann is one whose work ethics are off the charts.

"It is what you do outside of the rink. You get home. Shoot a few pucks and stick handle. Going to the weight room also helped me out a lot. From when I first started high school hockey the weight room helped me out a lot.

"And I always go out and play hard and work hard and get better every day," Hoffmann said after a day of off-season open hockey. "I can play a physical game but I also have the skills to score goals."

And next weekend, Hoffmann will be playing in the Great Eight Hockey Tournament made up of top players from Minnesota.

"It is a pretty big deal in Minnesota and I am just happy to have the opportunity to play in it and see what happens there. Hopefully I can catch some eyes."

Hoffmann will play four games in St. Paul in the Great Eight at the Doug Woog Arena and be coached by his high school coach Ryan Neuman.

Hoffmann said that post-Great Eight he has been keeping all of his doors open.

"I have already been accepted to college at the University of North Dakota. But I have not made any final decisions yet and keeping all of my options open right now."

Hoffmann did say that playing Junior Hockey is still up there.

"I have been thinking heavily about it. When I have to make that decision, I will. But as of right now, I am keeping all of my options open."